Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe and is comprised of 28 different provinces. The country's population of just over seven million is mainly concentrated around the nation's largest cities. Sofia is the country's cultural and commercial center, and Bulgaria's economy currently thrives on agriculture and the engineering industry.
Whatever your reasons for making an international relocation to Bulgaria, whether it's for employment, for family or just for a change of scenery, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs. Here's what you need to know when preparing to move to Bulgaria from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
When you land in your new home country after making an overseas move, the first thing you should grab should be these important documents to present to agents at the customs clearance checkpoint. These documents are essential to making sure your travel goes as smoothly as possible:
- Passport (copy)
- Work permit (original)
- Bulgarian ID card (for long-term residence). Customs deposit required if shipper cannot provide this at arrival. The deposit can be reimbursed if the certificate/ID card is presented to Customs within six months
- Letter from employer in Bulgaria confirming transfer (it must state how long shipper has been working abroad)
- Letter of Attorney (must be notarized)
- Declaration of value of goods (separate from inventory list)
- Inventory (in English and signed and dated by the customer)
- Must show all electrical and electronic devices, brand names and serial numbers on a separate list
- Paintings, carpets, instruments and antiques should be listed and described separately and include certificate of origin
- Letter of Authorization for service provider to deal with customs clearance verified by a notary
- Proof of Bulgarian residency (rental or lease contract for a minimum of one year) for temporary residency
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Bringing your belongings overseas means that you'll have to follow Bulgaria's guidelines and regulations to monitor international shipments. Before you pack up your shipment and send it to your new home, acquaint yourself with the shipping and customs regulations in Bulgaria:
- Household goods can be imported up to three months after customer's arrival
- Household goods and personal effects can be imported duty-free provided that they are for personal use, and in practical quantities
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Items that may be perfectly legal in the United States may not be in Bulgaria. Each country has different laws regarding what is allowed to clear customs. Don't make the mistake of bringing prohibited items along with you and risk the chance of confiscation. When entering Bulgaria through customs, make sure you don't have any of these prohibited items:
- Illegal drugs
- Bulgarian currency
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Dangerous chemicals
- Substances which damage the ozone layer
- Quarantined pets
- Pornographic material
- Fireworks
RESTRICTED ITEMS
While prohibited items are not allowed to be imported into the country through customs, restricted items may be taxed upon arrival to Bulgaria, or require some other prior authorization or notification from a government official. Some of these restricted items include, but are not limited to:
- Machinery and equipment
- Plants (Certificate of Health from the Ministry of Agriculture required)
- Tobacco products (duty and tax-free depending on amount):
- One of the following: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos (3g each, maximum), 50 cigars, 250g smoking tobacco, or even assortment of these items
- Liquor (duty and tax-free depending on amount):
- Two bottles of wine (two liters), one bottle of hard liquor (containing 20 percent or more alcohol by volume, one liter)
- Antiques
- Home computers (subject to duties and import taxes)
- New electrical items and furniture (subject to duties and taxes)
- Up to 60g total weight of jewelry and accessories from alloys of gold and platinum
- Up to 300g total weight of jewelry, coins and accessories from alloys of silver (processed or half-processed)
- Embedded precious stones
- Guns and ammunition (require permission/permits)
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Shipping a vehicle overseas can be a complicated process. However, with the right preparation and planning beforehand, your vehicle will safely arrive in your new country. First, you should familiarize yourself with Bulgaria's motor vehicle shipping regulations:
- One motor vehicle can be imported duty-free
- A foreign-registered car can only be used by the owner or person with written permission from owner
- Documents required:
- Passport (copy)
- Proof of ownership (original title of vehicle)
- Purchase invoice (must be owner's property for more than six months)
- Performa-invoice (prepared by origin agent)
- EUR 1 Certificate
- Foreign registration card
- Visa
- Driver's license
- Proof of insurance
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Of course you'll be bringing your pets with you on your overseas move--after all they are a part of the family. Here are the guidelines for bringing your pet with you to Bulgaria:
- An immunization passport, which will include:
- ID number
- Description of the pet
- History on vaccinations and anti-parasite treatment, issued by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin
- A medical certificate indicating your pet's origin and health status, issued by a governmental or authorized veterinary doctor. The certificate should verify:
- The pet has undergone a successful health check within 24 hours before the date of export - no signs of disease symptoms
- If over three months old, the pet has received a rabies shot with an inactivated vaccine between one and 12 months prior to export date. The vaccine should contain no less than 1 UI. The certificate should indicate the vaccine's brand name and serial number
- Proof that there have been no cases of rabies registered in the last six months at the pet's residence
- The pet has been kept indoors and has been raised at the place where it was born (for pets under three months)
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves are unique in the amount of preparation and planning that is required to relocate to a new country. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations that have been put in place by your destination country. These regulations often vary and are subject to change.
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few helpful links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: