Bulgaria adopts the Euro on 1 January 2026: A practical guide for merchants

Author: Cedric Nanninga | Founder of BridgeSync
Published 22 October 2025

Bulgaria will switch from the lev (BGN) to the euro (EUR) on 1 January 2026. Prices will be dual this summer, cash will be dual for one month in January, and from 1 February 2026 the euro will become the only legal tender.

Here’s what changes, and how to get your WooCommerce store ready without headaches.

Bulgaria adopts the euro in 2026 – BridgeSync practical guide for WooCommerce merchants

TL;DR for busy teams


  • Go-live: 1 January 2026 (Council decision).

  • Fixed rate: 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN — use the official rate only (no inverse, no mid-calc rounding).

  • Dual prices: 8 Aug 2025 → 7 Aug 2026 — show BGN and EUR to Bulgarian shoppers.

  • Cash: 1–31 Jan 2026 both accepted; EUR only from 1 Feb 2026.

  • Bank accounts: BGN balances auto-convert at the fixed rate; IBANs stay the same.

  • Rounding: Convert, then round to the nearest cent (half rounds up).

  • Contracts/invoices: Continuity applies—existing documents remain valid.

Why this matters (in plain English)

Beyond the headline date, this is a practical changeover that touches storefront prices, tax display, rounding, payment settlement, refunds, and ledgers.
The conversion rate (1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN) is locked; the timeline and rules are clear—see the ECB’s official euro changeover page for Bulgaria (opens in a new tab).

BridgeSync tip

Keep a clean audit trail while your store shows BGN and EUR. Our BridgeSync EU VAT & VIES Checker for WooCommerce validates VAT IDs at checkout and logs the result on the order for easy audits.

Key dates & milestones

  • 8 July 2025 — The Council signs off and confirms 1.95583 as the rate.
  • 8 August 2025 — Dual price display starts for 12 months (BGN + EUR).
  • 1–31 January 2026 — Dual cash month; accounts are redenominated to EUR.
  • 1 February 2026 — EUR becomes sole legal tender.
  • Cash exchange — Commercial banks and post offices exchange lev to euro free of charge until 30 June 2026; the Bulgarian National Bank exchanges indefinitely. See the ECB exchanging guidance (opens in a new tab).

What changes for your business

1) Currency, pricing & rounding

Convert prices using the official rate (divide BGN amounts by 1.95583), then round the final EUR amount to two decimals with nearest-cent, half-up rounding. Don’t derive an “inverse rate,” and don’t round mid-calculation.

Two quick examples

  • 10,000.00 BGN ÷ 1.95583 = 5,112.92 EUR (rounded)
  • 19.99 BGN ÷ 1.95583 = 10.22 EUR (rounded)

From 8 August 2025 to 7 August 2026, display BGN and EUR on product pages, carts, checkout, receipts, and emails for Bulgarian customers.

2) Payments & bank accounts

Banks will automatically convert BGN accounts, deposits, and balances to EUR at the fixed rate on 1 January 2026. Expect brief cutover windows around E-day; after that, EUR payments continue on SEPA rails as usual. IBANs do not change.

3) Invoicing, VAT & VIES

Contracts and invoices remain valid; the currency change doesn’t alter your obligations. VAT numbers stay BG-prefixed, and domestic VAT rates remain Bulgarian. Post E-day, invoices typically switch to EUR; when converting historical amounts, apply the official rate and the rounding rule above. See EUR-Lex: Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 (opens in a new tab).

4) Refunds, credit notes & reporting

Refunds for pre-E-day BGN orders can be processed in EUR at the fixed rate starting from 1 January 2026. PSPs/banks set their own operational cutovers—check their notices and test your flow.

A WooCommerce checklist you can paste into your runbook

  1. Freeze prices during conversion. Export current BGN price lists first.
  2. Convert prices: divide by 1.95583, then round the final EUR to two decimals (nearest-cent, half-up). Update product, sale, shipping, and fee tables.
  3. Go-live: on 1 January 2026, set EUR as the store currency at your planned cutover.
  4. Dual display: show BGN and EUR from 8 August 2025 through 7 August 2026 across PDP, cart, checkout, receipts, and emails.
  5. Taxes: keep Bulgarian VAT rates; spot-check totals after conversion and rounding.
  6. Payments: Confirm EUR settlement with your PSP; SEPA Credit Transfer/Direct Debit will continue to work.
  7. Refunds: test a pre-E-day BGN order refunded in EUR at the fixed rate.
  8. Accounting: Switch your base currency to EUR on 1 January 2026; update ledgers, ERP price books, and reports.

A quick real-world example

A Sofia coffee roaster bills a neighbourhood café 1,200.00 BGN on 20 December 2025. In February 2026, the café received a return of stock worth 200.00 BGN. Here’s how the refund works:

  • Convert at the official rate: 200.00 BGN ÷ 1.95583 = 102.258… EUR
  • Round per the EU rule (nearest cent, halves up): 102.26 EUR
  • Issue the credit note/refund in EUR. Contracts don’t change, your books stay consistent, and there’s no guesswork on the rate.

Frequently asked questions

Will our Bulgarian IBANs change?

No. Accounts and deposits in BGN are automatically converted to EUR at the fixed exchange rate; IBANs remain unchanged. Check your bank’s guidance for any brief E-day interruptions.

Do we need to reissue old invoices in euros?

No. The euro’s introduction doesn’t invalidate existing contracts or documents—continuity of contracts applies.

What’s the exact rounding rule?

Convert with 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN, then round the resulting EUR amount to the nearest cent (if exactly half, round up).

Is Bulgaria in SEPA?

Yes—SEPA includes Bulgaria, so EUR payments continue on standard SEPA rails.