Latest News: Bulgarian authorities imposes more stringent entry restrictions as well as ban for travelers from some COVID-19 highly affected third countries (Schengen Visa Info, 03.05.2021).

International Restrictions:

*From within the EU:

Bulgaria adopts its own national classification of risk areas, hence travel restrictions for Bulgaria are not based on the common "EU Traffic Lights" map.

All travellers, regardless of their citizenship and the country of origin, are allowed entry upon presentation of one of the following documents:

• a certificate of vaccination, with the last dose of vaccine administered at least 14 days before entry
• a document showing a positive test result (PCR or antigen test) for people who recovered from Covid-19 in the period between 15 and 180 days before entry.

Is a coronavirus test required?

Bulgarian citizens, citizens of EU member states, Schengen countries and their family members are subject to the requirement for a pre-departure negative COVID-19 (PCR or antigen) test.

The test must be taken within 72 hours (PCR) or 48 hours (antigen test) before departure.

Is a quarantine required?

Bulgarian citizens, permanent or long-term residents in Bulgaria and their family members, who do not present the negative result of a COVID-19 test, must complete a 10-day mandatory quarantine.

The quarantine period may be ended upon the presentation of a document showing the negative result of a COVID-19 test performed within 24 hours from the entry.

Mandatory Travel Documentation

Self-risk travel declaration available in 8 languages (BG / EN / DE / RU / FR / RO / GR / RS)

Find out more:
Order № RD-01-278 of 29.04.2021 on the rules and conditions for entry into the territory of Bulgaria, in force from 1 May (in Bulgarian)

Practical information for tourists

Contact Point for Bulgaria:
Important telephone numbers and contacts (in Bulgarian)

Health cover for temporary stays *Transit:

Transit through Bulgaria to the country of residence is allowed for the people who are also allowed to enter the country:

(a) Nationals of the EU or a Schengen country and their family members;

(b) Nationals of Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Corea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Belarus, Kuwait. Furthermore, nationals of Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova and Turkey, as well as Kuwait and Israel, can transit to return to the country of which they are nationals.

c) All the other categories of people listed under point n.2 of the Order № RD-01-196 of 31.03.2021 for a temporary ban on entry into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria (in Bulgarian).

Transit is only permitted when the traveller will immediately leave Bulgaria. Persons who are allowed to transit must submit to health inspectors at the border a declaration, regarding observation of the Ministry of Health’s anti-epidemic measures and acknowledgement of the risks of COVID-19.

As of 1 May, travellers coming from India, Bangladesh, Brazil and some countries and territories in Africa are not allowed to enter Bulgaria, except Bulgarian citizens and permanent or long-term residents in the country (including their family members), to which a 10-day quarantine applies.

All other travellers, regardless of their citizenship and the country of origin, are allowed entry upon presentation of one of the following documents:

• a certificate of vaccination, with the last dose of vaccine administered at least 14 days before entry
• a document showing a positive test result (PCR or antigen test) for people who recovered from Covid-19 in the period between 15 and 180 days before entry.

Is a coronavirus test required?

A pre-departure negative COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) is required for travellers arriving from the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• South Corea
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Uruguay
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Israel
• Belarus
• Kuwait
• Turkey
• Albania
• Montenegro
• Moldova
• North Macedonia
• Kosovo
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Serbia

The test must be taken within 72 hours (PCR) or 48 hours (antigen test) before departure.

Is a quarantine required?

Bulgarian citizens, long-term and permanent residents in Bulgaria and their family members, who do not present a negative result of a COVID-19 test, are subject to a 10-day quarantine. Quarantine may be ended upon presentation of a document showing the negative result of a PCR test performed within 24 hours from the entry.

Mandatory Travel Documentation

Self-risk travel declaration available in 8 languages (BG / EN / DE / RU / FR / RO / GR / RS)

Find out more:
Practical information for tourists
Order № RD-01-278 of 29.04.2021 on the rules and conditions for entry into the territory of Bulgaria, in force from 1 May (in Bulgarian)

*Public spaces and services: An Emergency Epidemic situation is in place until 31 May 2021. Various coronavirus measures and restrictions remain in force during this time.

The police are strictly enforcing measures and failure to comply could result in a 300 to 1,000 lev fine for the first offence or 1,000 to 2,000 lev for a second offence. Failure to comply with quarantine requirements could result in a 5,000 lev fine.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Additionally, there is a mandatory 10-day self-isolation requirement for anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The isolation period starts from the date of the last contact with the infected person.

Wearing a face mask is mandatory in all indoor public spaces and all outdoor spaces where it is not possible to maintain a social distance of at least 1.5 metres. Face shields, scarfs or other face coverings are not permitted in place of a face mask.

Exceptions to this measure include:

• those exercising outdoors/indoors;

• children under six years old;

• customers at dining and drinking establishments; and

• speakers at conferences, congresses, etc.

The following measures are currently in force:

• From 6 May private gatherings and celebrations of more than 15 are allowed;

• from 1 May, sports competitions for all age groups can be held without spectators. Spectators can attend outdoor sports events at a maximum of 30% seating capacity with social distancing of 1.5 metres and the wearing of a face mask mandatory for all attendees.

• religious institutions such as churches, mosques, and synagogues remain open;

• parks and gardens remain open, visitors must maintain a social distance of 1.5 metres, not use alcohol and follow any other instructions from local authorities;

• visits to national parks and mountains are now permitted as long as visitors can maintain a social distance of 1.5 metres;

Further additional measures in place until 31 May include the following:

• restaurants and entertainment facilities are allowed to open between the hours of 6am and 11pm, at no more than 50% capacity.

• all establishments in shopping centres are allowed to open.

• gambling halls and casinos are allowed to open, at no more than 50% capacity.

• nightclubs and bars are allowed to open, at no more than 50% capacity.

• conferences, congresses, seminars, team buildings, exhibitions, and other public and cultural events are allowed at no more than 50% capacity.

• visits to gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools are allowed, at no more than 50% capacity. All visitors must maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres.

• visits to cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries, and circus performances are allowed, at no more than 50% capacity. All visitors must maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres.

• organised transport, excursions, tours, and group visits to tourist sites in the country and abroad are allowed.

• Sports competitions can be held with spectators, using up to 50% of the venue seating capacity. Spectators must maintain social distancing of at least 1.5m and wear a face mask.

Nurseries and kindergartens have resumed in-person activities. 1st to 12th grade teaching have resumed in-person according to individual schedules established between the school and the Ministry of Health. Language and training centres have resumed in-person activities.

From 31 May, in-person classes and extracurricular activities for students from all grades will resume.

From 19 May, in-person classes in higher education institutions will resume.

*Travel in Bulgaria: Travel to/from airport or other port of arrival. There are no restrictions on travel between cities. There are no longer any police checkpoints and it is not necessary to present a declaration giving the reason(s) for travelling between cities or to the airport.

*Road: Restrictions apply at many European land borders, including with Bulgaria, which affect road and rail travel. You should check the travel advice for any countries through which you are considering travel before you depart.

Other: partially closed/partially cancelled

Restrictive measures mandatory between 24 September 2020 to 30 November 2020

Unaccompanied minors will be banned from visiting shopping malls. “Green corridors” for shopping by people over the age of 65 will be in effect from 10am to noon. Bulgaria’s Chief State Health Inspector proposes more measures against Covid-19 Eighteen out of the 28 districts in Bulgaria are currently classified as “red zones”, where there are more than 120 cases of Covid-19 per 100 000 population. The “red zone” districts include Sofia city, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Rousse, Montana, Vratsa, Lovech, Gabrovo, Stara Zagora, Pernik, Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kurdzhali, Sliven, Shoumen, Razgrad and Turgovishte. Eight districts are “orange zones”, with between 60 and 119.9 cases per 100 000 population. These districts are Kyustendil, Sofia district, Pazardzhik, Haskovo, Yambol, Pleven, Veliko Turnovo and Silistra. Two districts are “yellow zones”, Vidin and Dobrich. This means that no district in Bulgaria currently is classified as green. Bulgaria introduces new restrictions: -Hospitals in districts with more than 120 confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100 000 population are required to halt all planned patient admissions and planned surgeries until November 30. Hospitals in districts with 60 to 120 confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100 000 population must halt all planned surgeries. -These restrictions do not apply to transplantations, diagnostics and treatment of cancer, in-vitro fertilisation and births, rehabilitation activities, long-term treatment of diseases and mental health help. -Visits to hospitals are suspended, with the exception of patients in terminal stages of a disease. The length of the quarantine period for contact persons and people arriving in Bulgaria is reduced to 10 days from 14 days. Bulgaria’s Health Ministry has published the order that makes wearing protective masks while outdoors mandatory for everyone starting on October 22. The measures listed in the order will apply until November 30, which is the current end date of the epidemic situation declared by the country’s Cabinet. People are required to wear masks when “in outdoor public spaces where there are people congregating and there is no possibility to maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres,” the order said. The mask-wearing mandate remains in place for indoor places, such as public transportation and stops, hospitals and other medical facilities, administrative buildings, shopping establishments and places of worship. Bulgaria extends epidemic declaration to end of November Bulgaria’s Chief State Health Inspector wants epidemic declaration extended to end-November Bulgaria extends epidemic declaration to end of September Bulgaria’s Health Minister seeks extension of epidemic declaration Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said on August 4 that the current restrictions were sufficient to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country and there was no need to tighten them further. There was no reason for re-introducing lockdown measures. Bulgaria extends epidemic declaration to end of July. The extension of the Covid-19 epidemic declaration in Bulgaria is extended to July 15; these included a ban on entering Bulgaria or mandatory quarantine for people from certain countries, the mandatory requirement to wear a mask or other protective facial covering in indoor public places will remain in effect and hygiene measures, disinfection, and requiring employers where possible to allow staff to work from home, as well as limitations on gatherings of groups of people and mass events. As of June 23, wearing a disposable or reusable protective mask or other means covering the nose and mouth, such as a scarf or facial shield, is mandatory in all indoor public places, though this does not apply to customers in restaurants and drinking establishments, according to an order by Bulgaria’s Health Minister Kiril Ananiev. Bulgaria’s Health Minister: Covid-19 epidemic declaration will not be extended Bulgaria’s Health Minister Kiril Ananiev has issued an order that takes effect as of June 15 regarding the wearing of protective masks, the Health Ministry said. Everyone, when on public transport, in pharmacies and medical establishments, is obliged to wear a protective face mask for single or repeated use or another means covering the nose and mouth, including towel, scarf or facial shield. In all other indoor public places, as well as in all open ones where physical distance cannot be ensured, the wearing of a protective mask is “highly recommended”. This effectively removes the order to wear masks in supermarkets, as of that date. Separately, on May 30, Ananiev issued an order lifting the ban on the holding of congresses and conferences, seminars, exhibitions, provided that no more than 30 per cent of the seating may be occupied and other anti-epidemic measures are kept to. As of June 1, all extracurricular activities for children, such as clubs, children’s centres, are allowed to resume, the Health Ministry said. Indoor team sports activities will be allowed from May 22 behind closed door under an order of Health Minister Kiril Ananiev, the government information service said Wednesday. From May 26, individual and team sports activities for children under the age of 18 will be allowed both indoor and outdoor. Competitions continue to be barred. Swimming pools are also allowed to open. Under the order first aid courses for new drivers and courses for lifeguards can take place. As of Monday 18th May, malls and most other shops may open but some places such as entertainment and gaming halls, bars, indoor restaurants, fast food outlets, coffee shops, and indoor children’s and sports facilities will remain closed. The number of customers may be controlled and the wearing of masks is compulsory. - Museums and art galleries are also re-opening, again with some limitations. kindergartens and nurseries can open on May 22 in strict compliance with anti-epidemic measures and ensuring a safe environment for children. At a news conference on the night of May 13, as the final hours of the State of Emergency to counter Covid-19 ticked by, Health Minister Kiril Ananiev said that the Cabinet had agreed to declaring an epidemic situation in Bulgaria up to June 14. What will be allowed is organ transplants, and public parks and gardens will be open to all. Health Minister Kiril Ananiev Sunday lifted some restrictions imposed during the coronavirus state of emergency which ends on May 13. The easing of restrictions is effective as of May 4, except for restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating, which can re-open on May 6. The outdoor seating (gardens, terraces, etc) of restaurants, fast-food outlets and cafes can re-open in keeping with specific anti-epidemic measures. The Food Safety Agency has until May 5 to set more requirements for their operation. Driving schools, educational establishments training driving instructors, schools training experts on vehicle roadworthiness, maritime training centres, civil aviation training centres, and railway training centres can re-open on condition that social distancing and all anti-epidemic measures are in place. Individual outdoor sports, including tennis, cycling, athletics and golf, can be practised by people maintaining a distance of at least 2.5 metres from others. Visits to stand-alone swimming pools are allowed subject to all safety measures, but the adjoining cafes will remain closed. Bulgaria’s Health Minister Kiril Ananiev issued on Sunday an order that takes effect on April 27, allowing visits to public parks and gardens by certain categories of persons at specified times of day. Bulgaria’s Health Minister Kiril Ananiev issued an order on April 24 extending until May 13 the compulsory wearing of masks or other appropriate face coverings when in indoor or outdoor public places. Nationwide state of emergency extended until May 13. All medical consultations, planned surgeries and visitation in hospitals were also being suspended, the ministry said. The head of Bulgaria?s crisis staff against Covid-19, Major-General Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, has issued a strong call to the country?s Orthodox Christian majority to not go to church services during Easter 2020, but to celebrate at home.