Your field is a Bulgarian “white spot”: use and payments

Allocation of a field as a “white spot” within a Bulgarian agricultural land-use block does not transfer ownership to the farmer. It is a special use regime for land lacking the relevant agreements and declarations. The owner should check the allocation and payments for the particular agricultural year.

Start with the allocation order

Obtain the order and schedules for the locality, parcel identifier, area and designated user. Nearby cultivation or an assertion that “everything is covered by the agreement” is insufficient. If you submitted a declaration or have a contract, check whether it was correctly recorded and which challenge procedure applies to the particular act.

Payment is not automatic

Article 37v(7) of the Agricultural Land Ownership and Use Act provides for users to deposit money with the regional Agriculture Directorate and for payment to those entitled. Establish your rights, the relevant year, the amount and whether the funds were deposited. Inherited land also requires succession documents.

Older deposits face an important change

An amendment promulgated in September 2026 provides for deposited sums unclaimed within the ten-year period to be transferred to the fund specified by law. Do not assume money remains available indefinitely. Where payment is refused or funds have already been transferred, the particular year, starting date and stated ground require separate analysis; recovery cannot be promised in advance.