Business travelers will find that Bulgaria has an extensive, rich history — coupled with incredible landscapes and diverse topography. Inhabited since antiquity, Bulgaria was home to some of Europe’s earliest civilizations - the Thracians, Romans, and Byzantines - civilizations which left behind valuable artistic and architectural treasures. Bordered by the Black Sea and numerous mountain ranges, Bulgaria is an exciting tourist attraction offering business travelers relaxing, or adventuresome, side-trips. The country is well known for its beaches, spa retreats, golf tourism, mountain tourism, skiing, ecological tours, congress and group tourism, and cultural tourism. Apart from those, there has been a new trend of conceptual, small enterprise retreats and boutique chateaus. There are ten UNESCO (U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) sites in Bulgaria ranging from the third century B.C. to the 20th century including the Rila Monastery (founded in the 10th century), the Ivanovski Rock Churches, and the Basarbovski rock monastery (founded in the 13th century).

See: www.bulgariatravel.org/en/, www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlBp0DJfyI, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBVQsEMx1Ng.

Business Customs

Bulgarians are less formal than Western Europeans, from the way they dress, to the way they conduct business. Meetings, including lunches and dinners, are used as an opportunity to get acquainted and as a basis for developing trust.  Companies use evening receptions at hotels, restaurants, convention centers, trade shows, and even museums, galleries and auto showrooms for public relations and to solidify business relationships.

Business cards are informally and casually exchanged without much protocol.  Gifts are not a customary ingredient in initial business meetings. Bulgarians are increasingly more ‘time’ conscious and so it is wise to arrive at your appointment early or on time.

One potentially confusing custom is that rocking of the head from left-to-right, often with a slight smile, means “yes” while nodding up-and-down indicates “no.”  With English language fluency growing, Bulgarians, now more than ever use head movements in a typical western fashion.  When in doubt, clarify any ‘yes’ or ‘no’ by obtaining a verbal response.

Travel Advisory

For specific information about Bulgaria, including the location of the Embassy; Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements; Safety and Security Issues; Local Laws and Special Circumstances; Health; and Travel and Transportation, please see: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html .

American citizens visiting Bulgaria are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP; https://step.state.gov/step/) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Information and application procedure for routine consular services is on the Embassy website: https://bg.usembassy.gov/.  U.S. citizens experiencing an emergency (assault, arrest, death) can contact the U.S. Embassy 24/7 at +359-2-397-5101.

Bulgarian law requires all travelers entering or leaving the EU through Bulgaria with EUR 10,000 or more, in cash, to declare the sum to Bulgarian customs. This EU initiative assists efforts to tackle crime and improve security by cracking down on money laundering, terrorism and criminality. Travelers carrying currency in excess of the above amount should use the red “Something to Declare” line, and not the green “Nothing to Declare” line, even if specifically invited into the green line by a customs official.

Travelers who attempt to leave Bulgaria with the equivalent of BGN 25,000 or more must complete a customs declaration stating the origin of the money, and provide a certificate from the Bulgarian regional internal revenue service proving that they do not owe taxes, unless the sum is less than the amount originally reported when initially brought into the country.  Contact the Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington, D.C. or a Bulgarian consulate for specific information regarding customs regulations (See  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html ; http://events.euintheus.org /).

If traveling with a pet, a certificate of a veterinarian examination within one week before departure is required; a rabies certificate within six months of departure.  

Visa Requirements

Please check regularly the visa and travel requirements prior to your trip as due to COVID-19 regulations change sometimes daily!

A valid United States passport is required for U.S. citizens who are not also Bulgarian nationals.  Bulgarian immigration authorities ask all foreigners to declare the purpose of their visit at the border or upon arrival and to provide their intended address.  The U.S. passport must be valid for at least three (3) months from the expected date of departure from Bulgaria.  U.S. citizens who enter the country on tourist passports without a Bulgarian visa are authorized to stay for a 90 days within a six-month period.  Travelers on all types of passports (regular, official or diplomatic) who intend to stay more than 90 days must secure a “D” visa from the Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate. 

Visa issuance can take 30 - 40 calendar days.  “D” visas are issued for employment purposes, missionary purposes, or if you are married to a Bulgarian citizen, among other reasons. Travelers with an official or diplomatic passport, who intend to stay in Bulgaria for less than 90 days, within six months, must secure a Bulgarian visa type “C” from a Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate prior to arrival.  U.S. citizens must apply for a visa at a Bulgarian Embassy/Consulate in the United States or if not residents in the United States, in their country of legal residence.  U.S. citizens are also advised that if their purpose of stay in Bulgaria changes (i.e., work or marriage status), they must leave Bulgaria and apply again for a D-visa.

See https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/bulgaria.html for more information

All U.S. citizens receive an entry stamp in their passports. U.S. citizens who do not have an entry stamp in their passports will encounter difficulties when they try to leave Bulgaria. When entering Bulgaria by car, if the vehicle has been recorded on the passport, the owner may not leave the country without the automobile. Sometimes vehicles are erroneously recorded on the passport of passengers in the car, who then have problems trying to leave the country without the vehicle.

Holders of Schengen visas can visit and stay in Bulgaria without Bulgarian visas within the validity of their visa, but no longer than 90 days within a 6-month period.

Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria at 1621 22nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/bulgarian-citizenship/ main switchboard (202) 387-7969.

Key Business Links: https://bg.usembassy.gov/business/

Currency

Bulgaria’s currency is the:

• lev, or leva - лева

• coins are Stotinki - стотинки,
• currency code is ‘BGN,’ and
• currency symbol is лeв (lev).

See http://www.bnb.bg/?toLang=_EN&toLang=_EN MK

The Bulgarian lev is pegged to the euro.

As of September 2021, one U.S. dollar equals 1.65 Bulgarian lev.  Visitors should exchange cash at banks or exchange bureaus.  Banks and exchange bureaus do not accept traveler’s checks. Damaged or worn U.S. dollar bank notes are often not accepted at banks or exchange bureaus. 

Due to new check clearing restrictions introduced by U.S. banks for cashing of personal and Treasury checks outside of the U.S., local banks no longer provide check-cashing services for personal and Treasury checks. The United Bulgarian Bank serves as a Western Union agent and provides direct transfer of money. There are many Western Union branches in major towns and cities. Many shops, hotels, and restaurants, with the exception of major hotels, do not accept credit cards. 

ATM cash machines are increasing in Sofia and other major cities, but bankcards, debit cards and credit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud or other criminal activity. Be wary of skimming devices placed on automated tellers. Only use ATMs inside major institutions such as banks or major malls.  Limit your use of credit cards to hotel bills or bills from other major vendors.

Telecommunications/Electric

Bulgaria has a very good telecommunications infrastructure with three mobile providers (Vivacom, A1, Telenor) and numerous wireless services for business travelers. Wi-Fi hotspots exist throughout Sofia (mainly at coffee shops, big restaurants, malls, hotel lobbies, public parks and at the Sofia Airport) and in the larger towns (Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas).

To call the U.S. from Bulgaria dial:               00+1+Area Code+ the land or mobile number.

To call Bulgaria from the U.S. dial:               011+359+City Code+ land or mobile number

Bulgaria’s country code is +359 followed by the appropriate area code of the city. Every city in Bulgaria has its own code:

Sofia -2, or 02, Plovdiv-32, Varna-52, Bourgas-56, Stara Zagora-42, and, Veliko Tarnovo-62.

Voltage and plugs used are for 220 volts. Unless your computer or appliance is dual voltage or designed for 220-230 volts (type F; three cylindrical prongs) you will need a converter or transformer. The cycles (Hz) are 50 per second.

Transportation

Rental cars, buses, subways, taxis and trains are available at various levels of convenience in some Bulgaria cities
Taxis

Taxis

are prevalent throughout Bulgaria. Travelers are recommended to use taxis with meters and clearly marked rates displayed on a sticker on the passenger side of the windshield. The standard rates normally range between BGL 0.80 and 1.00 (approximately 50 U.S. cents at current exchange rates as of July 2019) per kilometer. You will be expected to pay the amount posted, so it is advisable to check the rates before entering the taxi and to have small bills on hand as taxi drivers will often state they do not have change for larger bills.

• At the airport, there is a clearly marked exit within the arrival terminal that leads travelers to metered taxis at a fair rate and a booth to assist with obtaining taxi services. Travelers should inquire about the fare before entering a taxi and always account for all luggage, packages, and hand-carried items before paying and releasing a tax. A 10-12 percent tip is recommended.

• Presently, there are no ride-sharing taxis in Bulgaria.

• Sofia Airport is approximately 20-30 minutes from downtown Sofia and can cost approximately 15-25 BGN (leva).

• Sofia’s highly congested rush hours are from 8 AM to 9 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM.

Subway

• Sofia’s subway system is new and has two lines. A third line will be completed by the end of 2019. An electronic ticket for 10 trips costs 12 BGN. See http://www.metropolitan.bg/en 
• Car rentals
• Hertz, Avis, Budget and Europcar are available and can be rented at the  Sofia Airport or at most of the larger hotels.  Consistent with other EU member states, most car rental companies in Bulgaria require a valid international drivers license.  A license issued by a U.S. state may not be sufficient and visitors are encouraged to check with the rental company in advance.

Airports

• Sofia (SOF), Burgas (BOJ), Varna (VAR), Plovdiv (PDV) and Gorna Oryahovitsa (GOZ) constitute Bulgaria’s major airports
• The country is served by major European airlines including: Aeroflot, Aegean Airlines, Air Malta, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Cyprus airlines, El Al, LOT, Lufthansa, TAROM, Turkish Airlines and co-sharing with Iberia, Finnair, KLM, TAP and SAS, and Air Serbia.
• LCC (low-cost carriers) like Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizzair, Germanwings, Norwegian, Climber, and S7 connect Bulgaria’s airports with the rest of Europe.
• Many American carriers. like United/Continental airlines, Delta and American Airlines operate code shared flights to Sofia. Bulgaria Air is also operating international flights as well as domestic service between Sofia, Varna and Burgas.
• Qatar airways offers good connections to the Middle and Far East.

Low cost airlines in Bulgaria

Airline companies in Bulgaria offer the second cheapest flights in the world from Sofia to other European and Middle East locations. Among the low-cost airlines in the country are: Wizz Air, Ryanair, Blue Air, easyJet, Germanwings and Pegasus airlines.

Language

Bulgaria is a Slavic language that uses the Cyrillic alphabet.  However, English is widely used when conducting business as most young Bulgarians speak and understand English extremely well. Many Bulgarians also have some comprehension of the Russian language.  German and French are also spoken.

Health

The U.S. Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad so that they can confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.  U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States, unless supplemental coverage is purchased.  U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.  However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations.