Bulgaria

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Cargo Transport Licence Required

Yes

Yes — Businesses transporting goods for hire and reward with vehicles exceeding a load capacity of 1.5 tonnes or a maximum permissible mass of 3.5 tonnes need a licence, issued by the Minister of Transport on IAAA’s proposal.

Four Qualifying Conditions

Required for the licence — Good repute (благонадеждност: the transport activity manager must have no conviction for an intentional general criminal offense, and must not be barred by a final court judgment from exercising transport activity), professional competence (a certificate issued by IAAA, requiring passing a written exam and at least secondary education for international transport, or primary education for domestic transport), and financial standing.

Transport Manager Limit

Yes

Yes — A single certified transport manager may not direct the transport activity of more than two companies simultaneously.

Licence Validity

5 years.

Application Process

Written application to the Minister of Transport, practically submitted through the regional department of the State Automobile Inspection (RODAI).

Community Licence for International Transport

Yes

Yes — A separate licence category, “Лиценз за международен превоз на товари в Общността” (Licence for International Community Cargo Transport), covers international transport within the EU.

Consumer Protection

Yes

Yes — The Consumer Protection Act is Bulgaria’s general consumer protection statute, administered by the Commission for Consumer Protection (КЗП), a specialized state body with competence under 11 laws (the general Act plus 10 sectoral economic laws).

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, genuinely accessible — Consumers can file complaints with КЗП online, without needing an electronic signature or original documents. КЗП must notify the complainant within 7 days if the matter falls outside its competence (redirecting it appropriately), and must resolve valid complaints within a maximum of approximately 2 months and 7 days.

Industry Association

БАП (Българска асоциация за премествания / Bulgarian Association for Relocations) — A real, dedicated national association organized specifically to represent moving companies and the moving profession, covering both local and international relocations.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Bulgaria licenses cargo transport under the standard EU-1071/2009 framework, with the Minister of Transport issuing the licence on IAAA’s proposal, valid for 5 years. A specific, quantified rule limits a single certified transport manager to directing no more than two companies at once. International transport within the EU uses a separate Community Licence category. On the consumer side, КЗП is a genuinely accessible state body with easy online complaint filing and defined response timeframes. Bulgaria has a real, dedicated moving-industry association — БАП — distinct from the country’s general road-freight associations, alongside a separate, well-established, and currently active international road transport association (AEBTRI) representing the broader freight sector.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

1. Apply to the Minister of Transport for a cargo transport licence, submitted practically through the regional RODAI office.
2. Demonstrate good repute, professional competence, and financial standing.
3. Confirm the transport manager is not already directing two or more other companies.
4. Apply for the Community Licence category if operating international transport within the EU.
5. Renew the licence before its 5-year term expires.
6. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with the Consumer Protection Act.
7. Consider БАП membership, given its direct relevance to the moving profession specifically.
8. Retain cargo transport licence, transport manager, and consumer-compliance documentation as required for renewal and regulatory review.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

• Cargo transport licence held from the Minister of Transport (via IAAA)Required
• Good repute, professional competence, and financial standing demonstratedRequired
• Transport manager’s company-count limit observedRequired
• Community Licence held, if operating internationally within the EURequiredwhere applicable
• Licence renewed before 5-year expiryRequired
• Consumer-facing practices compliant with the Consumer Protection ActRequired
• БАП membership consideredRecommended
• Cargo transport licence, transport manager, and consumer-compliance records retainedRequired