Bulgaria officially joined the eurozone on January 1, 2026. The official currency is now the euro, and the Commercial Register automatically converted every company’s share capital from Bulgarian lev to euros at the fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN.
But that’s not the end of the story — not even close.
Every Bulgarian company must update Its Articles of association
Despite the automatic conversion in the register, your founding documents — the articles of association (ustav) for an OOD/EOOD, or the company agreement for an AD/EAD — still show the old amounts in Bulgarian lev. The law explicitly requires every registered company to bring its internal documents in line with the new euro values.
The legal basis is Article 32 of the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria, passed in August 2024 and amended in July 2025.
Deadline: December 31, 2026 — but keep reading, because your real deadline may be much sooner.
Yes, the official cutoff is December 31, 2026. But there’s a critical detail buried in the law that catches a lot of company owners off guard.
The law requires the updated articles of association to be submitted together with the very first filing you make to the Commercial Register in 2026 — for any change whatsoever. This means: if your company needs to register a new director, change a shareholder, update your registered address, change your business activities, or add a procurator — you must attach the updated articles of association to that same filing.
Practical takeaway: If you’re planning any changes in the Commercial Register this year, your effective deadline is the day you file — not December 31. Don’t wait.
What exactly do you need to do? The process involves these steps:
-Draft new articles of association with all monetary amounts expressed in euros (converted at the fixed rate, rounded to two decimal places).
-Pass a shareholders’ resolution approving the amendments — for an OOD, changes to share capital typically require unanimous consent.
-Notarization — may be required depending on the provisions of your current articles.
Submit to the Commercial Register — either electronically (with a qualified electronic signature / KEP) or in paper form.
How much does It cost? What happens If you don’t do It?
The good news: State fees for filings related to the euro transition are waived. You may have costs for a notary or legal assistance, but the Commercial Register fee itself does not apply.
The bad news — if you miss the deadline:
- Administrative fines and penalties
- A block on all future filings — until you update your articles of association, you will not be able to register any change in the Commercial Register
- Other administrative complications that can directly disrupt your business operations
A note on rounding differences: When converting share capital, small discrepancies may appear due to rounding. The law allows companies to adjust their capital by up to 5% through a simplified procedure, without going through the full capital amendment process under the Commercial Act.
Differences over 5% require a formal procedure. Any rounding discrepancies are recorded in accounting as retained earnings or a loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
–My company has no active operations. Do I still need to update the articles? Yes. The requirement applies to all registered companies regardless of whether they are active or dormant.
-What exchange rate is used for the conversion? The fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN. All amounts in the articles must be expressed in euros, rounded to two decimal places.
–Do I need to hold a shareholders’ meeting? For an OOD, changes to share capital typically require a unanimous resolution. This can be passed at a general meeting or through a written procedure without a meeting, if your articles permit it. For an EOOD, the sole owner passes the resolution.
–Can I file the documents myself, or do I need a lawyer? Technically, yes — you can file electronically with a qualified electronic signature (KEP) or in paper form at the Registry Agency. In practice, many business owners prefer to use a specialist to avoid errors that lead to rejections and delays.
–Is the process different for an OOD vs. an AD? The main difference is in the document name and the decision-making body. For an OOD/EOOD, the shareholders update the articles of association. For an AD/EAD, the company agreement or statute is updated, and the decision is made by the general meeting of shareholders or the board of directors — depending on the company structure.
Need Help?
Our team handles the entire process for you — from drafting the updated articles of association to filing them with the Commercial Register. No bureaucracy, no missed deadlines.
Contact us at www.expertissimo.net — tell us your company type and we’ll take care of the rest.
25/05/2026
Also from our blog: How Foreigners Can Buy Property in Bulgaria Without a Bank Account (2026 Guide)
