Customs regulations in Bulgaria

The import and exchange of currency is not limited (amount over $1000 must be entered in the customs declaration), there is no mandatory exchange. The export of currency should not exceed the amount indicated in the declaration upon entry. Over 20 thousand BGL (or the equivalent in foreign currency) can be exported with the permission of the Bulgarian People’s Bank. Unused levs can be exchanged before leaving the country. To do this, you must submit a certificate of the initial exchange from the exchange office.

When importing, jewelry, photo, film and video equipment are declared, which then must be exported from the country.

Allowed duty-free import:

cigarettes – up to 200 pcs., tobacco products – up to 250 gr.
wine – up to 2 liters.
strong alcoholic drinks – up to 1 liter.
coffee – up to 500 gr.
tea – up to 100 gr.
perfume – 50 ml.
cologne or other perfume products – up to 250 ml.

The import and export of drugs, weapons and ammunition, explosives, potent psychotropic or poisonous substances, medications, protected species of animals and plants, as well as items of historical, artistic or other value are prohibited.

Despite the political troubles of recent decades, and, unfortunately, not the most friendly attitude towards Russians in many countries, perhaps the only country in which Russians are always and unconditionally welcomed as relatives is Bulgaria. Yes, and in the Russian heart the words – “Varna”, “Sunny Beach”, “Golden Sands”, “Albena” respond with nostalgia. Judging by the statistics, in recent years, our compatriots have rediscovered the Black Sea resorts that were almost forgotten and rushed to them with joy.

You can import into Bulgaria an unlimited amount of its national currency – the lev or foreign currency. If the amount of import does not exceed 8 thousand levs or their equivalent in foreign currency (on the website of the Bulgarian Embassy you can find the dollar to lev exchange rate – 1,579), in this case the “Green Corridor” is open to you. If there is more money, they must be entered into the customs currency declaration and presented to the customs officer in the “Red Corridor”.

For export, the rules are somewhat more complicated. With the amount, again, up to 8 thousand leva (or their equivalent in foreign currency), you can safely go through the “Green Corridor”. If you have from 8 thousand to 25 thousand leva, you should fill out a customs declaration and go through the “Red corridor”. Well, if the amount of cash on departure exceeds 25 thousand leva, then the Bulgarian customs will have every reason to demand confirmation of the legality of the acquisition of these funds. There will be no problems if you declared cash upon entry and kept the declaration until departure. If if you are exporting an amount that exceeds the previously declared amount, then you will need a certificate from the tax authorities stating that you do not have a tax debt to the Bulgarian government.

Every citizen over 16 years of age has the right to bring to Bulgaria, duty-free and without paying taxes, 1 liter of spirits with a strength of over 22 degrees and 2 liters of dry wine, or 2 liters of dry and 2 liters of fortified wine. As in most other countries, smokers can take 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco with them. The import of coffee and tea is limited to 500 g (or 200 g of coffee extract) and 100 g (or 40 g of tea extract) respectively. 50 ml of perfume and 250 ml of eau de toilette should, according to customs officers, be enough for the duration of your stay in Bulgaria.

Apparently, as a fight against pseudo-tourists, Bulgarian legislation limits the duty-free amount of the goods listed above for those who cross the border more than once a month. For them, the quota is only 20 percent of the established norms.

Bulgaria has a relatively low threshold for the duty-free movement of other goods. Travelers over the age of 16 can bring into the country without paying duties goods purchased abroad for an amount not exceeding 100 euros. Those under the age of 16 – 50 euros. For those who cross the border back and forth (more than once a month), the duty-free rate is even less – 20 euros, and be healthy! (Apparently, the “shuttle” business in its Russian version would obviously not have taken root in this country.)

If the value of goods not intended for sale that you bring with you to Bulgaria exceeds 100 euros, but falls short of 1500 euros, you must pay a duty of 5 percent of the value of the goods. In addition, they are subject to VAT at the rate of 20 percent. Moreover, this rule is individual, that is, the available goods cannot be divided between family members. It must be understood that this does not apply to personal items.

At the same time, the Bulgarian customs recommends that both at the entrance and at the exit, fill out declaration if you have valuable items with you. This will facilitate their subsequent import and export from the country (the declaration must be kept).

You should always remember that by going to the “Green Corridor”, you thereby declare that you do not have goods subject to declaration. On its website http://www.en.customs.bg, the Bulgarian customs reminds that levs not properly declared, foreign currency, jewelry, jewelry are subject to confiscation in favor of the state.

At the same time, Bulgarian customs officers have a different attitude towards those who violated the rules through negligence, and those who did it intentionally, trying to outwit the customs officers. In the event that during the check you found things (non-commercial) or currency that you had to declare, but did not declare (or their number exceeds the allowed), in places that are usual for transporting such things, for example: socks and shorts – in the compartment of the suitcase; currency – in the wallet; bottles are in a bag, then these goods are simply confiscated in favor of the state, regardless of who these things belong to, and no fine is imposed. Another thing is if these things are transported, as customs officials say, “with concealment”, that is, they are clearly trying to hide them from control: currency – in the lining of a suitcase; shorts, socks – in secret pockets; jewelry – behind the cheek or somewhere else … In this case, things are not just confiscated, but also a protocol is drawn up on violation of customs or currency legislation with all the ensuing consequences. So it’s better not to risk it. In the most severe cases, you may even have the car in which you illegally transported goods confiscated.