International: Bulgaria

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

A Separate Licence Category Is Required for EU-Wide Transport

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles internationally. Unlike Portugal, Serbia, or Belgium’s combined licence structures, Bulgaria’s domestic-only cargo transport licence does not itself cover international transport; a separate licence, the Licence for International Community Cargo Transport, is required for EU-wide road transport.

Domestic Liability Law Continues to Apply: CMR Does Not Cover Furniture Removal

Bulgaria has ratified the CMR Convention, which generally governs international road carriage, but Article 1(4)(c) of the Convention explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope, confirmed directly in the Convention’s own text and by UNIDROIT (its custodian body). This means a genuine international household-goods move does not automatically fall under CMR’s liability limits or consignment-note requirement; Bulgarian domestic transport-contract liability continues to apply by default.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Unlike some other EU countries in this project where a single upgraded licence covers both domestic and international transport, Bulgaria requires a separate licence category, the Licence for International Community Cargo Transport, for EU-wide road transport, distinct from the domestic-only cargo transport licence covered on the Bulgaria page. The licence attaches to the company operating the vehicles; where a mover subcontracts the cross-border carriage, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. On liability, Bulgaria’s ratification of CMR doesn’t change the outcome for a genuine household-goods move, since CMR explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope; Bulgarian domestic transport-contract liability continues to apply by default.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that carry goods across borders by road in their own vehicles must:

1. Hold the Licence for International Community Cargo Transport, separate from the domestic cargo transport licence, for EU-wide road transport.

Movers that subcontract the cross-border carriage must:

2. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Licence for International Community Cargo Transport held, separate from the domestic licenceWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles internationally within the EU)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired