Joined: May 20, 2004 Posts: 2093 Location: South West Bulgaria
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:33 am Post subject:
Under a New Zealand passport you can only stay 90 days without registering. Australia has ties to the Shengen agreement, so you will be entitled to longer stays - once/if Bulgaria joins. Until then, I would assume the 90 day rule will apply.
Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 3319 Location: Stockport
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:55 am Post subject:
Moscow_Wolf wrote:
parkersd wrote:
Wandy quoted:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia and the UK are the only Member States where
registration is not required.
So, if that's the case how on earth can they fine you, albeit it a small fine, for not registering? You are doing nothing illegal according to the rules!!!!
Sue
Because Wandy is most probably WRONG. It is a standard EU rule that as an EU Citizen that you are allowed to remain in any other EU country than your own for a maximum of 90 days. Should you wish to stay longer then, you are meant to register; if you don't and you get caught, the country concerned can FINE you to the amount they would fine their own nationals for a similar offence. Why do you think that most of us resident EU citizens go and register ourselves here in Bulgaria and receive our Long Term Residence cards if it wasn't a requirement.
I do wish that some folk would take the time to read the EU Directives before spreading spurious and misleading information.
We are staying on holiday for 5 months, we went to the immigration offrice in Sunny Beach Police station to 'register',and told them we were staying longer than 3 months and that we were staying for 5 they asked us where we were from, we told them England, and they said there is no need for us to register.
I think that the immigration department at Sunny Beach would have a rough idea of the requiements.
So if in doubt go and visit your nearest immigration office
Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 5656 Location: Near Karnobat
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:52 pm Post subject:
tedthered wrote:
Moscow_Wolf wrote:
parkersd wrote:
Wandy quoted:
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia and the UK are the only Member States where
registration is not required.
So, if that's the case how on earth can they fine you, albeit it a small fine, for not registering? You are doing nothing illegal according to the rules!!!!
Sue
Because Wandy is most probably WRONG. It is a standard EU rule that as an EU Citizen that you are allowed to remain in any other EU country than your own for a maximum of 90 days. Should you wish to stay longer then, you are meant to register; if you don't and you get caught, the country concerned can FINE you to the amount they would fine their own nationals for a similar offence. Why do you think that most of us resident EU citizens go and register ourselves here in Bulgaria and receive our Long Term Residence cards if it wasn't a requirement.
I do wish that some folk would take the time to read the EU Directives before spreading spurious and misleading information.
We are staying on holiday for 5 months, we went to the immigration offrice in Sunny Beach Police station to 'register',and told them we were staying longer than 3 months and that we were staying for 5 they asked us where we were from, we told them England, and they said there is no need for us to register.
I think that the immigration department at Sunny Beach would have a rough idea of the requiements.
So if in doubt go and visit your nearest immigration office
Cheers
Ted the Red
Yes, a ROUGH IDEA is about the best you can get from the Plods in some Provincial region of Bulgaria - and, they'd be right, who cares if you're only staying for 5 months as nobody is going to check whether or not your registered when you depart at Burgas or whatever airport. However, LIVE here on a permanent basis and it is in your best interests to register yourself. After 5 years, you can apply for Permanent Residence which may or may not be an advantage, but the 5 year point can only start from the time you first register.
If I only had a holiday home here as an EU Citizen and whether I stayed here for 9 months out of 12, I wouldn't bother to register even though, I'm supposed to do so - what's the point. Registration is really only useful for those that live here permanently.
I've said it before, if you're not registered, you cannot even think about buying a car on your own name, you can only drive one with a Power of Attorney from the current owner. You have NO chance of joining the Bulgarian National Health Service and basically, you don't exist.
However, IF you had had a problem and you'd explained that Mr. Plod in Burgas Immigration Office had told you that because you're English you didn't need to register - do you think it would convince the bigger Immigration Plod? I doubt it somehow, no name, no signature, no defence. EU Directives OVERRULE all local and national interpretations of any directive or rule, Full Stop.
Joined: Jan 26, 2012 Posts: 35 Location: Plymouth & Veliko Tarnovo Bulagria
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:42 am Post subject:
I thought like many others that I wouldn't need to register. My partner and I have had a home here for 4 years and have been coming back and forth from the UK for holidays. We have now moved here full time. (although Gerry does have to go back to the UK every 4 months for cancer checks) We have been here permanently for 4 months now, well over our ninety days. Does anyone know if we still need to register bearing in mind that we both go back to the UK every 3/4 months for 14 days. If so can somebody please shed some light on where I register and what it is likely to be. (Top tip, don't listen to brits in a pub who tell you "this is what we did") I am so scared and very annoyed now that we have failed to follow the rules correctly.
Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 3319 Location: Stockport
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:19 am Post subject:
Hi, Steve
I suggest you do what we did, visit the nearest immigration department, and follow their adevice, I quite agree with Moscow Wolf if you are going to stay in BG permanantly you need some sort of visa/residence card, but I would have thought for up to 12 months you would be ok, but I don't know what the break is?
We are leaving BG in September/October and not returning until April/May next year, so I think we will be ok, but you can only ask and hope the reply/advice you receive is correct
Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 5656 Location: Near Karnobat
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:39 am Post subject:
stevedonovan wrote:
I thought like many others that I wouldn't need to register. My partner and I have had a home here for 4 years and have been coming back and forth from the UK for holidays. We have now moved here full time. (although Gerry does have to go back to the UK every 4 months for cancer checks) We have been here permanently for 4 months now, well over our ninety days. Does anyone know if we still need to register bearing in mind that we both go back to the UK every 3/4 months for 14 days. If so can somebody please shed some light on where I register and what it is likely to be. (Top tip, don't listen to brits in a pub who tell you "this is what we did") I am so scared and very annoyed now that we have failed to follow the rules correctly.
Any sensible and correct advice gladly accepted.
Steve
Your case is a little more complicated in my opinion and it is ONLY my opinion. In theory, once you become resident in another country you are no longer ENTITLED to free National Health Service treatment although, it is DISCRETIONARY.
Perhaps whilst under-going these 3 monthly check-ups or treatments, you may well be better off as staying officially domiciled at your UK address. At the end of the day, Bulgaria will NOT or CANNOT throw you out for not registering and as you are really going backwards and forwards at this time with a genuine reason; I don't foresee any great problems.
However, should you decide that Bulgarian Long Term Residence is the way that you feel you should go then, I suggest you find yourself a good Interpreter in your area that can accompany you to your local Immigration office - these nearly always appear to be collocated with Police Stations.
You will only be required to show that you have a place to live (Notary Akt and/or Company documents); that you have a bank account here in Bulgaria but not how much you have in the account, this letter you obtain from your Bank. The only real sticking point is MEDICAL Insurance, some ask, some don't, but they're fully entitled to ask that you have it. Again, it appears that most Brits get away with showing that EHIC card (I never know which is the latest term) and so if that suffices and/or they ask, fine.
It is not a means test at all and usually fairly straight forward if you go forearmed with an Interpreter/translator and all the correct documents including passports etc.
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