Business Bank Account in Bulgaria 2026: Non-Resident Guide

A Bulgarian company meets its bank twice: once before registration, to deposit the capital, and again after, for its working account. For a foreign founder, that first contact is where many plans slow down. Banks want to see the manager in person, understand the business and trace the money.

Because Bulgaria is in the EU, European sanctions rules also apply directly, including a hard limit on deposits for some nationalities. This guide covers the process, the costs, the documents and the limits.

Step 1the capital account is opened before registration

€100+non-refundable KYC fee reported for foreign owners, up to EUR 500

1-4weeks of typical onboarding, longer for foreign owners

€100kEU deposit ceiling for Russian nationals and residents

Two accounts, one bank relationship

The registration steps are in how to register a company in Bulgaria.

What the bank will ask for

1. 1IdentificationManager in person at the branch
2. 2Company fileFounding act, registry papers, beneficial owner
3. 3Business filePlan, clients, suppliers, countries, turnover
4. 4MoneySource of funds and expected flows
5. 5ScreeningSanctions and high-risk sectors

Advisers describe the file Bulgarian banks now expect:

• the manager in person at the branch for identification; a notarised power of attorney is sometimes accepted, but most banks insist on the beneficial owner for new corporate clients;
• a business plan or detailed description: activity, expected annual turnover, main clients and suppliers, countries;
• source of funds for the capital and the first months;
• a beneficial owner declaration;
• apostilled and translated documents for a foreign corporate owner.

Costs and timelines

Advisers name UniCredit Bulbank and DSK among the banks used to foreign founders; other large banks also onboard foreign-owned companies case by case. Ask a local lawyer which banks currently accept your profile and sector.

EU sanctions: what the rules actually say

Bulgaria applies EU sanctions directly. One rule is precise and often misunderstood.

• The deposit ceiling. Under Article 5b of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, EU banks may not accept deposits from Russian nationals or residents, or from entities established in Russia, once the total exceeds EUR 100,000 per bank. The consolidated text extends it to entities outside the EU more than 50% owned by Russian nationals or residents.
• The exemptions. It does not apply to nationals of an EU or EEA state or Switzerland, or to holders of a temporary or permanent residence permit in one of them.
• Older balances. Deposits above the ceiling before the rule are kept but cannot be increased.
• Belarus. A parallel regime applies to Belarusian nationals and residents, covered in the guide for founders from Belarus.

Before filingCapital account opened, KYC fee paid

FilingBank certificate attached to the application

After registrationCollection account converted

OngoingPeriodic reviews and sanctions screening

1. Before filingCapital account opened, KYC fee paid
2. FilingBank certificate attached to the application
3. After registrationCollection account converted
4. OngoingPeriodic reviews and sanctions screening

Beyond the rule itself, banks apply their own policy: Russia- and Belarus-linked files, high-risk sectors and complex ownership chains get closer review. See the guides for Russian founders and Belarusian founders.

Why accounts are refused or delayed

• No in-person identification of the manager or beneficial owner.
• A business the bank cannot understand from the file.
• Funds without a traceable source.
• A sector the bank avoids: crypto, gaming, payments.
• A sanctions issue with a person, a counterparty or the ownership chain.
• Missing apostilles or translations for a foreign corporate owner.