Arriving in Bulgaria: Housing, Insurance, Flights and Driving Licence

Finding a place to live

The approach that works looks like this: for the first few weeks, rent a furnished flat on a short-term basis in a small group, then take your time looking around once you are there. Because students graduate every year, shared rooms and flats regularly become available and are passed on within the student community. That is the best route: no agency fee and already tried out by others.

University halls of residence are the cheapest option at around 70 euros a month. Private flats near the university cost between 400 and 600 euros depending on the city and location.

A great deal is decided at exactly this point: anyone who knows nobody locally either rents from abroad at too high a price or ends up with an agent. Our contact in Bulgaria hears about available flats before they are advertised and will view them on your behalf if you wish.

Bulgarian tenancy law in brief

Tenancies are governed by the Bulgarian Obligations and Contracts Act, regardless of whether the tenant is a local or a foreign national. A tenancy agreement can be concluded orally or in writing and does not have to be notarised. Even so, a written, bilingual contract in English and your own language is advisable.

• Furnished is the norm. Even so, never sign without a viewing. Photos and videos are often deceptive; plastic furniture looks like wood in pictures.
• Minimum tenancy term: lettings to foreign nationals are usually for at least one year. Moving out earlier is possible but as a rule costs you the deposit.
• Agency commission: 50 to 100 percent of one month's basic rent is customary.
• Meet the landlord in person. Meeting face to face builds trust and saves a great deal of discussion later.
• Check the utilities: set out gas, water and electricity specifically in the contract.

Signing a contract in Bulgarian without having understood it is one of the most expensive mistakes of the first semester. Have our team read it through beforehand; it costs you ten minutes and, in case of doubt, saves your deposit.

Which study location and which type of accommodation suit your situation is something we clarify in a free consultation.

Insurance

Bulgaria is an EU member state. Students from Germany can keep their statutory health insurance and, with the European Health Insurance Card, receive medically necessary treatment. Even so, additional private international health insurance is advisable, among other things for repatriation and optional treatments.

Personal liability insurance belongs in every student budget, as does accident insurance depending on your circumstances. Both are inexpensive and save a lot of trouble if something happens.

Being insured is one thing; finding the right address when you fall ill is another. A Bulgarian-speaking doctor is available to our students as a permanent point of contact. She will judge whether a state clinic is sufficient or a private centre makes more sense, and if in doubt speaks to the staff directly.

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Flying cheaply

Direct flights between Germany and Bulgaria are offered by Eurowings, Lufthansa, Bulgaria Air and Wizz Air among others, from Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg and Stuttgart to Sofia, Varna or Burgas. Flight time is two to three hours. Connections via Vienna, Istanbul or Warsaw are often cheaper but take longer.

Skyscanner, Kayak and Google Flights are all worth using for the search, each with price alerts and flexible date windows. If you often fly with the same airline, check whether its discount programme pays off: membership costs a fixed annual fee and usually becomes worthwhile from about four to five flights a year.

A practical trick: taking your driving test in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian driving licence is an EU licence and is therefore valid throughout the EU as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The cost is well below the German level: a complete course with theory, practical lessons and both tests has recently cost a fraction of what is usual in Germany. Theory lessons are not compulsory in Bulgaria, so you can learn the theory yourself and go straight to the test. Several driving schools offer tuition in English.

The legal framework matters here: foreign nationals may take a driving test in Bulgaria, but Germany only recognises the licence under certain conditions. Anyone properly enrolled in Bulgaria and normally resident there will usually meet that condition. Clarify your individual case with your licensing authority before you invest any money. Our contacts in Bulgaria can tell you which driving school teaches in English and how the process works locally.

Cyrillic in a few days

The Cyrillic alphabet looks bigger than it is. This order gets you there quickly:

1. Copy out the letters repeatedly until they stick.
2. Translate words back and forth between Cyrillic and Latin script.
3. Read short texts aloud, for example street signs or menus.
4. Write your own sentences and have them corrected.
5. Practise playfully, for example with crosswords or a home-made bingo using Cyrillic letters.

After about a week you will read street names and shop signs fluently. That noticeably changes everyday life. For anything beyond that – letters from the authorities, tenancy agreements or conversations with doctors – someone on our team who speaks Bulgarian is available.

Important emergency contacts

These numbers belong in your phone before anything happens. Just as important, though, is having someone locally you can reach: a Bulgarian-speaking doctor as your medical contact, a member of our staff for authorities and everyday matters, and a direct line to the cultural attaché at the German Embassy in Sofia, who works actively together with the Medschool Experts team for the wellbeing of German students in Bulgaria.

Do I need to register locally?

As an EU citizen staying for a longer period, you register with the responsible migration authority and receive a residence certificate. The university will usually help with this. All forms and conversations run in Bulgarian, however, and the administrative steps are rarely self-explanatory for newcomers. Our staff member on the ground will accompany you through the registration and translate whenever things get stuck.

How do I open a bank account?

Since the introduction of the euro in 2026, payments run in euros. A German account is enough for many purposes; a local account makes rent and utilities easier. To open one you need identification, proof of enrolment and usually a local address. In practice it often falls down on language, opening hours and documents nobody mentioned in advance. Our contacts in Bulgaria know the banks and will come to the appointment with you if needed. We support you with this.