I have a FAI Bulgarian skydiving license license but I'm not from Bulgaria and I didn't have any issues jumping abroad. And I got it from the place the OP wanted to go or has been don't know the post are old.
I have FAI certificate of proficiency/skydiving licence issued by the Bulgarian natioan aero club. It is written in 4 national languages and it is equivalent to USPA license. Whole deal was with FIA was to make a standard for ratings and license that should be recognised worldwide wide.
People's some times mistake a FIA certificate of proficiency or FIA skydiving license for FAI sporting license. FAI sporting license is not a skydiving license and it is only valid with your your national skydiving license.FAI sporting license can not be issued to a foreign citizens and can only be obtained from your national organisation. So me as a Serbian I can't get Bulagrian FIA sporting license.
Now the thing I actually made me reply is that's you first thoughts on Bulagria that is cheaper and not safe but don't know anything about the place and that DZ. Bulgaria doesn't have that great standard and it's cheaper becouse instructor's don't overcharge students. But the jump is the same price like in Europe 5e up or down. Instructions are very professional and with a lot of experience they all have military background. The drop zone is in Erden next to a town called Montana(Bulgari).
That drop zone haves it's own harness sistem manufacturing company its Advanced Parachute Sistem or APS for short it employs more that 60+people in production it's cheaper than moust popular brands. Harness are great with all the standard it's used in skydive Dubai,Bovec etc. You can find it on YouTube. That drop zone haves it's own accomodation on the airfield, restoraunt, a swimming pool. They use green energy and supply them selfs mostly from solar panels. They have organized multiple world cup tournament in multiple skydiving disciplines. Bill Booth was jumping on that DZ and I meet Cheryl Stearns last time I was there the woman haves more then 23k jumps and more then 24k flight hours. And the most important thing is that DZ haves it's soul. Great time, great food awesome people all over the world and you can feel you are welcome. Very few DZ are left thet mekes you feel like that and not it's only business.
