Bulgarian Company Euro Changes: What British Property Owners Need to Know
If you set up a Bulgarian limited company (EOOD or OOD) years ago to buy a house or land in Bulgaria, the country’s change from the lev to the euro may now affect your company documents.
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. Although the Bulgarian Commercial Register has automatically converted registered company capital from Bulgarian lev (BGN) into euros, this does not necessarily mean that everything connected with your old company has been dealt with automatically.
If you have not looked at your Bulgarian company for many years, now is a sensible time to find out what has been changed automatically, what may still need to be done, and whether there are any other outstanding company matters that need attention.
What Changed When Bulgaria Adopted the Euro?
When Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, the Bulgarian Commercial Register automatically converted the registered capital of Bulgarian companies from lev (BGN) into euros.
But that automatic conversion did not rewrite your company’s own documents.
If your EOOD or OOD was created years ago, its deed of incorporation, articles or company agreement may still show the company’s capital and shares in Bulgarian lev.
Bulgarian law therefore requires affected companies to bring their company documents into line with the euro changes. Following amendments made in September 2026, the relevant period has been extended to 31 December 2028.
If you have seen older information online referring to a 31 December 2026 deadline, be aware that the law changed in September 2026 and that information may now be out of date.
Does This Apply to the Company I Set Up to Buy My Bulgarian Property?
Very possibly.
During the Bulgarian property boom, many British and other foreign buyers established Bulgarian limited companies, often an EOOD or OOD, when purchasing houses with land.
For many owners, the company was never intended to operate as a normal trading business. It was simply the legal structure used at the time to purchase and hold the property or land.
Twenty years later, you may barely remember the company name. An accountant may once have dealt with it for you, you may no longer have contact with them, and your company paperwork may have been sitting untouched in a drawer for years.
The fact that the company has not traded, or that you have not used it for many years, does not mean that it should simply be ignored.
If your Bulgarian property or land is still connected with an old Bulgarian company, the sensible first step is to establish the company’s current position and find out what, if anything, now needs to be done.
What Actually Needs to Be Changed?
There are two different things here, and it is easy to confuse them.
1. The Commercial Register has already converted the registered capital
The Bulgarian Registry Agency automatically converted registered company capital from Bulgarian lev into euros when Bulgaria adopted the euro. You did not need to apply for that automatic conversion yourself.
2. Your company’s own documents may still need attention
An old deed of incorporation, articles of association or company agreement may still state the company’s capital and individual shares in Bulgarian lev.
These company documents need to be brought into line with the euro rules where the law requires it.
This is why simply looking at the Commercial Register and seeing a euro figure does not necessarily mean that everything relating to your company has been completed.
There may also be other matters affecting an old company that have nothing to do with the euro change. If the company has been largely forgotten for many years, it makes sense to check its overall position at the same time rather than dealing with one document in isolation.
What Is the Deadline for the Bulgarian Company Euro Changes?
The rules changed in September 2026, so some information published earlier this year is already out of date.
The period for bringing affected company documents into line with the euro requirements has been extended to 31 December 2028.
However, this does not simply mean that every old Bulgarian company owner has to rush to the Commercial Register and make the same filing immediately.
Under the amended rules, when updated company documents need to be presented to the Commercial Register can depend on what is happening with the company. For example, the requirement can become relevant when changes are being made to matters contained in the company’s deed of incorporation, articles or company agreement.
This is one reason why an owner should not rely on an old internet article, a translated form or somebody else’s experience with a different company.
The important thing is to establish what applies to your particular company while there is still time to deal with it properly.
Why Using an Interpreter Is Not the Same as Using a Lawyer
Many British property owners in Bulgaria have a trusted local interpreter or English-speaking person who helps them with everyday matters. That can be extremely useful when visiting shops, utility companies, municipal offices or dealing with ordinary day-to-day administration.
But speaking Bulgarian and English does not qualify somebody to advise on Bulgarian company law.
Updating or reviewing an EOOD or OOD can involve company documents, registered capital, shares, company resolutions, ownership information and filings with the Bulgarian Commercial Register. The rules surrounding the euro change were also amended as recently as September 2026.
An interpreter can translate what somebody says or what a document contains. They are not, simply by being an interpreter, professionally qualified to decide what legal changes your company requires, prepare the appropriate company documentation or take professional responsibility for that legal work.
Being able to accompany you to an office is not the same as being professionally responsible for the legal work being carried out.
This distinction matters particularly when the company owns or is connected with your Bulgarian property. A mistake may not become apparent immediately. It may only come to light later when you need to change something within the company, deal with another legal matter or sell the property.
Where company-law work is required, using an appropriately qualified Bulgarian lawyer means the matter can be considered as a legal and company issue rather than simply as a translation exercise.
If you are unsure what your old Bulgarian company needs, have its position checked before signing documents or making changes you do not fully understand.
Can I Deal With My Bulgarian Company From the UK?
In many cases, yes.
If you now live in Britain, you should not assume that sorting out an old Bulgarian company means immediately booking a flight to Bulgaria, finding an interpreter and visiting different offices yourself.
Depending on what your company actually requires, an appropriately authorised Bulgarian lawyer may be able to prepare the necessary documents and deal with relevant legal and registration work on your behalf.
Bulgarian lawyers can also use the electronic systems available for professional filings where the particular procedure allows this.
If a power of attorney, declaration, company resolution or other formal document is required from you, the lawyer can explain what is needed and how it should be signed or authenticated from the UK.
The first step is therefore not necessarily travelling to Bulgaria. It is finding out what your company actually needs.
For somebody who created a Bulgarian company many years ago simply to own a house or land, this can make dealing with the problem considerably easier.
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
Ignoring a Bulgarian company obligation is not a good strategy simply because you now live in the UK or have not used the company for many years.
Bulgarian company and Commercial Register legislation contains financial penalties for failures to comply with statutory registration and filing obligations. In some circumstances, sanctions can be imposed repeatedly while a required filing remains outstanding.
There can also be a practical problem. An unresolved issue with the company’s documents may only become apparent when you later need to make another company change or deal with the property — perhaps because you have finally decided to sell.
That is a particularly bad time to discover that an old company problem first needs to be resolved.
The precise consequences depend on what obligation applies to the individual company and what has or has not been done. This is why we do not recommend assuming that a particular fine or deadline mentioned on an older website automatically applies to your circumstances.
With the euro-related rules having changed during 2026, the sensible approach is to check the company now, understand what actually needs doing and deal with any required changes properly before they become urgent.
What If I Haven’t Done Anything With My Bulgarian Company for Years?
If you created your Bulgarian company many years ago simply to buy a property, the euro change may not be the only thing worth checking.
You may no longer know whether the company is still correctly registered, whether its registered address is current, what documents have been filed over the years or whether there are other matters that need attention.
You may not even remember the company’s exact name or have all the original paperwork.
That does not mean you cannot start sorting it out.
Old company documents, the name of the company, the property deeds or other information you still have may help establish the company’s current position.
It is also important not to assume that an old or inactive Bulgarian company automatically owes years of enormous fees or penalties. The facts need to be checked.
Once the position is known, you can deal with what actually needs attention rather than worrying about what might have happened.
The 2026 euro change provides a good reason to finally check an old Bulgarian property company that may have been forgotten for years.
Could an Old Bulgarian Company Affect Selling My Property?
Many British buyers created Bulgarian companies when purchasing property years ago because of the ownership rules that applied to foreign buyers of land at the time.
If your company is still involved in the ownership of the property, its position may need to be understood before a sale can proceed smoothly.
An unresolved company or registration issue can become particularly important when you later need to make changes to the company or use it as part of a property transaction.
Depending on the circumstances, outstanding compliance matters may need to be resolved before certain company or property-related steps can proceed. There may also be financial penalties or other consequences where statutory obligations have not been met.
In practical terms, you do not want to discover a problem with an old Bulgarian company only after you have found a buyer for the property and you are ready for selling your Bulgarian property
This is especially important for owners approaching the 31 December 2028 euro-related deadline. The exact consequences of failing to deal with an individual company’s obligations depend on the circumstances, but leaving the matter unresolved could potentially make later company changes or a property sale considerably more difficult.
If you ultimately want to sell the property, checking the company well before the deadline is the safer and simpler approach.
How Can We Help With an Old Bulgarian Company?
If you set up a Bulgarian company to buy property years ago and are unsure what needs doing now, you do not have to work everything out yourself.
We can help establish the basic position and, where Bulgarian company-law work is required, arrange assistance from an experienced practising Bulgarian lawyer.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include checking the company’s current registered position, reviewing the documents you still have, identifying what needs attention following Bulgaria’s change to the euro, and dealing with appropriate legal or registration work.
If there are other issues involving the company, these can be identified at the same time rather than treating the euro change in isolation.
You can start even if you have very little information.
If you know the company name, have an old company document, property deed or even just some paperwork from when you bought the property, tell us what you have and we can start from there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bulgarian Companies and the Euro
I set up a Bulgarian company just to buy my house. Does this still affect me?
Potentially, yes. If your EOOD or OOD still exists, the fact that it was created primarily to own property does not by itself remove company obligations. The first step is to establish the company’s current position and whether its documents require attention following the introduction of the euro.
Has the Commercial Register already converted my company capital into euros?
Yes. The Bulgarian Registry Agency automatically converted registered company capital from Bulgarian lev (BGN) into euros following Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026.
However, this automatic conversion does not necessarily mean that your company’s own documents have been updated. An older deed of incorporation, articles of association or company agreement may still contain capital or share values expressed in lev.
What is the deadline for dealing with the euro changes?
Following changes made in September 2026, the relevant period for bringing affected company documents into line with the euro requirements has been extended to 31 December 2028.
Some websites and articles still refer to a deadline of 31 December 2026. These may contain information published before the law was amended.
Do I need to do something immediately?
Not necessarily. The September 2026 amendments changed when updated company documents need to be presented to the Commercial Register.
What needs doing, and when, can depend on the company’s individual circumstances and whether other changes are being made to matters contained in its company documents.
This is why having the individual company checked is preferable to assuming that advice given to somebody else also applies to you.
What happens if I ignore the euro changes?
Bulgarian company and Commercial Register legislation provides for financial penalties where applicable statutory registration or filing obligations are not met.
Unresolved compliance matters could also potentially create difficulties when you later need to make company changes or deal with a property owned through the company.
The precise consequences depend upon the particular obligation and circumstances. If you ultimately want to sell the property, it is much better to establish the company’s position before a problem becomes urgent.
Will my Bulgarian company be frozen if I don’t deal with this?
The consequences can depend on the particular company, the outstanding obligation and what you subsequently need to do with the company.
Unresolved registration or compliance matters may potentially prevent or delay later company procedures until the underlying problem has been dealt with.
We therefore recommend establishing the position before the 31 December 2028 deadline, rather than discovering an unresolved issue when you urgently need to make a company change or sell your property.
Can I use an interpreter to deal with the company changes?
An interpreter can be extremely useful for helping someone communicate in Bulgarian. However, translation and Bulgarian company-law work are not the same service.
Speaking Bulgarian and English does not by itself qualify somebody to determine what legal changes a company requires, prepare the appropriate company documents or take professional responsibility for that legal work.
If legal or company-law work is required, it is sensible to use an appropriately qualified Bulgarian professional.
Can a Bulgarian lawyer deal with this for me?
Depending upon what needs to be done and the appropriate authorisation, a Bulgarian lawyer may be able to check the company’s position, prepare relevant legal documents and deal with registration procedures on your behalf.
This can be particularly useful for owners who now live in Britain and do not want to travel around Bulgarian offices trying to resolve an unfamiliar company matter themselves.
Do I have to travel back to Bulgaria?
Not necessarily.
Many legal and administrative matters can potentially be dealt with remotely using appropriately prepared documents and legal authority.
If a power of attorney, declaration, company resolution or other formal document is required from you, the lawyer handling the matter can advise you on the correct procedure for your circumstances.
I haven’t used my Bulgarian company for 10 or 20 years. Will I owe huge fines?
Do not assume that you do.
An old or inactive Bulgarian company does not automatically mean that enormous debts or penalties have accumulated. Its actual registration and compliance position needs to be established.
Equally, it is not sensible to assume that everything must be fine simply because nobody has contacted you.
Find out what is actually recorded and deal with facts rather than assumptions.
I don’t remember my company name and have lost most of the paperwork. Can you still help?
Possibly. Start with whatever you still have.
An old property deed, company document, accountant’s paperwork or other information from when you bought the property may provide enough information to begin identifying the company and investigating its current position.
I want to sell my Bulgarian property. Should I check the company first?
Yes, if the company owns the property or land or is otherwise involved in its ownership.
It is far better to identify and resolve a company issue before you have a buyer waiting for the transaction to proceed.
Checking the company early can establish whether the euro changes or any other outstanding company matters need attention before the property is put through a sale.
Don’t Leave an Old Bulgarian Company Until You Need It
If you formed a Bulgarian company many years ago to buy your property and have barely thought about it since, the introduction of the euro is a good reason to check where you stand.
You may ultimately discover that relatively little needs doing. Or there may be company documents, registration matters or other issues that need professional attention.
Finding out now is much better than discovering a problem when you are trying to sell your Bulgarian property or when a deadline has already passed.
You do not need to understand Bulgarian company law before contacting us. Tell us what you remember about the company and property and send us details of any documents you still have.
Where Bulgarian legal or company-law work is required, this can be handled by an experienced practising Bulgarian lawyer.
The Bulgarian Property Finder remains your English-language point of contact throughout the process.