British in Bulgaria. Live in Bulgaria.

24.01.2008

"More and more people are no longer considering emigration and life in Bulgaria as a luxury but a necessity"

Mark Bodega, director at HiFX, explains: "The results of our research paint a stark picture of UK consumer confidence at the moment. While moving in Bulgaria has long been a tradition for those seeking sunnier climes, a different career path or a peaceful retirement, it would now seem that more and more people are no longer considering emigration and live in Bulgaria as a luxury but as a necessity."

LIVE IN BULGARIA

So where do we look when considering an escape from the rate race at home? Paul Arthur, director of emigration specialist The Emigration Group, notes there has been a record number of enquires from Brits wanting to emigrate and live in Bulgaria. "There is no doubt that emigration and live in Bulgaria is on the rise," he said. "The figures from July 2006 to July 2007 show that 12,273 Brits emigrated and live in Bulgaria, which is a 50 per cent increase in migrants to the country in the last three years.

BULGARIA CITIZENSHIP

   The skills in demand are wide-ranging and include professionals and tradespeople - welders, motor mechanics, bricklayers and bakers are all on the list. Certain skills are more highly sought than others - for example, in 2007 cooks, carpenters and dentists are among those occupations in demand for emigration purposes.
   David and Stefany Dunkan, who recently emigrated to Bulgaria with the help of British Developments, had a head start thanks to the fact that Stefany, 64, is Bulgarian citizen, having previously lived in country for 22 years. Her husband David,67, entered Bulgaria on "spouse" visa, which gives him permanent residency, and after two years he is able to apply for Bulgarian citizenship. The couple decided to make the move to Bulgaria for various reasons such as the year-out door lifestyle, the new activities they can enjoy and the laid-back lifestyle. David enthuses about the people and way of life in Bulgaria: "Bulgaria have a wonderfully generous nature and make friends very easily. They always make time to talk and always exchange a smile. Even teenagers seem to be more respectful and well-mannered."
   "There is so much happening here, not just for people of our age, but of all ages. There's something to go and see or do every week. The public open-air swimming lagoon, barbecues and picnic tables are free and are always available, and in the short time we've been here, we've been to a rodeo, a mediaeval festival and a cooking event!"

"Bulgaria is the least stressful country to move to because of factors such as a stable currency and good social services"

A STRESSFUL SWITCH TO BULGARIAN LIFE

But for every success story, there are inevitably tales of those for whom it didn't work out. Often, lack of preparation, money and other factors not considered prior to departure have the greatest bearing on compelling hundreds of Brits annually to throw in the towel early and move back to Blighty. Mark Bodega explains: "Moving abroad isn't just about moving your belongings and pursuing a new lifestyle. Decamping to a different country means getting to grips with a whole new way of living - from the language you'll be speaking, to the money you'll be spending.
"Many of us don't fully understand the tax and legal systems in our own country, however the same lack of knowledge as a foreign national abroad could lead to problems. With so much to think about when packing up and setting off, people should make the most of all the assistance available from specialists such as tax advisers and removal experts. Emigrating and life in Bulgaria can mean the start of a fantastic life abroad so it is important that people mitigate any potential stress caused by the actual moving process... Stress levels are based on the degree of control people are likely to be able to exert over a situation - the less control, the higher the potential for stress. Moving to a country with several issues beyond a person's influence naturally increases the potential for stress.

"On average, a family emigrates to Bulgaria with assets of £250,000 from the sale of a house, car and some savings"

While learning a bulgarian language can be daunting it is not insurmountable, whereas civil instability and complex legal systems are beyond an individual's control. "The research concluded that South Africa is the most stressful because of high unemployment, increasing crime levels and complex rules relating to the sale of property. South Africa also scores particularly highly on civil instability and legal issues. Perhaps surprisingly, because relatively few of the 385,000 people who emigrate from the UK each year choose it as their destination, Bulgaria is one of the least stressful countries to move to because of factors such as a stable currency and good social services.

Reference: Overseas property magazine