COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Bulgaria (15 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and official residents and their families are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Foreigners are not allowed to enter until 30 April 2021. This does not apply to:

• Citizens of the Member States of the European Union (EU), Schengen Area countries (including the Republic of San Marino, Andorra, Monaco, and Vatican City) and members of their families (including persons in de facto cohabitation with them);

• Citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, Israel, Kuwait, Belarus and Turkey;

• Persons with permanent, long-term or continuous residence status and the members of their families; persons holding a Bulgarian long-term type D visa as well as persons holding a residence permit in a Member State of the European Union or in a Schengen country (including San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the City State Vatican) and members of their families;

• Medical professionals, medical researchers, social workers, and their supervisors, when the purpose of the journey is related to the profession they are pursuing;

• Workers involved in the supply of medicinal products, medical devices and personal protective equipment, medical equipment, including its installation and maintenance;

• Transport staff engaged in the international transportation of passengers and cargo and goods, aircraft crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, and other transport personnel as required, including vessel crews and persons involved in the maintenance of vessels;

• Officials (heads of state, members of governments, etc.) and members of their delegations, as well as diplomats, members of the administrative and technical staff of foreign missions, employees of international organizations, military personnel, members of the security services, and the public order and humanitarian workers in the performance of their duties, as well as members of their families;

• Persons travelling for humanitarian reasons;

• Representatives of trade, economic and investment activities and persons directly related to the implementation of projects certified under the Investment Promotion Act, analyses of projects of potential investors and other activities relevant to the economy of the country, as well as the members of their families, certified by a letter from the Minister of Economy;

• Persons directly involved in the construction, maintenance, operation and safety of the strategic and critical infrastructure of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as persons engaged in shipbuilding and ship repair, as well as their family members, certified by a letter from the Minister responsible for the respective activity. The letter of the respective minister shall be submitted to the border control authorities;

• Seasonal agricultural and tourism workers; frontier workers;

• Persons travelling for training purposes as well as persons participating in examination boards, provided that the examination cannot be conducted remotely in an electronic environment;

• Organizers and participants in international sports competitions (for the duration of the respective sports event), athletes from abroad coming to the country for a certain trial period; athletes and coaches from abroad arriving in the country to participate in training camps, family members of foreign athletes and coaches, holders of Bulgarian long-term type D visa, certified by a letter from the Minister of Youth and Sports, which indicates the names of the persons and the address of their residence in Bulgaria (letter shall be submitted to the border
  control authorities);

• Foreign citizens receiving a decree under the Bulgarian Citizenship Act for acquired Bulgarian citizenship, certified by a letter from the Ministry of Justice;

• Organizers and participants in international cultural events (for the duration of the respective cultural event), certified by a letter from the Minister of Culture, which indicates the names of the persons and the address of their residence in Bulgaria. The letter is submitted to the border control authorities.

• Foreign citizens, for receiving a decree under the Bulgarian Citizenship Act for acquired Bulgarian citizenship, certified by a letter of the Ministry of Justice;

• Foreign citizens, for receiving a decree under the Bulgarian Citizenship Act for acquired Bulgarian citizenship, certified by a letter of the Ministry of Justice;

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Transit through Bulgaria is allowed for travellers who are exempt from the entry ban and whose immediate departure from Bulgaria can be guaranteed.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No

• Only health screenings will be carried out on arrival in Bulgaria.

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

• All persons who are allowed to enter Bulgaria must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued no more than 72 hours before entry. Exemptions from the testing requirements may be sought for certain categories of travellers listed in this link to the official order.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Arrivals in Bulgaria are not required to quarantine if they have provided a negative PCR test certificate issued no more than 72 hours before arrival.

• Bulgarian nationals and persons with a Bulgarian residence permit arriving in Bulgaria without negative test results are allowed to enter Bulgaria but must self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival. The quarantine can be shortened if a negative PCR test is presented within 24 hours of arrival. Those testing positive for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

• Approved travellers arriving from countries and territories in Africa must quarantine for 10 days at their home or accommodation. These travellers will be exempted from the need to provide a negative PCR test certificate upon entry. However, travellers from certain countries in Africa will be exempted from the mandatory 10-day quarantine on presenting the pre-arrival negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued 72 hours before entry into Bulgaria. The list of exempted countries includes Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Somali Republic, the Central African Republic, the Gabonese Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Côted'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, the Republic of Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Madagascar.

• Based on the above restrictions, travellers will either be exempted from quarantine or required to enter quarantine for a maximum of 14 days, on arrival in Bulgaria.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• International and domestic commercial passenger flights are operating at a reduced frequency.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Travellers are allowed to enter through the following border checkpoints (BCPs): Burgas Airport BCP; Varna Airport BCP; Plovdiv Airport BCP; Sofia Airport BCP (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2); Port of Burgas BCP; Port of Varna BCP; Vidin BCP; Vrashka Chuka BCP; Durankulak BCP; Gueshevo BCP; Ilinden BCP; Kalotina BCP; Kapitan Andreevo BCP; Captain Petko Voivoda BCP; Kulata BCP; Lesovo BCP; Makaza BCP; Malko Tarnovo BCP; Oryahovo BCP; Ruse BCP and Somovit-Nikopol BCP.

• Citizens of Georgia are exempt from temporary restrictions on crossing the Bulgarian border but must present a document showing a negative PCR test performed 72 hours before entry into the country.

• Entry restrictions have been extended until 30 April 2021.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• No curfew is in effect.

• An emergency epidemic situation is in place until 30 April. Various coronavirus measures and restrictions remain in force during this time.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Private gatherings and celebrations can be attended by a maximum of 15 people only

• Violation of social distancing measures may lead to a penalty.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Masks are required when on public transportation.

• There are no restrictions on travel between cities.

• Public transportation is operating in Sofia.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Non-essential stores and shopping centres will be closed except for essential services.

• There will be “corridors” in grocery shops for customers over the age of 65 between 08:30 to 10:30. During these hours people under the age of 65 will not be permitted, but those above the age of 65 will be allowed to shop beyond these stipulated hours.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Indoor restaurants have closed until 30 April and only takeaway and home deliveries are allowed.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Bars and night clubs, will remain closed until 30 April.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Domestic tourism is resuming gradually.

• Excursions, organized transport, tours, and group visits to tourist sites in the country and abroad are suspended until 30 April.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Religious institutions such as churches, mosques, and synagogues remain open.

Events allowed?

• Yes with exceptions

• Group celebrations with the presence of more than 15 people indoors and outdoors (including weddings, balls, baptisms, etc.) are not allowed.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Wearing a mask is mandatory in all indoor public spaces, all public transportation, as well as in open public spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Scarves or substitute face coverings are no longer allowed in place of a mask.

Other

• Entertainment venues reopened on 1 March.

• As of 1 April, gyms, cinemas and concerts have reopened and are operational at a limited capacity.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.