Exchange bureaus are not allowed to exchange levs for euros. This is clear from amendments to the regulation that controls their work, published in the State Gazette last week. According to the industry, the ban was not discussed with them, and they only learned about the new rules after January 13, when they were promulgated, NOVA reported.
The Ministry of Finance specifies that the changes are necessary because from January 1, 2026, the official currency in our country is now the euro. Until the end of January - the period in which the lev continues to be in circulation, exchange bureaus can exchange levs for all types of currencies, but not for euros. Levs can be used to buy US dollars or Turkish liras, for example. After February 1, these transactions will no longer be possible at exchange offices. They will not be able to accept levs at all.
According to the Finance Ministry, the Law on the Introduction of the Euro imposes obligations on banks and post offices to exchange levs at the fixed rate, without fees for 6 months, but it does not regulate exchange offices to do this.
They will be able to continue working with the currencies that offer the euro, but not with the lev, since it will no longer be a means of payment. The fixed rate of the euro to other currencies, which is published by the Bulgarian National Bank, does not apply to exchange offices. The rates of exchange offices may deviate by 5% from the official fixings.