Frequently Asked Questions

Bulgarian citizens who want to be evacuated must contact the “Situation Center” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria via email: crisis@mfa.bg.

They must provide the following information:

• • Three names;
  • Contact number;
  • Their current location and adress;
  • Type of Bulgarian identity document they have.

If they need assistance, Bulgarian citizens in Ukraine can turn to:

• The Bulgarian Embassy in Kyiv on the following telephone numbers:
  +380 44 235 4389
  +380 44 235 2202
• On-call telephone numbers during non-working hours:
  +380 44 246 7237
  +380 44 246 7672

For people that who a biometric passports – see the answer of Question 3 (Q3).

For people who have personal documents (of some kind) with which they can prove that they resided legally in Ukraine before 24.02.2022. – see the answer of Question 4 (Q4).

If you are a Ukrainian citizen and you have a valid (unexpired) biometric passport, you can enter Bulgaria without a visa and stay in the country for up to 90 days over a period of 6 months.

This period may be extended once by up to 90 days. For this purpose, you should contact the “Migration” units of the Ministry of Interior, located in Sofia and regional cities.

More information can be found on the website of the Migration Directorate – Ministry of Interior: https://www.mvr.bg/migration

After the entry into force of the Temporary Protection Directive (11.03.2022) if you are a Ukrainian citizen and have Ukrainian identity documents (identity card, old non-biometric passport, other identity document proving that you resided legally in Ukraine before 24.02.2022.), but you do not have a biometric passport, you can enter Bulgaria and apply for “temporary protection” or “international protection” (read more about the difference between temporary protection and international protection in Question 8 (Q8).

At the border crossing you will have the opportunity to request one of the two types of protection.

Temporary protection is obtained immediately if you meet the conditions of the Temporary Protection Directive.

• If you have the means to meet your basic living and household needs, you can stay at an address of your choice.
• If you do not have such funds, you can request “temporary protection” by contacting: 
  – Border authorities at the border checkpoint – you will be directed and transported to a hotel designated by the authorities, where you will be provided with accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for up to 3 months or until 31.05.2022.
• District or municipal authorities through the crisis centers in the cities where there are such: for more information follow ukraine.gov.bg.

• If you have the means to meet your basic living and household needs, you can stay at an address of your choice.
• If you do not have such funds, you can request “temporary protection” by contacting the migration authorities or the State Agency for Refugees, which will be ready to register the regional cities in the country and the police offices after 20.03.2022. Priority will be given to such an opportunity in major regional centers such as Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Yambol. For more information follow ukraine.gov.bg.
• For those accommodated in a registered hotel: electronic information brochures will be sent to the hotels in each settlement where the center / office for registration for “temporary protection” has opened. 

Тemporary Protection

• Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 and members of their families;
• Nationals of other third countries (other than Ukraine) and stateless people who have used their right to international protection or another equivalent type of national protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022, and members of their families;
• Persons with foreign citizenship or statelessness who left the territory of Ukraine as a result of hostilities and entered and remained on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, if they explicitly state that they want to enjoy the status of temporary protection until March 31, 2022.

• The procedure takes 5 to 15 minutes and temporary protection is provided immediately
• Temporary protection is granted upon oral request to the Border Police, the State Agency for Refugees or other bodies of the Ministry of Interior (migration, police), to people who meet the conditions above.

• Right to stay on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• Right to written information in plain language about the rules and conditions of temporary protection;
• If you are granted temporary protection, you receive: – Right to registration card of a foreigner who has been granted temporary protection – for the term of protection; – Right to reunite with one’s family; – Right to work and professional training; – The right to education for students and the right to access kindergarten for children under 6 years of age; – The right to appropriate accommodation or means of accommodation if necessary; – Right to assistance for accommodation and meals in accommodation places registered in the National Tourist Register, in the total amount of BGN 40 without VAT per person per night and food / breakfast, lunch and dinner /, incl. tourist tax, which is paid to the service provider. The aid will be provided for a period of up to 3 months. The same rights will have the persons who have expressed a desire to access the labor market in the country and this assistance will be provided for up to 1 month from the date of application. The period of validity of the program is expected to be from 24.02.2022 to 31.05.2022.
• Right to social assistance;
• Right to medical care in emergencies – People from vulnerable groups – children under 18, unaccompanied children, pregnant women, single parents with minors, the elderly and people with disabilities, serious health problems, mental disorders victims of trafficking or suffering torture, rape or other severe forms of violence – have the right to full medical care as Bulgarian citizens.

International Protection

• Every person from any country has the right to seek asylum (international protection) in Bulgaria when he is persecuted or when his life or safety is threatened.
• You are an asylum seeker from the moment you apply for protection. From now on you have the right to stay in Bulgaria until a final decision is made on your application.

The Regional Departments of Education (RDUs) in the country accept applications from Ukrainian citizens who want to enroll their children in kindergarten or school.

Depending on the age, the class completed so far, the location and the desire of the parents, children and students will be directed to a specific educational institution. The aim is to complete the preparatory stage as soon as possible so that children can join the classes as soon as they receive official legal status in Bulgaria and their health status is clarified.

If necessary, they will be given the appropriate vaccines according to the Bulgarian immunisation calendar.

Depending on the age of the children, a certain number of classes in Bulgarian is provided.
The hotline of the Ministry of Education and Science for consultations of Ukrainian citizens is 0800 16 111

Find out more information and additional educational materials here.

Because of the emergency situation in Ukraine, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has established a simplified procedure for entry into the territory of the European Union (EU) through the Republic of Bulgaria of pets accompanying travelers (EU citizens, Ukraine and other countries outside the EU) for non-commercial purposes.

According to the requirements of the Regulation, pets traveling for non-commercial purposes to EU countries from outside the EU are:
– identified (microchip);
– accompanied by a passport;
– accompanied by a health certificate issued by the veterinary authorities of Ukraine;
– vaccinated against rabies;
– availability of antibody titer test against rabies. The test must be carried out on a sample taken by an authorized veterinarian at least 30 days after the date of rabies vaccination and at least three months before the date of movement. The test must measure a serum rabies virus neutralising antibody level equal to or greater than 0.5 IU / ml;
– treated against Echinococcus multilocularis, performed not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of the planned entry into Bulgaria.

The simplified procedure enables the owners of animals that do not meet one or more of the conditions to transport them by submitting a notification of entry into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or another Member State at the border crossing points.

In case of animals staying on the territory of Bulgaria, they will be placed under isolation and official control, until the above requirements of the Regulation are met.

In case of transit through the territory of the country, the BFSA will issue a permit for passage. It will specify the requirement (or requirements) that the pet does not meet in order to notify the Member State of final destination.

In case of need for additional information, citizens can use the e-mail address: ukraine@bfsa.bg

By law, every foreigner who enters Bulgaria must, within 3 days, make an address registration with the regional police department at his place of residence. However, there are no restrictions for this to happen after these 3 days.

If the person is staying in a hotel, his address registration is done ex officio by the hotel administration and there is no need to do anything extra by the person himself.

If the person is staying in a private home – for rent, or, with friends / relatives – the owner of the home is the one who has to make the address registration. For this purpose, the owner of the apartment must go to the police, together with the persons accommodated by him, and carry his title deed (notary deed).

If the owner is unable to go to the police, he can sign and notarize a declaration (a declaration form can be downloaded here).

With this declaration and a copy of his title deed, the people who are accommodated in his home can go to the police on their own and register their address.

The police issue an address card to a foreigner.

The address registration may be changed by the same procedure an unlimited number of times when the place of residence is changed. It is recommended to bring the old address card to the police when changing the address.

No toll taxes are charged for any motor vehicle with a Ukrainian registration number (e-vignette for cars up to 3.5 tons and toll for trucks and buses over 3.5 tons), when using the national road network. introduced by a decision of the Council of Ministers and in force for the period from February 24 this year until the elimination of the need for humanitarian and medical assistance. humanitarian crisis.

All generated violations in the electronic system of vehicles with Ukrainian registration after February 24 are closed so that road vehicles can leave the territory of Bulgaria without hindrance.

The experts of the National Toll Administration are in constant contact with their colleagues from the Customs Agency, who carry out the last control of the vehicle before leaving the country. All Ukrainian cars and trucks are exempt from vignette and toll fee.

The EU has issued instructions that people running from the war in Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection in one European country but then transferred to another European country, must obtain a new permit and document from them (the European country they decide to move to) as people under temporary protection. In these cases, the first temporary protection document issued should be destroyed.

In practice, this means that Ukrainians registered for temporary protection in Bulgaria could decide to move to another European country. There they will have the opportunity to re-register and enjoy the rights that the respective state gives to people under temporary protection.

• Identity document / temporary protection card /
  It is mandatory at the beginning of any work, and after checking the identity data, the document must be returned. The employer should keep a notarised copy of the person’s card in the person’s file. 
• Occupational license
  If this is the first job, the employment record is provided by the employer, at his expense, within 5 days after the declaration submitted by you.
• Medical examination document (issued by a doctor; fees might be applied)
• Criminal record certificate 
  It should not normally be required unless required by law for the position held
• Internship document 
  If required for the specific profession. 
• Document of completed education 
  (example: higher education), qualification, qualification or other certificate, if they are a condition for holding the position. Some documents should be recognized by Bulgarian institutions / so on. Protected professions. More information could be found here https://ukraine.gov.bg/education/.

The employer is obliged to notify the General Labor Inspectorate within 7 days of starting work through a form.

Recognition of higher education acquired in foreign higher education institutions, including higher education institutions in Ukraine, is carried out by different competent authorities depending on the purposes of the requested recognition.

For continuing education in Bulgaria after completing a period of study or obtaining a degree, raising qualifications or applying for a doctorate, the competent authority for recognition of foreign diplomas is the rector of the accredited Bulgarian higher education institution selected for this purpose.

The National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID) at the Ministry of Education and Science organises the procedure for academic recognition of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as the doctor’s degree and educational degree in order to facilitate market access to work in unregulated professions.

The necessary documents are the diploma of higher education and the appendix to it. They do not need certifications from Ukraine, but should be accompanied by a legalized translation into Bulgarian. The translator’s signature only needs notarization. More information about the academic recognition procedure itself can be found on the NACID website: https://nacid.bg/.

The exercise of a regulated profession in Bulgaria requires recognition by the relevant competent authority. Examples of regulated professions in the healthcare sector are: doctor, dentist, midwife, nurse, rehabilitator, etc .; from the maritime transport sector are: navigator, ship mechanic, ship electrician, etc. The full list of regulated professions in Bulgaria by categories, as well as the contacts of the competent authorities for each profession can be found on the NACID website: http://professio.nacid.bg/?id=32.

The country’s legislation allows Ukrainian citizens to open a bank account for basic operations. This account is opened in BGN and through it many payment operations can be performed – depositing, withdrawing money at a cash desk or ATM, transfers, including online. According to the law, banks offer payment services on this account free of charge or for a reasonable fee, regardless of the number of services provided through the account. Ukrainian citizens can use their Visa or MasterCard debit and credit cards within the daily limit set by Ukrainian banks and up to the guarantee limit for the specific card.

All Ukrainian citizens who have a biometric passport can travel freely in the EU, even after receiving temporary protection status.

In the meantime, the expired biometric passports of the Ukrainian embassy in Bulgaria can be extended.

For those who arrive in Bulgaria without a biometric passport, it is important to know that they can leave our territory only if they pass through it in transit.

For Ukrainian citizens who have spent several days on the territory of our country, as well as those who already have the status of temporary protection and do not have a biometric passport, various options for permitting movement within the EU are being discussed.

For them, the rule is that in order to return home, they must have passes, which are issued by the Ukrainian embassy.

This means that at the moment they cannot leave Bulgaria, but the authorities assure that the case for the persons without biometric passports will be successfully resolved as soon as possible. Until then, it was recommended that these Ukrainian citizens wait until the EU and the government decide under what conditions to allow them to travel around the EU.