What Ukrainians need to know about entering Bulgaria:

Do I need a visa to enter Bulgaria?

No, you do not need a visa to enter Bulgaria. 

What documents do I need to enter Bulgaria?

You can enter Bulgaria without a visa with a biometric passport as a tourist or with any Ukrainian identity document as a refugee.

Do I need insurance to travel to Bulgaria?

Health insurance is required to enter the country for tourist purposes.

Do I need a Green Card to travel to Bulgaria by car now?

Yes, the Green Card is mandatory for everyone who travels abroad by car, including refugees.

A Green Card is a necessary insurance for traveling by car outside Ukraine for safe travel. It takes a few minutes to apply for an insurance policy. All you need to do is follow the link, provide the necessary data and pay for the service.

The country's decision to accept refugees from Ukraine

According to Regulation (EC) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council, citizens of Ukraine have the right to visa-free entry into the Republic of Bulgaria. and the right to reside for up to 90 days during a 180-day period in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Information on refugee assistance centers (address, website, contact telephone numbers, etc.)

In order to provide centralized assistance to all Ukrainians arriving in the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ukrainian community has established a crisis headquarters and call-center:

+359 884 110 050 - providing advice on legal issues;

+359 884 110 330 - providing information on humanitarian aid (resettlement, possible receipt of warm clothes, food);

Also, to obtain information on temporary housing, we advise you to register and use the platform created by the Ukrainian diaspora to help Ukrainian refugees at the link.

Social security for refugees (temporary housing, employment opportunities)

Citizens of Ukraine have open access to the labor market and access to primary health care.

To the attention of citizens of Ukraine who arrived in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria

For advice and coordination, please contact the 24-hour hotline of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria tel + 359 8780 15102

Medical care (especially for chronic patients, insulin-dependent)

Free primary care is provided.

Carrying out treatment (inpatient, operations) is paid!

Possibility to extend short-term stays and visas for citizens of Ukraine

Citizens of Ukraine have the right to visa-free entry into the Republic of Bulgaria. and the right to reside for up to 90 days during a 180-day period in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The term may be extended for humanitarian reasons related to emergencies, according to Article 27, Part 2 of the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria. The procedure by which citizens of Ukraine may exercise the right to additional stay in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is defined in the Regulations on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (RILFRB)

Citizens of Ukraine who wish to extend their visa-free stay in the Republic of Bulgaria may apply to the Migration Service of the Ministry of Interior before the end of the visa-free stay. They receive the form on the spot or can fill it in advance by downloading it from the website of the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria (according to Annex №2 to Article 11 Part 3).

Citizens of Ukraine of Bulgarian origin can obtain a long-term or permanent residence permit in Bulgaria if they have concluded an employment contract with a Bulgarian employer for a period of 6 (six) months. Citizens of Ukraine who wish to receive international protection (refugee status or humanitarian status) can apply to the branch of the State Migration Service for Refugees under the Council of Ministers, and for the city of Sofia assigned ROC-Sofia at: Ovcha Kupel, 2, st. Montevideo, 21, as well as before the migration service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and also before the migration departments / sectors / groups of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and before the bodies of the Main Directorate of the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.)

For more information, citizens of Ukraine can visit the Migration Service of the Ministry of the Interior at: 48 Kniahyni Miriya Luiza Blvd., Sofia. If they live outside the city of Sofia, they can visit the relevant migration sector / group. Regional Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at their place of residence in the country.

Should I apply for refugee status?

Citizens of Ukraine must decide for themselves the issue of obtaining refugee status.

The Government of Bulgaria has created a National Portal for victims of the war in Ukraine

In order to provide centralized assistance to all Ukrainians arriving in Bulgaria, the Ukrainian community has established a crisis headquarters and call-center, where the number:

+ 359 884 110 050 - provide legal advice;

+ 359 884 110 330 - will be guided by the provision of humanitarian aid.

Crossing the border without a biometric passport - yes or no?

Crossing the border for citizens of Ukraine (refugees) is possible with a foreign biometric passport, passport of a citizen of Ukraine to travel abroad, internal passport of a citizen of Ukraine and a birth certificate.

On April 15, the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria (Sofia) started a telephone recording for citizens of Ukraine to obtain identity cards to return to Ukraine.

ALGORITHM OF YOUR ACTIONS:

1. Call + 359 2 818 68 50.

2. The employee will record your data and inform you when you personally come to the reception at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria (Sofia, 29 Boryana Street).

3. On the appointed day you come to the consular department of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria. You must have the documents you have (passport of a citizen of Ukraine (domestic) or foreign passport of the old model, for children - a child's birth certificate, and a photo 3.5 by 4.5 on a white background, matte format (for children - also required photo).

4. In the consular department you will need to fill out an application form and pay the bank (the address of the bank will tell you) the consular fee, which is 30 dollars. USA.

What to do if the passport expires?

To renew their foreign passports, citizens of Ukraine must apply to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria in Sofia. (address: Sofia, residential complex Ovcha Kupel, 29 Boryana Street)

Details below in the Contact section.

What to do if you have a child without a passport?

The Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria can enter data and paste a photo of the child in your passport.

You need to provide:

- a photograph measuring 3.4x4.5;

- child's birth certificate;

- parents' passport

Crossing the border with pets

Crossing the border with pets is allowed. An appropriate questionnaire must be completed at the checkpoints. The animal can be imported even without proper vaccinations.