General Information

The currency unit in the Republic of Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev (plural form - leva /levs/) or BGN. 1 lev = 100 stotinki.

Pegged exchange rate: EUR 1 = BGN 1.955

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.

"Foreign currency" is a foreign banknote or coins that is a legal payment means in the country of its issuance.

"Foreign convertible (hard) currency" is the currency for which the BNB announces a central exchange rate every working day.

"Foreign currency in cash" apart from banknotes and coins are also the traveler checks issued in a foreign currency.

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:

1. Bulgarian banknotes and coins in circulation in amounts over BGN 10,000;

2. Bulgarian coins in circulation of numismatic value;

3. Foreign currency equal to more than US$ 1,000;

4. Shares issued by foreign entities in foreign currency, obligation notes, treasury-bonds, investment and depository certificates, checks, bills of exchange, order bills, credit letters and other similar valuable papers;

5. Precious metals and precious stones and products of these other than the usual amounts for personal and family use - in type, weight, and value;

6. Coins, containing gold, silver and platinum - in type, weight, and value;

7. 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.