'We Are Just Pensioners Living on A Pension'

Dear Sir/Madam, 

I am writing regarding your article Bulgaria To Attract Elderly Settlers and Tourists, dated 4 June, 2014.

We have lived here, in a beautiful part of Bulgaria for the last five years we are three months into our sixth year.I understand from your article that the Bulgarian Government would like more pensioners to come and live here, if this is so, how is it that the Bulgarian Government makes it so difficult to settle here?

By this I mean:

1. On arrival in Bulgaria foreign pensioners are required to register, which is as it should be.

2. Pensioners must produce: deeds to property, company documents, a passport, a current European Medical Card, a letter from a notary to prove who they are, (a cost to the pensioner), a letter from the bank to state they have money in the bank (a cost to pensioner).

3. This documentation is taken to the KAT to register, (a cost to the pensioner).

4. Non-Bulgarians will normally take an interpreter (a Cost the pensioner).

5. ID card is then issued.

While on initial registration this is understandable, why does the pensioner who will have spent five years living in Bulgaria have to produce all the above-mentioned documents on renewal after the first five years, these pensioners will  have been part of the community and paying in to the country for this time.

Question 1: Do Bulgarians have to produce all these documents when they re-register?

Question 2: Why is for foreign pensioners, car registration tied to their personal registration, as with the personal re-registration. Also, the pensioners' car has to be re-registered at the same time. (a cost to the pensioner). 

This, I believe, would be a very good subject to pursue, given the Bulgarian Government is looking for foreign pensioners to come and live here. 

I would like to point out the I am an Englishman living with my wife in Nikyup, Veliko Tarnovo, the people here are wonderful, friendly, can’t do enough for us, they have made us part of the village community, I would not live anywhere else in the world.

I know this seems a bit of a moan, but I do thinks it’s a bit unfair to pay some of these costs to re-register. We, and a great many foreign pensioners that the Bulgarian Government is trying to get to come and live here, are just that - pensioners living on a pension.  I would not swap my life here, it is great.  

Take Care,

John Dennis.

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