After the banking crisis in Balkans in the mid-1990s, a Banking Consolidation Company was set up in 1996 in order to restructure and consolidate Bulgaria’s banking sector.All state-owned banks went private in 2000, while smaller commercial banks were either taken over by larger Bulgarian corporations or bought out by new foreign banks. Commercial banks in … Read more
Who are you? My name is Daniel Roy. I’m a freelance narrative video game writer from Montreal, Canada.These days I live in Sofia, Bulgaria with my partner Helene, who is also Canadian. Where, when and why did you move abroad? My first expatriation was to Shanghai in 2003. My partner Helene and I both wanted … Read more
Bulgaria (and the city of Sofia in particular) accommodates the influx of expat families from Western Europe and the US by providing a variety international schools. Curriculums on offer are from the United States, Britain and France. Bulgaria has seven International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools, all of which are authorised to teach the IB Diploma; … Read more
At first glance, Bulgaria is a tempting place to buy a property to live in or as an investment. You can get a lot for your money and there are plenty of dilapidated, crumbling houses you can pick up for a low cost. However, before you change your job title to International Property Developer, you … Read more
Many people associate Bulgaria simply with fun in the sun. It’s not the first country that comes to mind when considering setting up a business abroad – and that’s a real shame. In the recent years, Bulgaria has become a sound choice for opening a business. Let’s have a look at some of the main … Read more
The Bulgarian electricity market is highly regulated and dominated by a few major players. Those companies have created a monopoly in the country but despite this, prices remain at a reasonable level. There is no real competition that would allow the consumers to choose their supplier as there is only one licensed electricity provider per … Read more
Moving to a new house comes with a lot of strain and pressure, more so if you have set out to turn an old dilapidated building into your dream home. Many people dream of revamping an old farmhouse and turning it into a beautiful home. In Bulgaria, not only is the cost of rural property … Read more
At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Bulgaria and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.Auntie Bulgariahttp://auntiebulgaria.blogspot.co.uk In 2010, Claire and her partner bought a dilapidated village … Read more
George, it's been a few years since we last caught up with you – where are you living now? Have to say it’s very nice to hear from you again and for you to follow up on our progress in Bulgaria 7 years on from our first interview!In fact, around 5 years ago, since we … Read more
Bulgaria is a Balkan country that has witnessed political instability, economic fluctuations and corruption ever since the first democratic election was held in 1990. Stability returned when the country joined the European Union in 2007, after which there has been an increase in its expat population. Many expats, especially from Western Europe, visit Bulgaria looking … Read more