Foreigners can buy buildings, the right to build and other land related rights such as the right of use and passage but cannot buy land. Foreign judicial and physical persons can however acquire land via a Bulgarian registered company. This process has become the only acceptable method to purchase land and does not require a Bulgarian citizen to be a shareholder. Therefore the company will be owned and run solely by you but it is necessary to meet all requirements for company registration and taxation in Bulgaria. The set up of a company can be done by a Bulgarian lawyer in about two week's time. The Limited Liability Company is the one that is recommended. In order to register a Limited Liability Company there is a requirement to deposit a capital of BGN 5000 (about GBP 1800) in your Company Bank Account. This money remains yours at all times and can be withdrawn once the company is registered. The articles of trading are drawn up to a standard pattern to allow you to operate within the current laws with as broad a spectrum as possible. This allows you to use the company to renovate and improve your property as you wish as well as to buy other real estate.

    It is important to note that all documents are issued in Bulgarian language. To avoid misunderstandings you should have all legal documents translated into English by a registered translator whose name, ID and registration number should appear on your documents. All documents require your 'Latin' name to be translated into 'Bulgarian' and your British passport number is considered to be the Bulgarian equivalent of an ID card number. Therefore all purchasers will be required to show their passports and have a legal translation of them into Bulgarian

Visa regulations
    You must hold a passport with at least six months validity. Irish and other EU nationals are permited to stay in Bulgaria for 90 days without a visa. UK, US, Candian, Israeli visitors are permitted to stay without a visa for a maximum of 30 days, within a six month period, counting from the first date of entry. If you wish to extend your stay, or would like a business visa please check prior to departure with the Bulgarian Embassy.

    Within 48 hours of your arrival, by law, you must register with the local police station. This is not a complicated procedure, and only applies if you stay with friends or in your own accommodation. If you book into a hotel, you need not worry as they automatically do this for you.

    For British nationals, a comprehensive first hand information on visa issues is available from the Consular Section of the Bulgarian Embassy in London or via their website www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk .

You can learn more about Bulgaria by clicking on the links at the bottom of each page.