Foreign trade and customs

        As of January 1, 2007, Bulgaria is an EU member state. Since that date, the customs bodies have started applying directly the Community legislation that regulates common procedures, tariff and non-tariff measures with regard to the import and export of goods from and to third countries, as well as common customs control tools. The Customs Act is based on the Community Customs Code. It has adopted the existing procedures and customs regimes of the European Union: transit, processing under customs control, temporary admission, customs warehousing, temporary export, etc. The Single Administrative Document (SAD) is the official document used to declare imports and exports under a normal procedure.
      More information on customs procedures in Bulgaria may be found on the Customs Agency’s website www.customs.bg

       Company Registrations

       To be involved in business activities in Bulgaria, you need to register a company. Information on the procedures and the documents needed for the registration is given below.

        Registration of a sole proprietor (ET)

        1. Court registration

        To register your company as ET, you need to file a set of documents with the County Court in the area in which you’ll perform your activity. The documents required for registration include:

• a written request to have an ET registered, addressed to the corporate division of the county court, signed by you;
• a notary-certified specimen of the signature of the person that will represent the company (this could be you or an assistant of yours);
• a declaration on your behalf as a founder of an ET under Art. 57 and 58, para 2 and 4 of the Commercial Act;
• a certificate of name uniqueness, issued by Information Services AD – county court;
• receipts for the payment of state fees.

        2. Statistical registration (BULSTAT)

        Within 3 days of receiving the court registration decision, you must effect the so-called BULSTAT registration at the registration service of the local division of the National Statistical Institute. Required documents:

• a copy of the court registration decision (including corporate case number, decision, volume, page, batch);
• an ID document of the owner.

        3. Insurance registration

        This you obtain within 7 days after the court registration. Required documents:

• a copy of the court registration decision (including corporate case number, decision, volume, page, batch);
• an ID document of the owner;
• BULSTAT.

        4. Tax registration

        Having effected the BULSTAT registration of your company, within 7 days of the registration in the Commercial registry, you need to also obtain tax registration at the territorial tax directorate. Documents required:

• the court registration decision – copy and original;
• BULSTAT;
• registration certificate from the Social Insurance Regional Directorate;
• company seal;
• accounting books – revenues, costs, inventory;
• invoice book.

    Registration of a limited liability company (OOD)

        1. Constituent assembly

       The constituent assembly is held by the people that will be establishing the company (the partners). At the assembly, they make decisions on the division of the capital, on company management and on the division of responsibilities. All decisions made at the constituent assembly are written in constituent assembly minutes, which is necessary for the registration of the company.

        2. Court registration

        Court registration is provided by the County Court in your region. Required documents:

• a request in writing to have an OOD registered, addressed to the corporate division of the county court, signed by the partners. The request must contain the names and the PIN of the person filing the request, the name of the company, its seat and managerial address, the business activity, the management means, the term of the company contract and partners’ shares;
• a notary-certified specimen of the signature of the person who will manage and represent the company (this could be you or an assistant of yours);
• a declaration;
• a partnership contract (for a sole-owner limited liability company – EOOD, this document is called “constituent act”), signed by all partners;
• a certificate of company name uniqueness, issued by Information Services Ad – county court;
• the minutes from the constituent assembly;
• a document proving that at least 70 percent of the minimum capital required (BGN 5,000) has been paid up;
• a proof that the fee for the publication in the State Gazette has been paid;
• proof of fees paid.

        3. Statistical registration (BULSTAT).

    Within 3 days of receiving the court registration decision, you must obtain BULSTAT registration at the registration service of the local division of the National Statistical Institute. Required documents:

• court decision(s);
• by-laws;
• partnership contract;
• normative or administrative acts;
• ID.

        4. Insurance registration

        This you obtain within 7 days after the court registration. Required documents:

• a copy of the court registration decision (including corporate case number, decision, volume, page, batch);
• an ID document of the owner;

• BULSTAT.

        5. Tax registration

        Having effected the BULSTAT registration of your company, within 14 days of the court registration, you need to also obtain tax registration at the territorial tax directorate. Documents required:

• the court registration decision – copy and original;
• BULSTAT;
• registration certificate from the Social Insurance Regional Directorate;
• company seal;
• accounting books – revenues, costs, inventory;
• invoice book.

    The documents required for initial registration or for the registration of changes are available on the website of the Registration Agency http://www.registryagency.bg/bg/Services/bulstat/f223.html 

    Repatriation of earnings and capital

    Bulgaria has liberal laws on the repatriation of earnings after the payment of the required taxes and capital. Foreign investors are free to buy currency and transfer it abroad. The same is valid for foreign nationals working in Bulgaria, with regard to their salaries, as well as foreign nationals who have been granted long-term stay permission and who have registered as sole proprietors, members of cooperatives or unlimited liability partners, upon the submission of proof of fees paid.