Customs limitations on import and export of goods

     A "Passenger" is any individual passing the state borderline of the Republic of Bulgaria. Upon crossing the state borderline of the Republic of Bulgaria passengers may import and export commodities that in type, quantities, and value are not of a commercial nature. These do not include objects the passenger carry for personal use and consumption objects. Passengers entering Bulgaria from countries that are not members of the EU have the right to import at no custom duty or import fees the objects necessary to the foreign individuals for their stay in the country, which in their type and quantity correspond to both purpose and the duration of their stay, as well as consumption objects:

• tobacco products (passengers over 17 years of age) - cigarettes - 200 items for air travelers and 40 items for others, or other tobacco products - 250 gr. for air travelers and 50 gr. for others;
• alcoholic beverages (passengers over 17 years of age) – beverages below 22% alcohol (wine) - 2 litres, and alcoholic liquors (over 22% alcohol) - 1 litre; beer – 16 litres
• any other goods (including perfumes, coffee and tea) – up to the equivalence of 430 euro for air and sea arrivals, up to the equivalence of 300 euro for ground and river transport arrivals.

     Passengers who are under full 16 years of age are not entitled to duty-free import of the commodities listed above, except for medications.

     Since 15.07.2007 all EU member states (including Bulgaria) have been applying a Directive for the movement of cash when entering or leaving an EU member state. The Directive stipulates that passengers with cash of 10 thousand euro or more than 10 thousand euro (or the equivalence thereof in other currencies and checks) shall declare them to the customs authorities when entering or leaving the country. The customs authorities have the right to check the luggage and to expropriate undeclared amounts.

     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 Ministry 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.
     Personal use objects, new and used, which a passenger may normally need during one's trip, taking into account all circumstances of the travel, are placed under the regime of temporary import with a full exemption of all customs dues. Re-exporting personal belongings cannot take place later than the moment when the natural person who has imported them is leaving the customs territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

     Travelling with pets

     When a pet animal is moved and transported, its owner or the person accompanying it shall, if so requested by an official veterinarian, present information on the owner’s name and address. Pet animals moving from the Republic of Bulgaria into the Member States of the European Union shall be accompanied by a passport issued by an official veterinarian, wherein all immunisations or re-immunisations performed shall be recorded.
     Where pet animals are moved and transported from third countries into the Republic of Bulgaria, they shall be accompanied by a veterinary certificate issued by an official veterinarian, as well as a passport.