Olga Pro. Going places

What are the hardest parts of relocating (that you wish you knew about sooner)?

Over the past two years I’ve spoken with many people planning a move to Bulgaria.
Different countries, different backgrounds — but very often the same questions.

And this week I’m offering 50% off the full Relocation Guide + Expat Chat — for those who have already done their research and now want to understand how this actually applies to their situation.
The discount runs until the end of this week.
👉 olgapronkina.com/bulgaria-expat/

Thank you to everyone who left reviews and gave me feedback in the chat. It helps me understand the issues other expats are having and find the best solutions.

What these conversations have shown me is that it’s not that you don’t know what to do or where to start. You get so much information from different sources, that you just get lost trying to piece it all together.

Hardest parts of relocating (that you wish you knew about sooner):

Choosing the wrong residency route
→ Planning around an option that doesn’t apply → forced to restart

Not understanding how family relocation actually works
→ Expecting to move together → end up separated for months

Signing an apartment that later can’t be used for residency
→ Looks fine → rejected during application

Preparing the wrong documents (or missing the right ones)
→ Delays, repeated visits to migration, redoing paperwork

Uncertainty around working legally while relocating
→ Not knowing when you’re actually allowed to invoice, register for taxes and VAT

Misunderstanding health insurance requirements
→ Using the wrong type → issues during or after application

No clear expectation of timing
→ Steps take longer than expected → plans fall apart

Getting different answers from different sources
→ No clear version of what’s actually correct

Making early decisions that are hard to undo later
→ Housing, paperwork, setup choices that create long-term issues

Seeing these patterns over the last couple of years has helped me understand much better where people get stuck and what questions matter most before making the move.

So thank you again to everyone who trusted me with your questions and shared your experience. The community around relocating to Bulgaria keeps growing — and it’s great to be part of it.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 7

Olga Pro. Going places

A lot of people are still “waiting to see” what happens to prices in Bulgaria after the euro.
Well — it already happened.
And the numbers are in.

2 months ago | [YT] | 10

Olga Pro. Going places

What matters most to you when looking for housing in Bulgaria?

4 months ago | [YT] | 10

Olga Pro. Going places

What purchase budget do you consider comfortable for yourself in Bulgaria?

4 months ago | [YT] | 4

Olga Pro. Going places

Do you feel safe in your city? 

As for my home base in Sofia, Bulgaria, I generally feel quite safe in daily life, including near the city centre. I stay aware of my surroundings after sunset, but not to the point where taking a taxi after 7pm feels like the only option to get home. Public transport is safe and reliable — which isn’t something you can say about every capital.

How is it where you live?

4 months ago | [YT] | 11

Olga Pro. Going places

Merry Christmas!
Whether you’re spending it at home, traveling, or somewhere that doesn’t quite feel like home yet, I hope today gives you a pause.

Thank you for being here, for the conversations, and for making this channel feel like a real community — not just comments under videos.

This year, between conversations in our expat group and one-on-one calls with clients, I’ve had the chance to speak with many of you directly — about residency, housing, taxes, and also about doubts, trade-offs, and second-guessing big moves. Those conversations shape what I share here more than anything else.

In the year ahead, I’m looking forward to continuing to explore relocation decisions together, grounded in our life in Bulgaria — and in the changes happening here. Residency rules, the upcoming switch to the euro, how that may affect prices, and how recent political shifts translate into everyday reality all matter if you’re thinking long term.

At the same time, I’ll keep bringing in comparisons with other countries we’ve lived in or spent extended time in — not as abstract research, but as real alternatives — so you can better understand where Bulgaria truly works, and where another option might make more sense.

If there’s a question, topic, or country you’d like me to look into next, feel free to suggest it.

Wishing you a good few days to reset before the year turns.

5 months ago | [YT] | 52

Olga Pro. Going places

If you could magically solve one relocation challenge, what would it be?

5 months ago | [YT] | 10

Olga Pro. Going places

Which one feels like the biggest risk of moving abroad?

6 months ago | [YT] | 12

Olga Pro. Going places

If you had to pick just one, what’s your #1 priority when choosing a country?

7 months ago | [YT] | 13

Olga Pro. Going places

Sofia is older than Rome.

That still surprises me, even after living here for over a year. The city started as Serdica — Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman… layer after layer of history under your feet.

Yesterday, September 17th, was Sofia Day. The streets felt more alive, and you could see how much pride locals take in their city.

For me, it’s a reminder that life here isn’t only about lower rent or the 10% flat tax. It’s about finding a home base with character — a place where daily life comes with a sense of belonging.

Would you choose a city for its practical benefits, or because you feel connected to its story?

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8 months ago | [YT] | 63