Bulgaria’s interior ministry on Thursday issued guidance to citizens ahead of the country’s adoption of the euro on Jan. 1, 2026, urging people to exchange cash only through official channels and warning against fraud.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the ministry said citizens should exchange Bulgarian levs for euros only at banks and post offices, where the service will be free of charge until the end of June 2026.
The ministry added that police officers, supported by the gendarmerie, will maintain public order around post offices nationwide during the currency transition period.
Authorities also encouraged citizens to use bank cards for payments in January 2026, when both the lev and the euro will be in circulation.
To reduce the risk of financial abuse, the ministry advised people to deposit cash holdings in levs into bank accounts before Jan. 1, when balances will be automatically converted into euros free of charge at the fixed exchange rate of 1 euro to 1.95583 levs.
Citizens were urged to report suspected fraud or other abuses by calling the emergency number 112 or contacting the nearest police station.
Bulgaria is set to adopt the euro as its official currency on Jan. 1, 2026, replacing the lev after years of preparation and alignment with euro zone requirements.