Euro Introduction Act in Bulgaria: what to know in 2026
The euro is Bulgaria's currency since 1 January 2026. What the law says, the exchange deadlines up to 31 December 2026 and what to do in a shop dispute.
It has been 4 months since the euro became the official currency in Bulgaria. Dual circulation ended on 31 January, you now pay only in euro, but the real questions are appearing right now: what do I do with the stotinki (the lev’s small coins) at home, why does the shop not accept coins, and when is the last deadline for exchange at a bank?
The deadline is closer than you think. Until 31 December 2026 banks and Bulgarian Posts (Български пощи) exchange leva, and after that only the Bulgarian National Bank (БНБ) remains. In this article you will find the exact rules of the Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ЗВЕРБ), what to do in a dispute with a trader and how to exchange forgotten leva at home.
❓When is the last deadline for exchanging leva at a bank?
Source: ЗВЕРБ + БНБ
Where we are today: timeline and remaining deadlines
The changeover to the euro did not happen in a day and is not over yet. Here is the full timeline: what is past, where we are now and which deadlines remain for you to watch.
Timeline of the changeover to the euro
8 August 2025
Start of dual price display. Shops show prices in both leva and euro. Exceptions: taxi services from 31 October 2025; books and textbooks from 1 January 2026.
1 January 2026
The euro becomes the official currency. Bank accounts are converted automatically and free of charge at the fixed rate of BGN 1.95583 per euro.
1-31 January 2026
Dual circulation period. You pay with both leva and euro in shops. The period will not be extended.
1 February 2026
End of dual circulation. Payments in shops are in euro only.
Today (May 2026)
WE ARE HERE. Free exchange of leva at banks and Bulgarian Posts. Dual price display is still in force: watch both prices.
30 June 2026
End of free exchange of leva at banks. From 1 July every bank may charge a fee.
8 August 2026
End of dual price display. Prices are shown in euro only. Receipts too.
31 December 2026
Last day for exchanging leva at banks and at Bulgarian Posts. After that only at the БНБ, with no time limit and free of charge.
What happened to your money in the bank?
If you had a bank account in leva, you do not need to do anything. The conversion happened automatically on 1 January 2026.
1.95583
Fixed rate: leva per 1 euro
Information
Salaries, pensions and social benefits
Since 1 January 2026 salaries, pensions and all social benefits have been paid in euro. There is a special rule on rounding that works in your favour.
UP
Salaries and pensions: rounding in favour of citizens
Example: a pension of 900 leva is converted to 460.17 euro, not to 460.16 euro. Although the difference is 1 cent, the law expressly protects citizens.
Information
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
How are prices converted?
The formula is simple: an amount in leva divided by 1.95583 equals an amount in euro. Rounding is to the second decimal place.
Rules for converting
Always divide
The amount in leva is DIVIDED by 1.95583. Never multiplied.
Round to the cent
The result is rounded to the second decimal place.
Examples
BGN 1,000 = EUR 511.29. BGN 500 = EUR 255.65. BGN 100 = EUR 51.13.
Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ЗВЕРБ)
Art. 12-13
Official Bulgarian text
„Превалутиране и закръгляване, предвидени в чл. 12 и 13 от ЗВЕРБ: пълното числово изражение на обменния курс 1,95583, без закръгляване на самия курс.“
Leftover leva at home: how, where and until when to exchange them
Found BGN 200 in an old purse or a box of coins from childhood? They are not lost: you still have time to exchange them. Below is a table of all the possible channels, deadlines and conditions.
| Where | Fee | Deadline | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| БНБ | Free | No time limit | No limit |
| Banks (January-June 2026) | Free | Until 30 June 2026 | No limit |
| Banks (July-December 2026) | With a fee | Until 31 December 2026 | No limit |
| Bulgarian Posts | Free until 30 June 2026, with a fee from 1 July 2026 | Until 31 December 2026 | Only in places without a bank branch; daily limit; request 3-5 working days in advance |
31 December 2026
last day for exchanging leva at banks and Bulgarian Posts
After this date exchange is possible ONLY at the БНБ, with no time limit, free of charge and with no limit. Do not miss the deadline, especially if you have large sums.
What to prepare before you go to exchange
With this you will get through the counter in minutes, not hours
Identity document (ID card)
Banknotes and coins counted
Sort them by denomination: it saves time at the counter
An advance request (only for Bulgarian Posts)
3-5 working days before your visit
Information about the rate
1 euro = 1.95583 leva. Work out the amount you expect
Information
Prices in the shop: dual display and what the receipt says
Until 8 August 2026 dual price display is still in force: on every label you must see the price in both euro and leva. Receipts too. Here is what to watch for and what to do if the two do not match.
What you should see on the label and the receipt
Price in euro (main) + price in leva (for information)
Until 8 August 2026
Receipt: amounts in euro + for information in leva
Required by Art. 15 ЗВЕРБ
Exact correspondence between the two prices at the fixed rate of 1.95583
From 9 August 2026: prices in euro only
Dual display ends
If they do not match, photograph the label and file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Commission (КЗП)
Do your contracts change?
No. The law introduces a principle of continuity. All contracts remain in force. The leva in them automatically become euro at the fixed rate of 1.95583.
Caution
Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ЗВЕРБ)
Art. 11
Official Bulgarian text
„Запазването на условията на договорите е изрично предвидено в чл. 11 от ЗВЕРБ.“
Real situations after February 2026: what to do if...
The theory is clear, but what happens when you are standing at the till and something is wrong? Here are the five most common disputed situations consumers are already running into, and what your rights are.
Scenarios and actions
The shop gives you the wrong change
Work out the correct rate: amount in leva ÷ 1.95583. Round to the cent. If the difference is to your detriment, ask for a correction at the till. If they refuse: a photo of the receipt + a complaint to the КЗП.
The cashier refuses your coins
A trader may refuse more than 50 coins in ONE transaction (the rule is Europe-wide). Under 50 coins they have NO right to refuse. Pay in several smaller transactions or file a complaint with the КЗП.
The price in euro does not match the one in leva
During dual price display (until 8 August 2026) the two prices must correspond at the fixed rate. A mismatch is a violation of Art. 15 ЗВЕРБ. Photograph the label and file a complaint with the КЗП.
A bank asks for a fee for exchange before 30 June 2026
Until 30 June 2026 exchange at a bank is FREE by law. If they charge a fee, ask for a written refusal and file a complaint with the БНБ. You can also go to the КЗП as an unfair commercial practice.
You receive an offer of a “new contract” from a bank
The bank has NO right to change terms to your detriment because of the euro (Art. 11 ЗВЕРБ). If they offer a “new contract” with a higher interest rate or new fees, you have the right to refuse and the old contract stays in force.
Caution
Protection against price rises: how to file a complaint
Raising prices without an objective reason, disguised as “because of the euro”, is unlawful. Art. 15(4) of the ЗВЕРБ expressly obliges traders to set their prices in good faith and transparently: any increase must follow objective economic factors.
Where to file a complaint
What to include in the complaint
Date and place of the violation*
Name of the trader / bank*
Description of the situation: what happened, step by step*
Evidence
Receipt, photo of the price/label, screenshot from an app
Your details and signature (or a qualified electronic signature (КЕП) for an electronic complaint)*
* Mandatory
Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria (ЗВЕРБ)
Art. 15(4)
Official Bulgarian text
„Търговците формират цените си добросъвестно и прозрачно, като всяко увеличение на цената следва обективни икономически фактори.“
Important
Frequently asked questions
How many coins can I hand over at once in a shop?
A trader may refuse more than 50 coins in ONE transaction. Under 50 coins they are obliged to accept the payment. If you have a lot of coins, split your purchases into several payments or exchange them at a bank.
Can a trader refuse payment in euro?
No. Since 1 February 2026 the euro has been the legal means of payment in Bulgaria. Refusing to accept a payment in euro is a violation and can be penalised. Exception: banknotes that look suspicious of forgery. In that case the trader may refuse and direct the customer to a bank.
I found BGN 200 in an old bag, can I still exchange it?
Yes. You have time until 31 December 2026 at a bank or Bulgarian Posts. After that date only at the БНБ, with no time limit and no cap. Do not worry, exchange is free (at the БНБ always, at banks until 30 June 2026).
Have my pensions fallen mathematically?
No. The law expressly provides for rounding in favour of citizens. A pension of 900 leva becomes 460.17 euro (not 460.16). Although the difference is a cent, it is always in your favour. Interest rates on deposits and the terms of loans stay the same.
What happens to children’s collector’s coins?
They keep both their nominal value in euro (at the fixed rate) and their numismatic value on the collectors’ market. Do not exchange them in a hurry: they are often worth more than their face value. Consult a numismatic shop before exchanging at a bank.
Why does my bank balance still show leva in an old app?
Banks were supposed to update all apps and online banking by 1 January 2026. If you see a balance in leva, you are most likely using an old version of the app. Update it from the App Store or Google Play. If the problem remains after updating, file a complaint with the bank and, if there is no reply, with the БНБ.
Related topics on Pravko
- Checking health insurance: how the euro affects contributions and income
- Minimum wage 2026: new amounts in euro and the rounding rules
- Notary fees calculator: fees in euro after 1 January 2026
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.
