Travel within the European Union of minors

In accordance with EU and national law, there are additional travel requirements for minors.

Travel for third-country nationals who are family members of an European Union citizen

When accompanying or joining an European Union citizen:

Family members of European Union citizens who are not nationals of an European Union country, a country in the EEA or the Swiss Confederation are exempted from the visa requirement provided they have a valid ‘Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen’ issued in accordance with Article 10(1) of Directive 2004/38/EC and are accompanying or joining an European Union citizen.

Until the end of the transition period provided for in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union – 31 December 2020 – the above rules also apply to third-country nationals who are members of the family of a United Kingdom national.

When not accompanying or joining an EU citizen:

Third-country nationals who are family members of an European Union citizen and are in possession of a valid residence permit for a family member issued by a Member State that applies the Schengen acquis in full, by Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, and are not accompanying or joining an EU citizen, are subject to verification of the entry conditions specified in Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code.

Third-country nationals may enter and stay in the Republic of Bulgaria provided that they:

- are in possession of a valid travel document;

- are in possession of a visa where a visa is required; or

- are exempted from the visa requirement in accordance with Annex II of Regulation No 1806/2018 or by virtue of bilateral agreements of the Republic of Bulgaria with third countries and are in possession of a residence permit or a visa issued by a Schengen country, Cyprus, Romania or Croatia;

- fulfil the other conditions set out in Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code.

Third-country nationals who are in possession of a residence permit or a visa issued by a Schengen country, Cyprus, Romania or Croatia:

Until full accession to the Schengen area, Bulgaria considers the following documents issued by Member States which fully implement the Schengen acquis, by Cyprus, Romania or Croatia, to be equivalent to its national visas for transit or intended stay in its territory for a period of up to 90 days within each 180-day period:

- ‘uniform visa’ (short-stay visa);

- ‘long-stay visa’;

- ‘residence permit’;

- ‘visas with limited territorial validity’.

A stay in the Republic of Bulgaria on the basis of the above documents is limited to the validity period of the visa, the reflected period of stay and the number of entries specified in the uniform Schengen visa or the visa issued by Croatia, Cyprus or Romania, and does not depend on the number of entries and the stay in the Schengen area, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania.

Where some of these documents as well as a valid Bulgarian visa exist, the permit to enter the country will be based on the Bulgarian visa.
Travel within the EU of third-country nationals who are in possession of a valid visa or residence permit issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania or Croatia.

If you are in possession of a valid visa or residence permit issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania or Croatia, you can rely on them only if you are travelling to any of these countries. In the event that you intend to travel to another Schengen country, EEA country or the Swiss Confederation you should be in possession of a valid ‘uniform (Schengen) visa’.

Special rules for carrying out border checks on minors leaving the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria:

In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 2016/399, the Schengen Borders Code, border checks on minors are carried out with particular attention in order to prevent their unauthorised removal from the country.  During the border check it should be ascertained that children not leaving the territory of Bulgaria against the wishes of the person(s) who have parental custody over them.

Conditions for leaving the country for minors who are EU citizens but not Bulgarian nationals:

Minors who are nationals of another EU Member State need only show a valid travel document for the border checks.

Conditions for leaving the country for minors who are Bulgarian nationals:

Bulgarian minors who are travelling accompanied by both their parents must show a valid identity card or passport (only passports are issued to children under 14 years of age).

In cases where children are travelling accompanied by one of their parents, a third person, or alone, they should provide a declaration of consent certified in the appropriate manner:

- a written declaration of consent from the parent who is not present if he/she is a Bulgarian national (when travelling with only one of the parents);

- a written declaration of consent from both parents if the minor is travelling alone or is accompanied by an adult who is not their parent.

Example of a declaration of consent for travel of Bulgarian minors

Certifying a declaration of consent to a Bulgarian minor leaving the country

- a notary public under the Notaries and Notarial Practice Act;

- the registry judge at the respective district court if there is no notary public in the district;

- the mayor of a settlement which is not a municipal centre where there is no notary public in the district; or

- if the settlement is a municipal centre: the mayor, the deputy mayor, the secretary of the municipality, as well as the deputy-mayor where there is no notary public in the district.

Certifying a declaration of consent to a Bulgarian minor leaving the country

These declarations can be certified abroad by:

- a diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria;

- the captain of a ship flying the Bulgarian flag;

- a foreign notary public who has the right to affix an apostille if the state concerned is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. Further information on the legalisation and certification of foreign documents intended for use in the Republic of Bulgaria;

- a competent authority in a country with which the Republic of Bulgaria has signed a bilateral agreement for legal assistance in civil matters that provides for exemption from legalisation of documents.

The absence of a declaration certified in any of the ways described above is grounds for refusing the Bulgarian minor’s exit from the Republic of Bulgaria.

Under Article 76(9) of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act, minors and persons placed under guardianship who have a valid passport or identity card may not be allowed to leave the country if they do not have a notarised written consent to travel abroad from their parents or legal guardians.

No declaration of consent is required where:

1. The parent who is not present is not a Bulgarian national;

2. The parent who is not present is deprived of parental rights by a court or a judicial authority that has authorised the trip; this is certified by a proper judicial decision – the original and a copy (uncertified) must be produced, and the copy remains at the border crossing point.

3. Only one parent is entered in the birth certificate or the parent who is not present is deceased and a death certificate has been issued – an original and a copy (uncertified) of those documents must be produced at the border crossing point.

4. The Bulgarian minors live with their parents abroad on a long-term basis, which is reflected in their Bulgarian identity documents or they are in possession of an official residence document issued by the respective country (for example, the child is in possession of a valid Bulgarian passport in which, in the form of a sticker or seal, a long-term residence permit in the country concerned is inserted, or, together with the passport, the child produces a separate residence document in the form of a card or certificate containing an official certificate of long-term residence from the relevant authorities).

In these cases it is very important for the parents and children to have correctly indicated the actual current address abroad at the time the Bulgarian personal documents were issued or before the relevant Civil Registration and Administrative Services office.

Travels of Bulgarian minors who also have another nationality

According to Article 3 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Bulgarian nationals who also have another nationality are considered to be only Bulgarian nationals when Bulgarian legislation is applied.

At the time of crossing the border through the border checkpoint, Bulgarian nationality is established through the Bulgarian documents of the person, a passport or identity card, or a temporary passport issued by a Bulgarian diplomatic mission to a Bulgarian national who does not have a passport or an identity card.

In cases where Bulgarian nationals also have another nationality and, accordingly, is in possession of documents (passport or identity card) issued by the respective state, they should present those documents to the border police officer performing the control procedure when passing through the border checkpoint.

Bulgarian children who reside abroad on a long-term basis or have dual nationality do not need a declaration of consent to travel, but must submit valid foreign identity or residence documents for inspection at the border in addition to valid Bulgarian documents.

In view of Bulgarian legislative provisions and international statutory instruments, the procedure at the border checkpoints is as follows:

1. When, on leaving the Republic of Bulgaria, the child is in possession of and presents to the border police officers a valid Bulgarian passport or identity card AND a valid passport or identity card issued by the other state of which that child is a national, no declaration of consent from the parent(s) who is (are) not present will be required.

2. Where the child who has both Bulgarian and another nationality is in possession of and presents only a valid passport or identity card issued by the other state concerned, a declaration of consent issued in accordance with the procedure described in point 1 will be required. If the child (or the person accompanying the child) fails to present a declaration or the declaration is not certified in the manner described in point 1, the child will not be allowed to leave Bulgaria.

Border police officers have the right to carry out additional checks on the authenticity of all the documents described above, conduct interviews with children and accompanying parents or other relatives or persons, as well as perform checks in the automated information databases.

In cases where one of the parents withdraws an already declared consent or explicitly states his/her disagreement for the child to leave the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and notifies the Ministry of Interior, the minor is not allowed to leave the country until the competent court according to Article 127a of the Family Code makes a ruling.

The Republic of Bulgaria applies the Common Visa Policy of the European Union under the conditions laid down in the Accession Treaty of 1 January 2007.

According to Article 4 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, the provisions of the Schengen acquis listed in Annex II to the Act are binding on and applicable in the Republic of Bulgaria from the date of accession (1 January 2007), and the remaining provisions are applicable from the date of the Council’s decision on Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area.

Bulgaria and the Schengen area

Accession to the Schengen area is a top priority for the Republic of Bulgaria.

The government of Bulgaria is strongly committed to achieving one of the main national priorities — Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area. To this end, properly functioning coordination at both political and expert level has been established between the ministries and departments involved.

In the preparation process, efforts are aimed at achieving the high Schengen standards and ensuring reliable external borders.

In order to fulfil the Schengen criteria, all necessary measures have been taken to harmonise in a timely manner the national legislation with the European one, to update Bulgaria’s international contractual legal base, to provide the necessary modern technical equipment and infrastructure and to strengthen the administrative capacity, while using the experience and best practices of the European Union Member States.

Currently, Bulgaria issues only national visas which do not give the right to enter the Schengen area.

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for stays of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which, until the date of its full accession to the Schengen area, Bulgaria will unilaterally apply a visa-free regime in respect of holders of valid Schengen visas. Said holders will have the right to enter and reside on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of not more than three months within each six-month period, starting from the date of the first entry, without the need to hold a Bulgarian short-stay visa. This decision came into force on 31 January 2012.

Visa-free regime for holders of valid visas and residence permits issued by Romania, Cyprus and Croatia for stays of up to 90 days

On 3 July 2014 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted Decision No 459 according to which, until the date of its full accession to the Schengen area, Bulgaria will unilaterally apply a visa-free regime in respect of holders of valid visas and residence permits issued by Romania, Cyprus and Croatia for stays of up to 90 days. Said holders will have the right to enter and reside on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of up to 90 days within each 180-day period without the need to hold a Bulgarian short-stay visa.

Third-country nationals holding single-entry ‘uniform visas’ pursuant to Code on Visas do not have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria. This means that holders of such visas must hold a Bulgarian visa if they wish to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 539/2001

From the date of its accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has been applying Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001. The Regulation lays down the visa regime for the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement when crossing the external borders of Member States.

List of countries, for whose citizens holding ordinary passports, a short-stay visa (up to 90 days) is required/is not required to enter the Republic of Bulgaria

List of countries, for whose citizens holding diplomatic or service passports, a visa is required/is not required to enter the Republic of Bulgaria 

Type A visa (airport transit visa) - further information

Type C visa (for short-term stay for the purpose of transit or intended stay) - further information

Type D visa (for long-term residence) - further information

Requirement for entry into the country

Upon entering the Republic of Bulgaria, the foreign national should have a valid travel document or another document substituting it, as well as a visa, where a visa is required.

Any foreign national who wishes to apply for a Bulgarian visa should have a valid travel document that meets the following requirements:

- its validity extends at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or, in case of multiple visits, after the last intended date of departure from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria,

- contains at least two blank pages for visas,

- has been issued within the last 10 years.

Visas are issued by the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Submission of application for visas

Visa applications are submitted using a standard form not earlier than 3 months before the date of the intended travel in person or through an authorised representative, except in the cases of visa applications on humanitarian grounds.

Visa applications on behalf of minors below the age of 14 years or of persons placed under guardianship are submitted by their legal representatives or by a person expressly authorised by them.

Visa applications on behalf of minors above the age of 14 years or of persons placed under limited guardianship are submitted by their legal representatives, guardians or by a person expressly authorised by them.

Requirements for completing visa applications

All columns should be completed legibly in block letters. The names must be written in Roman letters (as recorded in the passport). The remaining information must be completed in English or Bulgarian.

The application must be signed by the applicant. Family members of European Union citizens need to fill in only those fields of the visa application which indicate their family relationship.

Mandatory personal appearance when applying for a type D visa

The applicant must appear in person when submitting an application for a long-stay visa. No exceptions are allowed.

The following documents must be enclosed with the visa application:

1. a photocopy of the first page of the travel document;

2. a photocopy of the latest Bulgarian and Schengen visa or of visas for the United Kingdom and the USA, if any;

3. a 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm colour photograph on a light background (the same applies to any child entered in the passport): the face on the photograph should be clear, large and only in full face and should occupy 70% - 80 % of the photograph; the eyes should not be red; the following are not accepted: photographs with tinted glasses; photographs taken unprofessionally or photographs cut from amateur photos;

4. medical insurance valid for the EU Member States for the entire period of the trip, covering all costs for repatriation and for emergency medical care and emergency hospital treatment for the period of stay specified in the visa. The sum insured must be not less than EUR 30 000;

5. tickets (original and copy) or confirmation of booking of tickets or financial resources;

6. a copy of the registration document of the car that will be used for travel;

7. For minors above the age of 14 years who travel unaccompanied by parents or guardians the following must be additionally enclosed:

- a copy of their birth certificate;

- an original and a photocopy of a notarised power of attorney from both parents/guardians or from one parent/guardian in which it is stated that said parents/guardians allow the child to travel abroad if they do not accompany it.

The following individuals are exempt from the obligation to present evidence of financial resources, accommodation and transport:

- Members of the families or households of nationals of European Union Member States, countries in the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation;

- Individuals applying for a long-stay visa for the purpose of family reunification in relation to granted refugee status or asylum in the Republic of Bulgaria - on the basis of a written decision of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers;

- Holders of diplomatic or service passports.

The following individuals are exempt from the obligation to provide an insurance policy:

- Members of the families or households of nationals of European Union Member States, countries in the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation;

- Holders of diplomatic or service passports;

- Seafarers who meet the criteria laid down in Convention No 108 of the International Labour Organisation when applying for a short-stay visa for the purpose of transit border crossing;

- Individuals who, considering their social or official position, may be assumed to be insured or to be able to bear the costs of unforeseen circumstances.

The following individuals are exempted from fees for processing visa applications:

- Foreign nationals who have not reached the age of 6 years on the date of submission of the visa application;

- Family members of Bulgarian nationals and EU citizens.

External visa centers

To facilitate visa applicants and ensure a better and faster visa service, the Bulgarian consular missions have gradually started accepting visa applications through external visa centres organised by the specialised visa service company VFS Global. At present, applications for a Bulgarian visa can be submitted in this way in the following countries:

Russia

Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Rostov-on-Don, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Ufa, Sochi and Kaliningrad, Omsk, Murmansk, Perm and Saratov.

Ukraine

Kiev, Odessa, Lviv, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Simferopol.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Qatar

Doha

Oman

Muscat

Bahrain

Manama

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh and Jeddah

Turkey

Ankara, Istanbul, Edirne, Bursa, Gaziantep, Adana and Izmir

Kazakhstan

Astana, Almaty

Detailed information on the locations of the visa centres, as well as on the terms and conditions for submitting applications, can be obtained from the telephone numbers and on the websites of the foreign missions of the Republic of Bulgaria in the respective countries.

Visa facilitation agreements

Visa Facilitation Agreements (VFAs) between the EU Member States and the countries listed below

Citizens of Albania (in force from 15 December 2010), Bosnia and Herzegovina (in force from 15 December 2010), North Macedonia (in force from 19 December 2009), Serbia (in force from 19 December 2009) and Montenegro (in force from 19 December 2009) who hold biometric passports are exempted from the requirement to hold a short-stay visa (up to 90 days) for the Republic of Bulgaria (in force from 19 December 2009). For holders of non-biometric passports, the visa requirement remains according to the VFA.

Visa forms

Fees due for certifications and legalisations in the country are paid according to the extant Tariff No 3 concerning the fees collected for consular services in the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursuant to the State Fees Act.

As of 1 January 2019, with regard to with the changes in Tariff No 3 concerning the fees collected for consular services in the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursuant to the State Fees Act (adopted with PMS No 189 of 5 September 2018), the payment using state revenue stamps in the territory of the country in accordance with Tariff No 3 was discontinued. Thus it is no longer necessary for citizens being served in the certifications and legalisations unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to go to a post office to buy the state revenue stamps required and then return to receive the service. The change came into force on 1 January 2019 in order to avoid cases in which individuals who have purchased state revenue stamps in advance were unable to use them.

Applicants for administrative services may pay the fees due:

1. by debit or credit cards (MasterCard, Maestro, VISA, VISA Electron, Borica) using the POS terminals at the counters where applications for certification and legalisation of documents are received and registered;

2. by bank transfer:

Bulgarian National Bank, Headquarters; IBAN: BG10 BNBG 9661 3000 1343 01; BIC: BNBGBGSD; Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Note: Please state in the grounds for transfer that this is a fee according to Tariff No 3.
POS terminals for payment with bank cards also operate in the consular missions in London, Athens, Berlin, Rome, Milan, The Hague, Valencia, Edirne, Bratislava, and Frankfurt am Main. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues its work to optimise administrative services for citizens. The installation of POS terminals in other consular missions abroad is forthcoming.

Additional information on visa fees

Security risks

Every departure from the territory of Bulgaria entails security risks different from the commonly encountered domestic ones. Kindly become acquainted with the general and destination-specific information available to travellers concerning the potential risks that could pose a threat to your property, freedom of movement, health and – in extreme cases – your life. When planning your trip and during your stay abroad, we recommend that you regularly follow the information here and that offered by the diplomatic missions of Bulgaria and other EU Member States, but also information on local media pertinent to the situation in the countries and locations on your itinerary.

Where a specific geographic location entails security risks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a travel warning based on the summary information available for each specific situation. Taking such circumstances into account, individuals may take a decision as to whether to go forward with their trip.

Threats posed by natural causes

While the causes of the most severe and largest-scale disasters are well known and have been studied, they remain difficult to predict. Such phenomena include earthquakes, volcanic activity, tidal waves (tsunamis), storms, hurricanes, extreme rainfall and floods, heavy snowfalls, avalanches and temperature disturbances associated with the global issue of climate change, i.e. frosts, droughts and forest fires, etc. The world’s most frequently visited urban centres and resorts are equipped with early warning mechanisms, which undergo various improvements. Thus, locally sourced information detailing the measures for protection against such disasters should be sought.

Threats resulting from human activities

Accidents and disasters – whether transport-related or industrial – resulting from human negligence, have dire consequences but have grown less and less frequent as a result of precautions being taken and learning from experience in all these types of cases.

Damage is most often caused by purposeful acts directed against the property, health, freedom and life of travellers. Such acts range from cases of pickpocketing, theft, burglary, fraud and extortion, to kidnapping and terrorist attacks against unarmed citizens, using guns and explosives, for religious, nationalist or ideological reasons.

Bulgarian nationals trafficked for the purposes of labour or sexual exploitation continue to end up in emergency situations. Over the past few years, cases concerning groups of seasonal workers who have been defrauded and left without any money to live on or return to Bulgaria have been registered (in Sweden and Finland).

The threat of terrorism

Recently, the number of terrorist attacks has increased all over the world, claiming many victims. Europe is no longer an exception from this trend and a series of terrorist acts have already been perpetrated, targeting big European cities such as Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin, London and Stockholm. Above all, the threat of terrorism is a reality in big cities and towns, and industrial and transport hubs, but also in tourist destinations and place of cultural and commercial significance, airports, underground stations and other locations where a large number of people are gathered together.

Key recommendations for those travelling to the Middle East and North Africa

The risk situation in Syria, Iraq and Libya persists owing to the fact that government control is either weak or non-existent in certain parts of these territories and due to armed conflict between opposition forces and open terrorist groups. The situation in Yemen is much the same. There is hence the possibility of terrorist attacks, assaults and robberies and a serious threat of kidnapping of foreigners. Due to the increased risk level, warnings against travel and urging Bulgarian nationals to leave such areas are published whenever necessary.

As regards other countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, it is recommended that citizens become acquainted with general travel information and country-specific information and that they monitor the situation in the relevant countries as it evolves during their stay. They are further advised to avoid places where large gatherings take place and to refrain from travelling on their own (unless such travel is part of an organised tourist package).

It is recommended that travellers register on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the relevant diplomatic mission and that they remain in constant contact with their nearest Bulgarian mission or EU representation/EU Member State representation.

As a rule, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria publishes warnings asking travellers to refrain from travelling only for regions in which there is armed conflict (either a war or civil war in a specific country) and where travellers’ lives would be exposed to a real threat to their lives, of whatever kind.

Where a general travel warning is published, the assessment of the security situation is not based on one tragic event or another but on the overall situation in the region or in the country concerned, and takes stock of all information available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Risk levels

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses the classification of risk levels adopted by the EU Member States, as follows:

Level I  

No specific recommendations

Level ІІ  

Special vigilance (please acquaint yourselves with the current situation in the relevant country)

Level ІІІ  

High risk (travel to specific regions of the relevant country is not advised unless necessary)

Level ІV  

Warning against travel to and throughout the entire country (except where absolutely necessary)

Level V  

Warning against travel to the relevant country and advising the immediate evacuation from the territory

List of countries for which travel warnings have been issued

Response in crisis situations

In the event of a crisis situation (a natural disaster, the emergence of an armed conflict, a terrorist attack or political unrest, etc.), you should immediately contact the Bulgarian mission closest to you. Where there is no Bulgarian mission near you, you may contact the EU representation or another EU Member State’s representation, which should provide Bulgarian nationals with protection, assistance and help wherever possible.
Where evacuation is required, Bulgarian nationals unable to cover the necessary expenses themselves may request financial assistance for the purposes of their repatriation, which they are obliged to subsequently return.

Information on the situation in danger zones provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bulgaria’s diplomatic missions is intended to serve as a recommendation and may not be used as grounds for bringing claims before the court, cancelling hotel bookings when travelling, missing flights, or claiming loss of earnings, etc.

It is recommended that you follow the instructions below in crisis situations (unrest, riots, war or natural disasters).

In order to be provided with assistance in the event of a crisis or a crisis situation, Bulgarian nationals are strongly recommended to:

1. register on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, using their email, or at a Bulgarian diplomatic mission, either in person or using their phone or email;

2. provide notification of any changes to the information they have provided;

3. specify a contact person (a relative) in Bulgaria to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the relevant Bulgarian diplomatic mission. Where necessary, this person may be contacted in case of an emergency;

4. keep abreast of any developments in the situation/crisis;

5. follow the instructions issued by local authorities, the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the relevant Bulgarian diplomatic mission, taking the following actions as a form of precaution:

- ensuring a crisis stock of basic necessities: food, water, medicine, etc.;

- packing personal effects and essential luggage; inspecting the roadworthiness of their vehicle;

- studying the (air, land and water) transport connections leading to the relevant Bulgarian diplomatic mission or to the predesignated evacuation assembly point.

Evacuation

Bulgarian nationals may be evacuated from or leave the country in which they are staying only voluntarily and following their express wishes.

The Republic of Bulgaria does not offer compensation for health-related risks or damage to property of those adversely affected as a result of a crisis and the associated evacuation.

Important details to be provided when requiring assistance

Should you require assistance during your stay abroad, in order for this assistance to be given as expeditiously as possible, you must provide the following basic details:

- passport number, passport date of issue and date of expiry;

- travel insurance (policy number);

- blood type;

- contact persons for notification purposes (name, address, telephone number, email address).

Contacts

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria

Address: 2 Aleksandar Zhendov Str., Sofia 1040

Telephone: +359 2 948 2999

Situation Centre Directorate

Bulgarian nationals and other EU nationals may place calls to submit alerts and requests for assistance in case of emergency around the clock, using the hotlines serviced by the Situation Centre Directorate:

Telephone: +359 2 948 24 04; +359 2 971 38 56

Fax: +359 2 870 71 37

email: crisis@mfa.bg

Competent authority

The Bulgarian Identity Documents (BDS) units at the Sofia Metropolitan Directorate of Interior and the Regional Directorates of the Ministry of Interior, as well as the Bulgarian Identity Documents Directorate are part of the specialised administration of the Ministry of Interior that performs activities relating to the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents. They are structural units of the Ministry of Interior and carry out their activities in accordance with the Ministry of Interior Act, the Regulations on the Structure and Operations of the Ministry of Interior and the laws in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Legal framework

The issuance of Bulgarian personal documents is regulated by the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act and the Regulation on the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents.

Administrative service

In the The Bulgarian Identity Documents units at the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior, administrative services are provided to Bulgarian nationals in compliance with the principles established in the Administration Act and in the Administrative Procedure Code, as well as in the Regulation on Administrative Services, while ensuring equal access to administrative services and to information regarding the administrative services provided.

In pursuance of new regulations of the European Union and the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding travel and identity documents, the relevant amendments have been made to the Bulgarian legislation. On this basis, in 2009 the technology for issuing Bulgarian personal documents was also changed.

A system for measuring and analysing the consumption of services through the different access channels according to the profile/type of customer has been introduced in the BDS units and led to streamlining of the service process. One of the means for providing feedback by users is the email announced on the website of each regional directorate.

Information to users of administrative services is provided through appropriate notices and signs (in Bulgarian and in English) at the designated places, as well as on the website of the respective administration.

Notices and signs are placed in the administrative service halls, and the information on them is provided both in Bulgarian and in English. This supports the organisation of the provision of services and citizens can find information about the working hours, the counters at which Bulgarian personal documents are submitted and received, the places for making payments, as well as the methods of payment and supplementary information and data. The signs contain the logo and slogan of the public administration.

All employees providing services to citizens bear distinctive signs with legible data regarding their first and last name, position and the directorate in which they work.

Types of identity documents

Types of identity documents issued to Bulgarian nationals:

- issuing and replacement of identity cards of Bulgarian nationals;

- issuing and replacement of passports of Bulgarian nationals;

- issuing of documents certifying events and facts relating to the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents.

The portal for electronic administrative services of the Ministry of Interior

Through it, each Bulgarian national holding a valid Bulgarian qualified electronic signature can submit an application for the issuance of: an identity card and passport, a certificate of events relating to the issuance of documents, as well as a duplicate of a driving license.

Automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Every Bulgarian citizen residing outside the country can submit an application for the issuance of: ID card, passport and duplicate of a driving license, with or without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature.

Persons who should have an identity document

Each Bulgarian national who lives on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and has reached the age of 14 years is obliged to submit an application for an identity card within 30 days of reaching this age. At the time of submitting an application for the issuance of the first identity card, a birth certificate must be submitted together with the application. As an exception, official documents certifying the birth particulars may be submitted.

Bulgarian personal documents are issued on the basis of an application submitted using a standard form in accordance with Annexes 2, 3, 4 or 8c of the Regulation on the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents.

Standard forms of applications for the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents

Applications for the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents

Applications for the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents (identity card and/or passport) are submitted to the regional department of the Ministry of Interior, the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior having jurisdiction of the permanent address of the applicant, the Bulgarian Personal Documents Directorate at the Ministry of Interior or at the diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

Bulgarian personal documents contain the following compulsory personal data: the person’s names, date and place of birth, personal identity number, sex, nationality and biometric data.

To be issued Bulgarian personal documents, persons must submit an application to the competent authorities using a standard form; the application is signed in person by the applicant in the presence of an authorised official. The official accepting the application also obtains biometric data in the cases provided for in law.

No biometric data – fingerprints – are taken of children up to 12 years of age and of persons for whom taking of fingerprints is physically impossible.

It is possible for the individual not to appear in person to submit an application for the issuance of Bulgarian personal documents where there is no change in their name, PIN, gender, nationality or where no significant and lasting changes have occurred in the image of the person and it is not necessary to take biometric data again (i.e. the biometric data required have been taken not more than 59 months before the date of submission of the current application).

Bulgarian personal documents are received in person and, as an exception, when the application has been submitted in person – by an authorised person upon presentation of an express notarised power of attorney.

Bulgarian personal documents are kept by the persons in whose name they are issued. If the document belongs to a child, it is kept by the parents or guardians responsible for the minor, and in the cases of persons placed under full guardianship the documents are kept by their legal representatives.

An application for issuance of Bulgarian personal documents may be submitted electronically under conditions and according to a procedure laid down in an instrument of the Council of Ministers where the person has been issued a Bulgarian identity document on the basis of an application submitted in person not more than 59 months before the date of application for a new document and the necessary biometric data of the person have been taken.

When an application is submitted electronically, the person signs it with a qualified electronic signature. The submission of an application without signing it with a qualified electronic signature is allowed if at the time of submission the person identifies themself in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Electronic Identification Act or submits the application through the automated information system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Identity card

General

Each Bulgarian national can have only one identity card.

An identity card is issued or replaced on the basis of an application form submitted by the applicant in person. An application for the issuance of an identity card may also be submitted by a person authorised by the applicant with an express notarised power of attorney.

At the time of submitting an application for the issuance of the first identity card, a birth certificate must be submitted together with the application if the applicant does not have a valid identity document with which to identify themself. As an exception, other official documents certifying the birth particulars may be submitted.

When applying for an identity card, persons who have reached the age of 14 years but have not reached the age of 18 years must be accompanied by one of their parents or guardians who must confirm the identity of the person and the accuracy of the data filled in the application.

Identity cards are replaced within 30 days of the date of acceptance of the application upon expiration of their validity, in the case of loss, theft, damage or destruction, change of names, personal data, permanent address or of permanent and significant changes in the image. The penalty imposed in the case of non-observance of the time limit for issuance and replacement of an identity card is a fine in the amount of between BGN 20 and BGN 150. In the case of loss, theft, damage or destruction of a Bulgarian identity document the person is obliged to declare this within three days before the nearest structural unit of the Ministry of Interior or before the diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad. Upon replacement of an identity card in the case of its loss, theft, damage or destruction, the applicant must submit a declaration in accordance with Article 17(1) (when such a declaration has not been submitted) and a document certifying these circumstances if such a document has been issued by the competent authorities and it cannot be requested by official channels.

Submission of applications by persons who live abroad

Bulgarian citizens residing abroad may apply for an identity card and passport at the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

When submitting an application for the issuance of the first identity document, persons who have acquired Bulgarian nationality and live abroad submit applications for the issuance of an identity card and/or passport at the diplomatic or consular mission in the respective country in which they reside. The permanent address stated in the application is the address in the settlement in the Republic of Bulgaria where the person is entered in the population registers, and the current address is the address abroad.

A document for paid fee is attached to the application.

At the time of submission of the application, the following must be submitted: documents certifying the civil status of the persons and confirming the data in the application; a certificate of permanent address issued by the municipal administration in the Republic of Bulgaria; a copy of the national identity document or travel document held; as well as the original of the certificate issued by the Bulgarian Nationality Directorate at the Ministry of Justice in which the number of the decree for acquisition of Bulgarian nationality is stated.

Each Bulgarian national has the right to leave Bulgaria and to return to Bulgaria on an identity card across the internal borders of the Republic of Bulgaria with the Member States of the European Union, as well as in the cases provided for in international agreements.

Bulgarian nationals who have reached the age of 14 years and live abroad are obliged to request the issuance of an identity card within 30 days of returning to Bulgaria.

Persons who reside in the territory of another country submit the declaration to the nearest diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

Where the application for issuance of an identity card is submitted at a consular or diplomatic mission abroad, the deadline for issuance is 45 days.

Electronic submission of applications

An application for the issuance of an identity card may also be submitted electronically through the Ministry of Interior Portal for the Provision of Electronic Administrative Services

An application for the issuance of an identity card may also be submitted electronically through the Automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for Bulgarian citizens residing abroad, with or without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature. 

Where an application for an identity card is submitted electronically, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

- to be a Bulgarian national over 18 years of age;

- to have a valid permanent address on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;

- to hold a Bulgarian personal document issued on the basis of an application submitted in person not more than 59 months before the date of submission of the electronic application and to have had the necessary biometric data taken;

- not to have another accepted application for issuance of a document of the same type at the time of the electronic submission of the application;

- no change in their name, personal identity number, sex, nationality or no significant and permanent changes in their image must have occurred;

- not to have been placed under guardianship.

When the application is submitted through the automated electronic services system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature, a copy of the valid Bulgarian identity document, the replacement of which is requested, must be attached to the application.

The authority issuing the identity card sends to the applicant at the email address indicated in the application a confirmation or refusal to issue an identity card. The confirmation states that the document will be issued after payment of a state fee by electronic means through the automated information system for electronic services of the Ministry of Interior or or the automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Where the application for the issuance of an identity card has been submitted electronically, via the Ministry of Interior Portal for the Provision of Electronic Administrative Services, the document is received in person at the Bulgarian Identity Documents unit with jurisdiction of the permanent address. At the time of receipt of the ready document, the applicant is obliged to present the originals of the documents, the scanned copies of which they have attached to the application. At the time of receipt of the new identity card, the applicant is obliged to return the previous one.

Where the application for the issuance of an identity card has been submitted electronically via the automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the document is received in person at the respective consular office. Where the application has been submitted without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature, service shall take place only after the identity of the recipient has been unambiguously established and the document whose replacement is being sought has been returned.

Validity period

The identity cards of Bulgarian nationals have a fixed term of validity or an open-ended term of validity. Identity cards with a fixed term of validity of four years are issued to persons who have attained the age of 14 years but have not attained the age of 18 years and identity cards with a fixed term of validity of 10 years are issued to persons who have attained the age of 18 years but have not attained the age of 58 years. Persons who have attained the age of 58 years are issued identity cards with an open-ended term of validity.

Where the identity card has expired, an application for a new identity card must be submitted within 30 days of the expiration date. At the request of the person, a new identity card may also be issued before the expiration of its validity. Upon expiration of the identity card, it is necessary to present the previous identity card and a document for paid state fee the amount of which is determined in Tariff No 4 laying down fees collected in the system of the Ministry of Interior under the State Fees Act.

Receiving the identity card

The ready identity card is received by the applicant in person and, by exception, by an authorised person upon presentation of an express notarised power of attorney, or by a person whose particulars have been indicated by the applicant before the official in the application upon submission.

The identity card of a person who is a minor (aged between 14 and 18 years) or of a person placed under guardianship is received by a parent or guardian, and, by exception, by an authorised person upon presentation of an express notarised power of attorney, or by a person whose particulars have been indicated by the parent or guardian before the official in the application upon submission.

When the persons are minors (aged between 14 and 18 years) who have been placed for upbringing in specialised institutions, the application for an identity card is submitted in person and in the presence of the director of the specialised institution in which the minor is placed, and the director affixes their signature on the application and receives the ready document.

In the case of minors (aged between 14 and 18 years) who have been placed by a court decision for rearing with a foster family or with immediate or extended family, the application is submitted in person and in the presence of the foster parent or a member of the immediate or extended family, and the foster parent or member of the immediate or extended family affixes their signature on the application and receives the ready document.

An identity card issued on the basis of an application submitted at a diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad is received at the respective mission.

An identity card issued on the basis of an application submitted through the automated information system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for Bulgarian nationals residing abroad - is received at the consular office indicated by the applicant.

No one has the right to give or to accept in pledge, nor use or give for use a Bulgarian personal document of another person.

An application for fast issuance of an identity card may also be submitted at the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

In the case of need and where they wish to do so, Bulgarian nationals who hold a valid Bulgarian qualified electronic signature may submit an application for the issuance of an identity card and/or passport through the MVR’s Portal for electronic services subject to compliance with the law.

Passport

General

Each Bulgarian national has the right to leave Bulgaria and to return to Bulgaria on a passport or a passport substitute. Passports of Bulgarian nationals are issued with a five-year term of validity.

A passport is issued or replaced on the basis of an application form submitted by the applicant in person. An application for the issuance of a passport may also be submitted by a person authorised by the applicant with an express notarised power of attorney.

At the time of submitting an application for the issuance of a passport to a Bulgarian national under the age of 18 years, the person themself and their parents or guardians must be present. The application is submitted by the parents or guardians of a person under 14 years of age.

If the person has reached the age of 14 years, the parents or guardians express their consent by signing the application.

Application in the absence of a parent/guardian

In the absence of a parent or guardian, the signature in the application is placed by a person authorised with an express notarised power of attorney or one of the following documents is submitted:

- an effective court decision for issuing a passport to a person under 18 years of age;

- an effective court decision depriving one of the parents of parental rights;

- an effective court decision for the return of a child in accordance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, done at The Hague on 25 October 1980, ratified by law on 21 February 2003, or in accordance with the European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children, done at Luxembourg on 20 May 1980, ratified by law on 26 February 2003, in force from 1 October 2003; the decision must be coordinated with the Ministry of Justice;

- a transcript of a death certificate of one of the parents if the deceased parent is a foreign citizen, and for a Bulgarian citizen – if the information has not been reflected in the National Population Database.

Documents to be provided in the case of a difference of opinion between the parents

In the case of a difference of opinion between the parents for issuing a passport to a person under 18 years of age, one of the following documents must be submitted:

- an effective court decision for issuing of a passport;

- an effective court decision for the return of a child in accordance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or in accordance with the European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children, following the coordination of the decision with the Ministry of Justice.

Passports of minors and of persons placed under guardianship

The application for the issuance of a passport or a substitute document to minors and persons placed under guardianship is submitted in person and by the person’s parents or guardians.

The passport or the substitute document of a minor or of a person placed under guardianship is received by a parent or guardian or by a person authorised by them upon presentation of an express notarised power of attorney, or by a person whose particulars have been indicated by the parent or guardian before the official in the application upon submission.

A document for paid state fee and, for persons under 18 years of age, a birth certificate is attached to the application. Previous passports are also presented.

The persons are obliged to return their passports and substitute documents to the authority that issued them within three months of the expiration of their validity or of the revocation of the grounds for their issuance or use.

Submission of applications via diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria

Bulgarian nationals residing abroad may apply for a passport at the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

Electronic submission of passport applications

Bulgarian nationals residing abroad can also submit applications for issuance of a passport electronically through the automated information system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with or without a valid qualified electronic signature.

An application for the issuance of a passport may also be submitted electronically via the Ministry of Interior Portal for Provision of Electronic Administrative Services.

An application for the issuance of a passport may also be submitted electronically via the Automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for Bulgarian citizens residing abroad, with or without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature.

Where an application for a passport is submitted electronically, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

- to be a Bulgarian national over 18 years of age;

- to have a valid permanent address on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;

- to hold a Bulgarian personal document issued on the basis of an application submitted in person not more than 59 months before the date of submission of the electronic application and to have had the necessary biometric data taken;

- not to have another accepted application for issuance of a document of the same type at the time of the electronic submission of the application;

- no change in their name, personal identity number, sex, nationality or no significant and permanent changes in their image must have occurred;

- not to have been placed under guardianship.

When the application is submitted through the automated electronic services system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature, a copy of the valid Bulgarian identity document, the replacement of which is requested, must be attached to the application.

The authority issuing the passport shall send to the applicant the e-mail address indicated in the application, confirmation or refusal to issue a passport. The confirmation states that the document will be issued after payment of a state fee electronically through the automated information system for electronic services of the Ministry of Interior or the automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Requisites contained

Passports and substituting documents contain a photograph of the holder, as well as data on the place of birth, signature of the holder, passport number, date of issue, expiry date, and the authority that issued the passport.

The passport contains an electronic data medium. The electronic data medium contains a photograph of the person and their fingerprints taken at the time of submission of the application, as well as the place of birth written in Roman characters and the names of the person written in Cyrillic characters. Passports are issued with a 5 year term of validity.

In the cases where it is impossible to take biometric data – fingerprints – from the person due to temporary physical incapacity, a passport can be issued with a term of validity of up to 12 months.

When a passport is issued to persons under 14 years of age, no signature is affixed, and fingerprints are not taken from persons below 12 years of age.

Damage, destruction or loss

In the cases where a passport is damaged, destroyed, lost, stolen or its pages are filled, a new passport is issued. If the passport has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, the person must fill in a declaration.

At the request of the person, a new passport may also be issued before the expiration of its validity.

Receiving the passport

The passport issued is received in person and, by exception, by an authorised person upon presentation of an express notarised power of attorney, or by a person whose particulars have been indicated by the applicant before the official in the application upon submission.

Passports of minors and persons aged between 14 and 18 years are received by a parent or guardian, and, by exception, by an authorised person upon presentation of an express notarised power of attorney, or by a person whose particulars have been indicated by the parent or guardian before the official in the application upon submission.

Where the application has been submitted electronically, via the portal for electronic administrative services of the Ministry of Interior the passport is received in person at the Bulgarian Identity Documents unit with jurisdiction of the permanent address. At the time of receipt of the ready passport, the applicant is obliged to present the originals of the documents, the scanned images of which they have attached to the application. At the time of receipt of the new passport, the applicant is obliged to return the previous one.

A passport issued on the basis of an application submitted at a diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad is received at the respective mission or at the Bulgarian Identity Documents Directorate upon declaration of this circumstance.

Where the application for the issuance of a passport has been submitted electronically via the automated system for electronic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the document is received in person at the respective consular office. Where the application has been submitted without the use of a valid qualified electronic signature, service shall take place only after the identity of the recipient has been unambiguously established and the document whose replacement is being sought has been returned.

The authority issuing the passport sends to the applicant at the email address indicated in the application a confirmation or refusal to issue a passport. The confirmation states that the document will be issued after payment of a state fee by electronic means through the automated information system for electronic services of the Ministry of Interior.