Bulgaria heard the cherished “yes” from the European institutions, so that it can adopt the euro as its national currency from January 1, 2026. There was a vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the final decision of the EU Council during the meeting of finance ministers in Brussels. And that's it.
The euro has arrived!
The lev… We will enjoy it for a little longer, and then we will send it with honors to the History Museum, so that we will wonder about it in years to come like an antique. On July 7, at a meeting of the Eurogroup, the lev-euro exchange rate was also fixed - 1.95583 leva for 1 euro. And so on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will become the 21st member of the single currency union. And since we are already with the euro, a good and quick effect, after as a country adopting the euro, is expected to come from the leading rating agencies.
When Croatia became the 20th member state of the eurozone, the agencies raised their assessment of it in two steps, but the country received an investment grade A rating. This means more favorable conditions for financing the government and business.
Not that this interests the average person, but from a more global perspective it matters for business.
„Starter packages“
Now this is a topic that directly affects and will affect every person in Bulgaria. From mid-November, people and businesses will be able to buy „starter packages“ from commercial banks. By „starter package“ is meant an available quantity of euros - banknotes and coins, so that they can be bought and traded. Until the date of the introduction of the euro, banks sell „starter kits“ with euro coins with the Bulgarian national side on physical individuals and traders. The Bulgarian National Bank and "Bulgarian Posts" EAD sell starter kits with euro coins with the Bulgarian national side only to individuals. The euro coins received with the "starter kits" purchased by individuals and traders cannot be used until the date of the euro introduction.
The BNB will announce the date for the start of sales of the "starter kits" with euro coins with the Bulgarian national side. For citizens, the BNB plans to produce 1 million kits with the equivalent of 20 leva. For businesses, it is planned to produce 20 thousand kits with coins and banknotes equal to 100 euros. Commercial banks will play a major role here. Bank accounts will be converted automatically and free of charge, so that we can receive our first salary in January 2026 in euros.
How many leva per day will we be able to exchange in euro?
The BNB has no restrictions on the amount of money exchanged per day. There will also be no limit on the amount in credit institutions (banks) during the first 6 months, and for amounts over 30,000 leva per transaction, the standard advance request of 3 working days is made. During the first 6 months from the date of the introduction of the euro, “Bulgarian Posts“ EAD will exchange banknotes and coins from levs to euros in the amount of up to 1,000 leva per day for one person. For amounts in the amount of 1,000 leva to 10,000 leva per day, an advance request of 3 to 5 working days must be submitted only in previously announced post offices in the country. This is clear from the Ministry of Finance's website for the euro.
During the first six months after the introduction of the euro, banks and “Bulgarian Posts“ will exchange levs to euros free of charge at the fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN. After this period, banks will have the right to charge exchange fees.