Exchange leva for euro in Bulgaria without a fee (2026)
Where to exchange leva for euro without a fee, and until when? БНБ: for good. Banks and Bulgarian Posts: free until 30 June 2026. Limits, deadlines, steps.
Do you have old leva in cash, money tucked away “under the mattress” or in an envelope from before the switch to the euro? Here is where and until when you can exchange them for euro without paying a single cent in fees.
Short, clear, with the exact deadlines. First, though, check whether you need to exchange anything at all, because the money in your bank accounts is already in euro.
❓Where can I exchange leva for euro without a fee?
Source: Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria
Careful: free exchange at banks and post offices ends on 30 June 2026
The deadline for free exchange depends on where you go. The БНБ has no end date. Banks and post offices, however, have only one free window, and it closes in the middle of 2026.
30 June 2026
deadline for free exchange at commercial banks and Bulgarian Posts
After this date banks and post offices MAY introduce a fee. The БНБ stays free with no time limit.
What happens after 30 June 2026
- 1 January to 30 June 2026: banks and post offices exchange free of charge.
- 1 July to 31 December 2026: banks and post offices may charge a fee for the exchange.
- From 1 January 2027: banks and post offices may stop the service altogether.
- БНБ: exchanges free of charge and with no end date, even years from now.
Until 31 December 2026 banks cannot refuse you an exchange. So if you are holding leva in cash, the calmest option is to exchange them before 30 June 2026.
Check first: the money in your account is already in euro
This is the most common confusion. Exchange at a counter is only for cash, that is, banknotes and coins. The money in your bank account does not need to be touched at a counter.
Accounts were converted automatically
- All leva accounts were converted automatically and free of charge on 1 January 2026.
- Your IBAN, bank cards and PIN codes do not change.
- Since 1 January 2026 cash machines dispense only euro banknotes.
So if you keep your savings in a bank, you do not need to do anything. You only need an exchange at a counter for physical leva that you have at home.
BGN 1.95583
fixed rate for 1 euro (not open to negotiation)
Source: ECB / Council Decision (EU) 2025/1407
The three free exchange channels compared
There are three places that exchange leva in cash without a fee. Each has different rules on limits and advance requests. Here they are side by side.
| Channel | Limit | Deadline | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| БНБ | No limit | No deadline (for good) | The only place for damaged banknotes and coins |
| Commercial banks | Over BGN 30,000 per transaction: request three working days in advance | Free until 30 June 2026 | Cannot refuse an exchange until 31 December 2026 |
| Bulgarian Posts | Up to BGN 1,000 a day: no request. BGN 1,000-10,000 a day: request 3-5 working days in advance. Over BGN 10,000 a day: not exchanged | Free until 30 June 2026 | Only in places without a bank branch |
The limits for Bulgarian Posts apply per person per day. The БНБ is the safe option with no end date.
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
Steps for exchanging leva in cash
If you have already checked that you have physical leva to exchange, here is how the process goes.
How to exchange leva for euro without a fee
Check whether you need to at all
The money in your account is already in euro. You only need an exchange at a counter for banknotes and coins that you hold.
The БНБ (no deadline and no limit), a commercial bank or Bulgarian Posts (in places without a bank).
Prepare a declaration for larger amounts
For amounts over BGN 9,779 (the equivalent of 5,000 euro) you will need a declaration of the origin of the funds.
Submit an advance request if needed
3-5 working daysAt a bank, for amounts over BGN 30,000 per transaction: a request three working days earlier. At a post office, for BGN 1,000-10,000 a day: 3-5 working days.
You receive euro at the rate of BGN 1.95583
Bring your ID card. The amount is calculated at the fixed rate and rounded to the euro cent.
Declaring the origin of funds over BGN 9,779 (5,000 euro)
There is a widespread mistake here. The threshold for a declaration when exchanging is not BGN 10,000 but BGN 9,779, which is the exact equivalent of 5,000 euro.
Which threshold applies to exchange
The Measures Against Money Laundering Act (ЗМИП) remains in force after the euro. For an exchange of amounts over BGN 9,779 (5,000 euro) you must declare the origin of the funds.
The figure of BGN 10,000 that is often mentioned is the threshold under a different law, the Act on the Limitation of Cash Payments (ЗОПБ). It concerns payments in cash, not the exchange of leva for euro. Do not mix them up.
Measures Against Money Laundering Act (ЗМИП)
Art. 66(2)
The threshold for a declaration when exchanging is the equivalent of 5,000 euro, not BGN 10,000.
Official Bulgarian text
„За суми над 9779 лева или 5000 евро се изисква декларация за произход на средствата.“
In practice: bring your ID card and be ready to explain where the money comes from if you exchange a larger sum at once. For ordinary household sums no declaration is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I exchange leva for euro years from now?
Yes. The БНБ exchanges leva banknotes and coins with no time limit. Even if you find forgotten leva years from now, you will be able to exchange them at the БНБ without a fee and with no deadline.
What happens to damaged banknotes?
Damaged or torn leva banknotes and coins are exchanged only at the БНБ. Banks and post offices accept only banknotes and coins in good condition.
Is there a fee at the БНБ?
No, never. Exchange at the БНБ is free, with no limit and no time limit. This is the safest option if you miss the deadline at banks and post offices.
What is the exchange rate of the lev to the euro?
The rate is fixed and not open to negotiation: 1 euro = 1.95583 leva (BGN). It is the same everywhere, whether you exchange at the БНБ, a bank or a post office.
According to a preliminary estimate by the БНБ, around 640 tonnes of banknotes and around 7,700 tonnes of coins are expected to be withdrawn from circulation. So you are not alone if you still hold leva in cash.
Want to find out more about the changeover itself and its rules? Read Euro Introduction Act: what else you need to know.
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
⚠️ Important
Pravko provides legal information, but it does not replace advice from a lawyer. For important legal matters, consult a licensed lawyer.
