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@KennrLynn

Welcome to the Forum! Bulgaria is a long way from your home, but you can have a very nice, and much more affordable, life here. If you having savings and a pension/disability pension, the residence process (by D visa) is fairly straightforward.

Bulgaria is the poorest country in the EU, with an official minimum wage of just 500 euros per month. My HOA is less than 10 euros per month, my property tax is about 150 euros per year, and my social security payment (for full public healthcare cover) is 20 euros per month. (I paid $100 for a cardiologist examination/consultation with BP, EKG, echocardiogram, an x-ray - same day - was about $25. My GP consult was just $2, and he charged me $50 last week for a home visit to check on my dad.) You might want to compare those numbers with USA.

Compared to the US, you might feel a bit of a culture shock. But you can adapt if you want to. I recommend you visit sometime just to check it out. While there's no substitute for a personal visit, there are plenty of YouTube videos showing various aspects of the place, and Google Street View will show you a good percentage of the country.

I lived in the US for several years, and it has many fine qualities. When you're working, it's a great place. I also spent many years in Latin America, so I experienced Panama, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Brazil. Again, lots to love about those countries. But, overall, extremely happy to be back in the civilization of the EU... and moving to Bulgaria was one of my best decisions. (As noted above, I like it so much I moved my dad over last year, at 97. The old boy lives like a king here.)

We didn't do a lot of research, but we stumbled on 3 awesome locations (and there are many others). We're in Plovdiv (Bulgaria's 2nd city, and former European Capital of Culture), and our house is in the Balkan Mountains near the Central Balkan National Park and Kazanlak (the area known as Valley of the Roses and the Valley of the Thracian Kings). We're also big fans of Bansko, the country's top ski and mountain resort, sitting next to the spectacular Pirin National Park. Other folks enjoy the Black Sea coast, the Rodope Mountains (between Plovdiv and Greece), and other big cities like Sofia, Varna, Burgas. Veliko Tarnovo is also very quaint and much loved by expats.

Good luck!

Hi Kenner! Bulgaria is a wonderful and interesting place but with some challenges, a love it or hate it sort of place. Have you been for a visit?

A few things to consider are whether your Social Security will continue after you move, and also to check you meet the requirements for one of the D Visa categories as that's the first step to getting legal residency. Also make sure you have a good idea of current property prices, they've risen massively over the past few years. Unfortunately some property sites leave sold properties listed without stating they're sold, which can make prices look cheaper than they currently are.

Not to be discouraging, just necessary issues to consider.

I love it here, I'm just waiting out the 18 months until I qualify to move. In the meantime my main home is in the UK, and I visit BG as often as I can to do a bit more work on an old wreck of a village house I'm renovating . It needed far more work than I expected!

@KennrLynn

Hello, I live in MO and we will be moving to BG September 2026. If at all possible, you should visit BG before moving. If you have visited eastern Europe in the past it will make transition easier. BG is very different than the US, though there are parts of the US that are similar to BG such as West Virginia, part of MO and Arkansas. Poor. Rundown. Not everywhere abut it is visible.

Be sure that you are eligible for the D visa as a pensioner (social security) which requires a minimum monthly income of about 600 euro. Things to be aware of include getting mandatory medical insurance for foreigners with is 175 lev about 90 USD per year. It only covers emergency medical services. You must have this document when you have the immigration interview in the US at the Chicago BG consulate. You may also need evidence of BG residence in advance of you residing there. I strongly advise getting a BG immigration attorney to assist you. It is a very small price to pay to ensure that you will be able to immigrate.

In my view, having visited for extended periods on three occasions and given your situation, a town or village in relatively close proximity to a large city would be best. Be aware villages have water problems and little infrastructure. I recommend Blagoevgrad, a small city in a valley between the mountains, south of Sofia with direct connection via bus or train to Sofia and advanced medical facilities you may need. Blagoevgrad also has basic medical services. Your MO drivers license is not valid after six months in BG and there is no automatic exchange, thanks to US politics. Good luck.

@Sleep Near

Blagoevgrad is a good option, and I very much second your recommendation to be in/near a bigger city. Healthcare is possible anywhere, but it's much easier when you can easily access city services.

We very much like Plovdiv as it's a wonderful small city, and we have a great quality of life here. Not only does Plovdiv have plenty of medical options, but it's an easy drive on the A1 to Sofia (for bigger/specialist hospitals and the airport). Also an easy drive to the Black Sea (same highway, east), and two mountain ranges (Stara Planina north and Rodopes south).

The health insurance for immigration is a cheap emergency policy. It's recommended to get a proper private health insurance. The public system is accessible for non-EU citizens if you work (employed or self-employed), or you can wait 5 years for PR and then join.

I'm not sure that comparing Bulgaria with the impoverished boondocks of America is an encouraging comparison! Who wants to move in with a bunch of Appalachian hillbillies? :-)

Bulgaria's poverty is relative to the EU, a very prosperous bloc. I'd say much of the visible signs of poverty (for a foreigner) is down to the architectural style. For example, the Communist era panel blocks (common throughout Eastern Europe, not just Bulgaria) look a bit tatty and slum-like, especially if you come from Germany, Switzerland, USA, etc. But mostly they're not slums, and they're perfectly nice places to live (I also have a panel apartment).

Much of Bulgaria's poverty is within the Romany/"Gypsy" communities, and within the older/retired population (Bulgarian pensions are feeble). Many older folks live in Bulgarian villages (the trend is older, with youngest going to the big cities), which makes villages, relatively speaking, extremely poor. But the "vibe" in Bulgaria is way different from hanging out in Arkansas or Detroit, even in a country village. In particular, safety/crime here is, overall, very good. In most countries/locations, if you chase poorer areas (for cheaper property/living), the trade-off is crime and personal safety. Bulgaria is so great for expats precisely because it's one of the rare places that has low living/property costs, but is also safe and civilized.

I've lived all over the world, and I'd never say that Bulgaria was the "best" country. While it has many positives, it's a long way from being the best! However... in terms of bang-for-my-buck, Bulgaria is one of the best (if not the best) options around.

@gwynj

Since the gentleman has never been to BG or eastern Europe, some frame of reference is needed, in my opinion. The first visit to an eastern European country can be shocking. Empty villages and collapsed buildings are widespread in BG, just like in Appalachia of West Virginia. That the culture is different is a given. It is too easy to be mislead by all of the YouTube videos of BG.

Hello everyone, warm welcome to Kenner !

Please note that this new thread has been opened on the Bulgaria forum for better visibility.

@Kenner, feel free to interact with members and ask questions to prepare your expat project.

All the best

Bhavna

Welcome onboard Kenner. Good luck to you.

Not all Bulgarian villages have problems with water or electric. Meanwhile we bought and moved here because it's so much more affordable than the UK.

Around Veliko Tarnovo municipality bulgarian builder we use says lots of issues with leakage due to old pipework which they now starting to replace.

Some villages near Polski Trambesh and Pavlikenni have water restrictions on times when available, but no electric issues only sometimes during lightning storms.

Some people set up water tank systems they fill prior to water turnoff and use that during off time.

Agree with Kath with affordability and not just living to exist as codt of living increases in uk,one of reasons we moved