How long it takes to buy a property in Bulgaria?
Generally it will take 3 weeks to buy a property. This is dependent on a number of factors, not all of which are in your control. Once you have decided on a property, contact will be made with the seller or his estate agent. The terms and conditions of the sale can be negotiated very quickly, depending on how easily we can instruct an independent surveyor to assess the property, which is our usual practice. It is important to have an accurate picture of the condition of the property, likely repairs that will be needed and its consequent value. Usually a surveyor can prepare a report within a week of instructions. The legal title to the property can be checked at the Land Register in a day or two. Searches with the local authority, trying to confirm the uses and building permissions associated with the property, will similarly take several days. The Preliminary Contract is then exchanged and a deposit paid. There is then a period of, at maximum, a few days while the money transfer is arranged and any final checks made. The sale will take place in front of a Notary at an agreed date and time.  

What value of goods am I allowed to import in Bulgaria?
You can import goods for the total value of 100 Euro if you are over 16 years of age and 50 Euros if you are under 16 years of age. This does not apply to precious stones and metals. When a single item is imported the value of which is over 100 Euro or equivalent in another currency customs duty and VAT is payable on the total value of the item. When the total value of the two or more items belonging to a single person exceeds 100 Euro, duty free allowance is permitted only for that portion of the items the total value of which does not exceed 100 Euro or equivalent in another currency. The duty free import allowance can not be divided between two and more travellers.  

What document do I need if I want to import my UK registered car into Bulgaria?
1.Registration Document, for example V5C form issued by DVLA. 2.Document of ownership (the above form or sales invoice) 3.Car Insurance 4.Document of proof of origin (EUR 1 certificate or declaration of origin on invoice or other commercial document). The EUR 1 certificate you can obtain from your local VAT office and stamp by customs on leaving the UK (Dover Customs for example). This certificate is only stamped if the vehicle is manufactured in the European Union. Do not attempt to obtain one for American or Japanese cars. The last too will incur duty in Bulgaria, so to safe money import European Cars. Against a small fee Black Sea Estates can check how much you have to pay in Duty and VAT if you want to register your car in Bulgaria. Please email to Dobromir@blackseaestates.net.  

What amount of money may I import into Bulgaria?
Visitors entering Bulgaria may import unlimited amounts of Bulgarian or foreign currency. Sums of money above 8000 levs must be declared in a customs declaration in any of the following languages: Bulgarian, French, German, English, Russian and Turkish. The Declaration must be countersigned by customs official upon entry and must be kept until the person has left the country.  

What amounts of money am I entitled to export from Bulgaria?
Bulgarian and foreign citizens are entitled to export sums of money less than 8000 levs without declaring them to the customs authorities.Sums of money with an equivalent value of between 8000 and 25000 levs must be declared to the customs authorities according to type and amount of exported currency. Sums of money greater than 25 000 levs or equivalent currency must be declared to the customes authorities and their origin authenticated with a certificate from the tax authorities that the person exporting has no tax liabilities to the state.  

Why we paid one price and there was a lower price in the deed we received?
All foreign buyers purchasing real estate property must be aware that in Bulgaria there are such terms as "tax estimation price" and "purchase price". The "tax estimation price" (similar to "rateable value" in UK) is for the purposes of real estate taxation and is much lower than the actual selling (purchase) price. Most of vendors in Bulgaria wish that the "tax estimation price" (rateable value) is written in the title deed, and not the selling (asking) price which the buyers are paying, so due to this practice there might be discrepancies between the price you are paying and the price written in the title deed.