The unit of currency in Bulgaria (currency code: BGL) is the lev,
divided into 100 stotinki. The Bulgarian National Bank is the bank
of issue and handles government funds and state-owned enterprises.
On the 5th of July, 1999, the Bulgarian National Bank acted on the
previously announced re-denomination of the Bulgarian Lev by
introducing new banknotes and coins. The Bulgarian Council of
Ministers together with the National Assembly passed and enacted a
package of laws and decrees outlining and regulating the
re-denomination well before the 5th of July, 1999. Starting at 12:00
am on Monday, the 5th of July, 1999, the Bulgarian lev was
substituted by a new lev in a ratio of 1,000:1. That is to say, as
of that date 1,000 old leva equaled 1 new lev (equal to 1 Deutsche
Mark, 0.51 Euro or US$ 0.55). The re-denomination went into effect
for all prices in leva - goods, services, bank accounts, and savings
bonds. Until December 31st, 1999, all prices must be stated both in
new and old leva; after that date, all prices will be stated in new
leva only. The entire process was performed in order to facilitate
all payments, as well as all accounting and exchange operations.
Simultaneously with the re-denomination, the Bulgarian National Bank
began to circulate new banknotes and coins. Beginning on July 5th,
1999, there were 6 new coins and 6 new banknotes in circulation.
Until December 31st, 1999, all individuals and sales persons are
obliged to accept both old and new banknotes and coins; after that
date, the old currency may be exchanged for new one at any branch of
the BNB.
The Bulgarian Bills
WARNING:
The
criminal
law
and
the
Penal
Code
of
the
Republic
of
Bulgaria
prohibit
the
unlawful
reproduction
of
its
currency
and
the
use
of
any
kind
of
counterfeit
money!
Violators
will
be
prosecuted!
The Bulgarian Coins
Bulgarian Currency Regulations
Foreigners may export and import Bulgarian banknotes and coins in
circulation to the amount of up to BGN 10,000. Sums exceeding this
amount may be imported and exported only with a permit by the BNB
(Bulgarian National Bank), valid for a period of up to 90 days of
its issuance date.
The foreign persons may export convertible (hard) currency in
amounts that do not exceed the amount of the foreign currency they
had imported and declared. They can import unlimited amounts of
foreign currency, which is to be declared.
Upon entering and exiting the customs territory of the Republic of
Bulgaria foreigners obligatorily fill in a declaration after a
sample for the following currency value they carry:
Bulgarian banknotes and coins in circulation in amounts over BGN
10,000;
Bulgarian coins in circulation of numismatic value;
Foreign currency equal to more than US$ 1,000;
Shares issued by foreign entities in foreign currency, obligation
notes, treasury-bonds, investment and depository certificates,
cheques, bills of exchange, order bills, credit letters and other
similar valuable papers;
Precious metals and precious stones and products of these other than
the usual amounts for personal and family use - in type, weight, and
value;
Coins, containing gold, silver and platinum - in type, weight, and
value;
Other (hard) currency values.
The export is prohibited of articles, coins of gold, silver, and
platinum of historic, archaeological, artistic, and numismatic value
included, except for the cases when there is a permit issued by the
Minister of culture.
Foreigners leaving the customs territory of the Republic of Bulgaria
may export precious metals in the form of ingots, articles made of
them and precious stones, as well as coins containing precious
metals within the amounts imported and declared, as well as articles
purchased within the country, whose equivalence does not exceed the
amount of the foreign convertible currency imported and declared by
them.
