How to send money to Bulgaria in 2026: euros with no exchange in 1 business day from the European Union

Since 1 January 2026 Bulgaria has been in the euro area: a transfer from the European Union arrives in a day, from other countries in 1-3 business days. A gift from a spouse, children or parents is not taxed, and income tax is a flat 10%. We cover account details, paying for a flat, documents by amount and taxes.

In detail

Sending money to Bulgaria in 2026 is simpler than a year ago: since 1 January the country has been in the euro area, so a euro transfer from any EU country reaches a Bulgarian account by the next business day at the latest, with no currency exchange. From countries outside the EU money travels by international transfer in euros or dollars in 1-3 business days. Most often money is sent to Bulgaria to buy a flat by the sea or in Sofia, and here it matters to open an account and gather documents on the origin of the money in advance: a Bulgarian bank credits a large sum after a check.

Dollars on this page are euros at the European Central Bank rate of 7 October 2026, 1.1177 dollars per euro, rounded up. The transfer routes in the table were checked on 8 October 2026.

The lev is gone, the euro is here: what it changes for a transfer

Bulgaria switched to the euro on 1 January 2026 at 1.95583 leva per euro. Banks converted all lev accounts at this rate themselves, with no fee, so the recipient's account number stayed the same and the balance is simply shown in euros. For a sender in the EU, Bulgaria has become a destination just like Germany or Italy: a euro payment goes as an ordinary European transfer, with no conversion and no correspondent banks in between.

For a transfer from outside the EU, the switch to the euro settled the old question of which currency to send. Now the shortest route is euros straight away: the money lands on a euro account with no conversion. If you send dollars, a Bulgarian bank credits them to a dollar account, or to an ordinary euro account at its own rate on the day of crediting. Before a large payment, ask the recipient's bank whether it has a dollar account for you: that way you choose the day and rate of exchange yourself.

What else became simpler with the euro:

• prices, contracts and taxes are now in euros, so the amount in the purchase contract matches the transfer amount to the cent;
• rent, utilities and school inside the country are paid by euro transfer between Bulgarian accounts;
• a Bulgarian bank card works on trips across the euro area with no currency exchange.

A Bulgarian account number: 22 characters and four bank letters

The recipient gives the sender an international account number of 22 characters. It starts with two letters of the country code and two check digits, followed by four letters of the bank code, four digits of the branch, two digits of the account type and eight characters of the number itself. The four bank letters match the start of the bank's international code of 8 or 11 characters, so the sender's bank will spot an error in either code before the money is debited.

For the money to arrive first time, the sender needs:

1. the recipient's first and last name exactly as the Bulgarian bank has them, in Latin letters from the passport;
2. the 22-character international account number and the bank's international code;
3. the recipient's address in Bulgaria or in the country of residence;
4. the payment purpose in your own words: a flat purchase under a contract with its date, rent, family support, study.

A non-resident opens an account in Bulgaria with a passport if the bank has a clear reason: a home, study, work, your own business in the country. The branch visit is in person, and with documents ready one meeting is enough. We will advise how best to send money to Bulgaria for your amount and carry out the first transfer through licensed partners.

A flat by the sea or in Sofia: how the seller is paid

Buying a home is the main reason for large transfers to Bulgaria. A foreigner registers a flat in their own name, while a citizen of a non-EU country buys a house with land through their own Bulgarian company: the land stays owned by the company, and the company is entirely yours. The deal is signed before a notary, and the notarial deed states exactly how the price was paid, so the money arrives on your Bulgarian account in advance and goes to the seller by transfer.

On the resale market payments usually go like this: a deposit under the preliminary contract, then the balance on the day of signing before the notary. In a new build the developer takes money on a schedule tied to construction stages, and every payment leaves the same buyer account. On top of the flat price the buyer pays at 2026 rates:

If the flat is also meant for a residence permit, the investment in Bulgarian property must be at least $350,000 (€306,800; before the euro the threshold was 600,000 leva). Here every sum must go through the bank and match the contract, so the transfer for the deal is planned together with the documents for the migration service. More on the deal is in how to buy an apartment in Bulgaria, and on the status on the Bulgaria residence permit page.

Money for a flat is often gathered from several sources: the sale of a home back in your country, savings, a gift from parents. A Bulgarian bank needs to see each source backed by a document before the sum reaches the account. Ask a manager for the terms of a transfer for the deal: they will check the contract, the payment schedule and the source-of-funds documents for your case.

From rent to a house with land: documents by amount

What a Bulgarian bank asks for depends on the amount and the purpose. The levels below are for a transfer to a private individual's own account.

Up to $10,000: rent, deposit, the first months of living

The payment purpose and a recipient name matching the bank are enough. The bank credits such sums in the usual way, and with regular transfers from the same sender it remembers them and asks no more questions.

From $10,000 to $100,000: a flat deposit, a car, study

The bank will ask you to fill in a source-of-funds declaration on its own form and attach a document: an account statement for 6-12 months, an income certificate, a sale contract for a car or flat. A deposit also needs the preliminary contract showing the seller, the address and the amount.

From $100,000: buying a home and moving savings

You need a full pack: documents on the sale of property or on income over several years, tax documents from the sending country, the purchase contract. Deposits at one Bulgarian bank are insured up to $120,000 (€100,000) per person. How to put the pack together is covered in proof of source of funds, moving home sale proceeds abroad and sending large sums abroad. We handle a large transfer from choosing the bank to crediting: tell a manager about your amount, and the whole capital route is described on the capital relocation page.

A 10% tax and tax-free interest: what the Bulgarian tax office sees in your money

Transferring your own money to Bulgaria is not taxed in itself. A tax resident is someone who has spent more than 183 days in the country in any 12 months, and they then pay a flat 10% on all income and 5% on dividends. A pleasant detail for those keeping money on a Bulgarian account: interest on deposits at EU banks is not taxed at all for individuals.

A gift from a spouse, children or parents is not taxed in Bulgaria. Brothers, sisters and their children pay 0.4-0.8% of the gift's value, others 3.3-6.6%, with the rate within the range set by the municipality. That is why money from parents for a flat is best formalised with a written gift agreement: it also answers the bank's question about the origin of the sum. More on rates is on the taxes in Bulgaria page.

When money leaves Bulgaria: home and to neighbouring countries

A Bulgarian account often becomes a base from which money moves on. To EU countries, for example Germany or Greece, a euro transfer goes in a day. To Kazakhstan and Serbia money is sent in euros or dollars, taking 1-3 business days.

Sending money to nearby countries

• How to send money to Greece
• How to send money to Serbia
• How to send money to Turkey
• How to send money to Moldova
• How to send money to Cyprus
• How to send money to Romania

All destinations and the general procedure for moving capital are in the capital relocation section.

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