Driving License Question

If you are only in the country a month per year, then you have nothing to worry about. Continue to use your UK driving licence. You only need to change your license if you live full time in Bulgaria.

@SimCityAT

Awesome thanks. That is what I thought but whenever I search on Google it seems to say if you are a permanent resident you need to exchange.

I guess there is a difference between having permanent residence (permanent resident card/visa status) vs being an actual "permanent" resident (physical presence)

My understanding is that most of the long-term visa/ residence permits do require actual residence in the country (183 days or more per year) to maintain them, so anyone on that type would need to change their licence. 

But there are some residence permits that don't require any specific length of time in the country (investment,  pre-Brexit Brits, and possibly others), and with those the licence only needs to be changed after six months living in the country.

@VillageLife

But you're not permanent resident. If you were to change your license that would cause huge problems with insurance and having the licence back in the UK as you would have to change it back to a UK.

If that makes sense?

@janemulberry

Yes my wife has a 5yr residency and she is required to spend at least 30 months in Bulgaria to satisfy the terms, whilst I am on Prolonged Stay Residency and have to spend at least 183 days of each year in Bulgaria to be granted my next 12 months.

@SimCityAT

Yes makes sense thanks!

@grahamstark1

I am not sure what absences are allowed before you could technically loose permanent residence card (although with air Schengen it might be hard to prove you hadn't been there).

I have a permanent residence from another country (non EU), and also don't live there, but as long as I visit once at least every 2 years I know I can keep it.

@SimCityAT maybe silly question, do you need to do a test or just apply for a license?

@VillageLife

Hi its legal to drive on your UK license in BG, no worries