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The euro in Bulgaria

Since 1 January 2026 Bulgaria’s currency has been the euro. The rate, where and until when leva can be exchanged free of charge, what happened to accounts, salaries and pensions, and what to do if you live abroad and still hold leva.

Last checked: 26 October 20262 min readOfficial sources

On this page
  1. Where to exchange leva
  2. Accounts, loans, salaries and pensions
  3. Prices and receipts
  4. If you live abroad
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. Official sources

Since 1 January 2026 the euro has been Bulgaria’s official currency. The rate is irrevocably fixed: €1 = BGN 1.95583. The lev stopped being legal tender after 31 January 2026, but lev banknotes and coins can still be exchanged — at the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) free of charge and with no time limit.

rate
BGN 1.95583
per euro, fixed for good
BNB
no time limit
free and unlimited exchange
banks
31.12.2026
cannot refuse to exchange until then
How the changeover went
  1. 8 August 2025Dual pricesprices shown in euro and leva
  2. 1 January 2026Euro introducedaccounts converted automatically
  3. 31 January 2026End of dual circulationthe lev is no longer legal tender
  4. 30 June 2026End of free exchange at banks and post officesa fee may apply from now on
  5. 8 August 2026End of dual prices
  6. 1 January 2027Banks and post offices may stop exchangingthe BNB continues with no time limit

Where to exchange leva

BNBBanksBulgarian Posts
Free of chargealwaysuntil 30.06.2026until 30.06.2026
From 1.07.2026freea fee may applya fee may apply
Amountno limitover BGN 30,000 — book 3 working days aheadup to BGN 1,000 a day; up to BGN 10,000 — by request
Untilno time limitmay stop after 31.12.2026may stop after 31.12.2026

The bank and post office limits are those set by law for the first 6 months; since then each bank sets its own terms. Post offices exchange only in places without a bank branch.

The BNB exchanges at its own buildings and at the regional centres of the Cash Services Company (Druzhestvo za kasovi uslugi). Bring an identity document: exchanges are subject to anti-money-laundering rules. Check addresses and opening hours on bnb.bg before you go. Damaged notes and coins are exchanged under rules set by the BNB.

Accounts, loans, salaries and pensions

  • Accounts at banks in Bulgaria were converted to euro on 1 January 2026 automatically, once and free of charge. You do not need to apply.
  • Loans in leva were converted to euro at the official rate. A fixed interest rate stays the same. Banks may not use the changeover to change your contract to your disadvantage.
  • Contracts referring to the lev remain valid — amounts are read in euro at the official rate.
  • Salaries, pensions and social benefits have been paid in euro since 1 January 2026. When they were converted, amounts were rounded up to the next cent.

Euro amounts are calculated by dividing the lev amount by 1.95583 and rounding to two decimal places (up if the third decimal is 5 or more). For example, BGN 1,000 = €511.29. Until 1 January 2027 anyone can ask the bank or other institution that did the conversion, free of charge, for the lev value of their accounts and liabilities. The answer is given within 7 days.

Prices and receipts

Prices of goods and services were shown in both euro and leva from 8 August 2025 to 8 August 2026. That obligation has ended and prices are now in euro only. Any price rise must be justified by objective economic factors.

If you live abroad

  • An account with a Bulgarian bank is already in euro; there is nothing to do. If you have no online banking, you can ask the bank for a statement.
  • Lev cash can only be exchanged in Bulgaria: at a bank until the end of 2026 (possibly for a fee) or at the BNB with no time limit. Whether banks and exchange offices in your country of residence accept leva is up to them.
  • A Bulgarian pension paid abroad is transferred in euro.
  • When travelling with a large amount of leva, the usual rules apply: amounts worth €10,000 or more must be declared to customs when entering or leaving the EU.
  • Government and consular fees are now in euro. Older pages with prices in leva are out of date.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still pay with leva in a shop?

No. Dual circulation ended on 31 January 2026. Leva can only be exchanged.

Will I lose money if I exchange my leva next year?

Not at the BNB — it exchanges at the official rate, free of charge and with no time limit. Banks may no longer offer the service after 1 January 2027.

Do I need to visit the bank about my lev account?

No. All lev accounts at banks in Bulgaria were converted to euro automatically and free of charge on 1 January 2026.

Can I exchange leva by post from abroad?

We found no official information about such an option. Exchange at the BNB, banks and Bulgarian Posts is done in person, at a counter in Bulgaria.

How do I convert an old lev amount to euro?

Divide it by 1.95583 and round to the cent. There is also an official calculator on evroto.bg.

Official sources

This information is for guidance only. For official instructions, fees and deadlines, refer to the source cited or to the institution concerned.