How can a foreigner obtain a Bulgarian driving licence?

In Bulgaria you may drive on a Russian or Ukrainian licence for one year after entering the country (Закон За Движението по пътищета, чл. 162(2)). If you wish, you can periodically travel abroad and then return to Bulgaria again. However, when travelling to another EU country, an old-format licence may not be valid, so for that purpose it is better to obtain a driving licence in Bulgaria.

In addition, it will not be possible to replace a lost foreign licence or an expired one in Bulgaria. Therefore, those who live in Bulgaria permanently would do well to exchange the driving licence obtained in their home country for a Bulgarian one.

This is not difficult to do, and no examination is required. You need to appear at the KAT, bringing with you, in addition to your passport and residence permit card:

• A medical certificate (from a general practitioner; there is no need to see all the specialists);
• A translated and legalised secondary school certificate or a diploma of secondary vocational education. In most regions of Bulgaria (for example, in Sofia, Burgas and some other cities) university diplomas are not accepted, as a document confirming secondary education is specifically required;
• A valid driving licence;
• 3 copies of the driving licence.

No photograph is required, as all the data is taken from the Ministry of the Interior database. After that you need to pay the fee (altogether it will cost 33 leva) and wait a month. At the end of this period, a new licence is issued in place of the old one. The Russian or Ukrainian licence is withdrawn at the same time. The KAT sends it back to the driver’s home country. Thus, it is not possible to hold a Russian (Ukrainian) and a Bulgarian licence at the same time. Those who want to hold both a Bulgarian and their “home” licence simply obtain a new driving licence in Bulgaria by taking a course at a driving school and passing the examination.

Driving schools in Burgas

To obtain a driving licence in Bulgaria, a foreign national must have completed secondary education (the school certificate or university diploma must be translated and legalised) and hold a long-term residence permit or a permanent residence permit. Before receiving the licence, you must complete a course and pass an examination. Naturally, a medical examination will also be required.

There are quite a few driving schools in Burgas, but the tuition is in Bulgarian, which makes the learning process, and especially passing the theory examination, somewhat more difficult. If you wish, you can look for a Russian-speaking instructor or theory teacher. Most driving schools are willing to accommodate foreigners and find a teacher with whom communication will not be a problem.

The largest driving schools in Burgas:

• The «Елит Ауто» driving school is located at ж.к. Славейков, 121, Б. Tel. 0887708844. The school employs experienced teachers and payment by instalments is possible.
• The «Русев и синове» driving school. Address: ж.к. Лазур, ул. Батак, 43, tel. 0887787292. The driving school offers to arrange tuition at times convenient for its clients.
• The «Каталина» driving school. Address: ж.к. Меден Рудник, block 35, entrance 8. Tel. 0887822206. The driving school has a modern fleet of vehicles and offers a flexible lesson schedule.
• The «Тони 71» driving school. Telephone 0895128532. This driving school offers additional tuition hours for its students at no extra cost.
• Шофьорски курсове «Авто БИС». This driving school is located at ул. Демокрация, 73. Telephone 0888458963. The teachers work with students until the required result is achieved.

Even if you manage to find a Russian-speaking instructor, the examinations will have to be taken in Bulgarian. Those who find this too difficult can travel to their home country, obtain a licence there and then exchange it for a Bulgarian one. More experienced drivers who obtained their driving licence long before moving to Bulgaria can also exchange it.

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