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)
Documents you need to travel in Europe
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.
*From Third Countries: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.