Can Brits Still Buy Land in Bulgaria After Brexit?

The Short Answer

Yes, British nationals can buy land in Bulgaria after Brexit — but with some restrictions that didn’t apply before 2020, and a key workaround that most expats use.

What Changed After Brexit

Before Brexit, UK nationals had the same property rights as EU citizens in Bulgaria, including the right to purchase agricultural land. After 31 December 2020, UK nationals became third-country nationals under Bulgarian law.

This matters for one specific category of land: agricultural land.

Under Bulgarian law, non-EU nationals cannot directly purchase agricultural land unless they have resided legally in Bulgaria for five consecutive years. This restriction does not apply to:

Residential land (УПИ — урегулиран поземлен имот) in regulated zones
Buildings and apartments
Commercial property

Since most self-build plots that are suitable for residential construction are classified as regulated residential land (not agricultural land), most British buyers are unaffected by this restriction when buying through SelfBuild.Homes.

The Agricultural Land Question

If you want to purchase agricultural land — perhaps for a larger rural holding — you have two main options:

Option 1: Wait for 5 Years of Legal Residency

If you have lived legally in Bulgaria for five years (with proper registration), you gain the right to purchase agricultural land directly as an individual.

Option 2: Use a Bulgarian Company

This is the route most British buyers use. By purchasing through a Bulgarian-registered company (ЕOOD — Еднолично дружество с ограничена отговорност, the Bulgarian equivalent of a Ltd company), you can purchase agricultural land without the residency requirement.

A Bulgarian EOOD can be 100% owned by a UK national. Company formation costs approximately €300-€500 and takes about a week. Annual accounting and compliance costs are modest.

Important: The company route adds a layer of administrative complexity and some tax implications. Always take advice from a Bulgarian accountant and lawyer before proceeding.

Residential Land — No Restriction

For the purposes of SelfBuild.Homes projects, the good news is clear: British nationals can purchase regulated residential land directly as individuals, without a company, without a residency requirement.

The plots we offer in Agatovo are all classified as regulated residential land (УПИ). A UK national can purchase these directly.

The Purchase Process

Whether buying as an individual or through a company, the purchase process in Bulgaria is:

Preliminary contract (предварителен договор) — a binding purchase agreement signed by both parties
Due diligence period — typically 4-8 weeks; your lawyer verifies title, regulation status, encumbrances
Final deed (нотариален акт) — signed before a notary, this is the legally binding transfer of ownership
Registration — the notary registers the deed with the Property Registry (Имотен регистър) and the Cadastre

The whole process typically takes 6-12 weeks from agreeing terms to completion.

Costs of Purchase

Budget for the following additional costs on top of the purchase price:

Cost	Typical Amount
Notary fees	0.4% – 1.5% of purchase price
Local transfer tax	2-3% of purchase price
Registration fee	Approx. 0.1% of purchase price
Lawyer’s fees	€500 – €2,000
Translation costs	€100 – €300

We recommend using a Bulgarian lawyer independent of the selling agent. We can recommend trusted professionals.

Residence Rights After Brexit

Buying property in Bulgaria does not, by itself, grant you the right to live there. Post-Brexit, UK nationals need to obtain a residence permit if they wish to stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period.

The most common route for retirees is the long-term residence permit (разрешение за дългосрочно пребиваване), which requires demonstrating sufficient financial means (typically a pension or savings threshold) and health insurance.

This is a manageable process. Thousands of British expats have completed it successfully. We can point you to specialists who handle residence applications.

Our Recommendation

Don’t let Brexit complexity put you off. The restrictions are narrower than most people fear, and the workarounds are well-established.

The regulated residential plots we offer can be purchased directly by any UK national. We handle the due diligence on regulation status, and we can recommend reliable lawyers for the purchase itself.

Questions about the buying process? Contact us or read our Buyer Beware guide for the full picture on what to watch out for.