Bulgaria: Pensioners abroad must submit life declarations

The National Social Security Institute (NSSI) has announced that the period for submitting “life declarations” begins on November 1, 2026. This requirement applies to individuals receiving a Bulgarian pension who reside in a country that is not a member of the European Union and with which Bulgaria does not have a social security agreement.

To ensure the continued payment of pensions through 2027, these declarations must be submitted by the end of the current year. The process must be completed annually between November 1 and December 31. Recipients must appear in person before a consular service or another competent official authority in their country of residence to certify the document.

Once certified, the declaration can be submitted to the relevant territorial division of the NSSI in person, via an authorized person, or by mail. Electronic submission is also available through the NSSI Unified Portal using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) or a Personal Identification Code (PIC). Bilingual forms are available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Turkish.