Build two timelines, one for the purchase and one for travel or residence documents.
Count the whole trip
For ordinary short visits on a full British citizen passport, GOV.UK currently describes the Schengen limit as up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Count visits to other Schengen countries as well. Check the current entry guidance and your specific status before booking a longer viewing or renovation trip.
If you plan to work, retire, join family or stay longer, check the appropriate visa or residence route with the Bulgarian authorities. Give your advisers your actual travel dates, nationality and any existing permit rather than assuming that the same route applies to every household member.
Allow for the other parts of a move
- Ask about healthcare cover and prescriptions before setting a moving date.
- Check driving, vehicle and household goods requirements for your intended move.
- Get advice on pensions and tax residence based on your plans in both countries.
- If you lived in Bulgaria before the end of the Brexit transition, check the separate guidance for your existing rights and documents.
Leave room for a change of plan
If the residence timetable slips, check whether you can still use and manage the property on shorter trips. Price keyholding, insurance and any recurring fees while you are in the UK. Ask a local contact to tell you which jobs require your presence.