COVID-19 and expatriation in Bulgaria

Hi everyone,

And yes COVID-19 crisis has its impact on Bulgaria. Though we are one of the least affected countries both in terms of people suffering from the disease and in terms of casualties, the economic effect is huge, due to the applied restrictive measures.

Basically most of the big cities are closed and going in and out of these is not permitted, unless there's a solid reason for this.
Generally the public transport works, same is valid for food stores, pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, fire departments. Some businesses also continue to work as usual - e.g transport sector, online stores etc.
All the rest is working either in remote mode - from home or is temporarily closed.
Social life is limited to online contacts.
Parks are closed and you cannot go running there unless you want to be charged by a solid fine.
The people having dogs are somehow in a privileged situation since they can take the dog out for a walk whenever they want, without facing the fines.  So the dogs are kind of a free pass.

Hello all,

I will second everything that Kristiann said above.

There are queues to go into supermarkets but once inside there are no shortages of produce. Everybody gives everyone else plenty of space.
Here in Varna, the local market is open and fresh produce is available.

It seems to me that about three quarters of people are wearing masks.

The only problem I have is that I am still waiting for my S1 health form from the UK.
If the delay is in the UK or in Bulgaria, I don't know, but there is nothing I can do about it.

All the best to everyone,

Stephen

This covid-19 hype has only the impact on us, that we cannot drive where we want, and could not meet people we usually meet on a weekly fridays base in a cafe in Chirpan.
We do live in Malko Tranovo on a permanent base and have only very loose ties to our home countries. We also plan to stay here for good.
This covid- measurments are sometimes contradictory, or are not followed at all. We have quite a number of gypsies in our village, no one of them wears a face mask or respects the curfew. That pisses us off, but the police also does not care and does not show presence here.
As said, we are mostly affected by the impossibility to go shopping for food in Stara Zagora. The choice of food, especially fresh vegetables, is quite limited in Chirpan.
As such, life goes on as usual ...

Well, it's completely scuppered my plans to move to BG, I should have been there already so will now have to look for land in the UK or rent somewhere which I cannot afford to do.

It is not that bad actually. Anyone willing to move to Bulgaria will be completely free to do so in just a couple of months. Provided he/she is healthy (without corona virus). After a check at the border/airport, people will be able to enter the country, but probably the initial 14 days quarantine will remain for some time.  Nothing more.

Hi Stephen, I know what you mean by the wait for your S1 form' I had to wait nearly a month for mine to appear. But here in Nessebar in the district, I live they only deliver post once a week on a Tuesday so if It arrives on a Wednesday you have to wait another week until it is out for delivery. my S1 form got here eventually but the post lady decided she would dump it in a half-built block where no one was living. It was only thanks to a Bulgarian friend who phoned up the post office delivery office and gave them a right earful that we found out where it was. Much happiness.☺

I came in August and have no problems at all, I'm in Sofia and everything you need is open and the bars are closing at 11.30 unless it's a Private Members club of which I am a member of . Lidl is like any other supermarket, there are no queues. Plenty of other Supermarkets and small shops are also fully stocked and have no issues.