Updated information for travellers upon entry in the Republic of Bulgaria

20 January 2022

From 20 January 2022 to 31 March 2022 according to Order № РД-01-19/14.01.2022 г. amended by Order № РД-01-26/1.01.2022 г. of the Minister of Health for the purpose of tourism on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, tourists are allowed through the following border checkpoints (BCPs):  

  1. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Burgas Airport“;
  2. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Varna Airport“;
  3. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Plovdiv Airport“;
  4. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Sofia Airport“ (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2);
  5. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Port of Burgas“;
  6. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Port of Varna“;
  7. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Vidin“;
  8. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Vrashka chuka“;
  9. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Durankulak“;
  10. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Gyueshevo“;
  11. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Zlatarevo“
  12. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Ilinden“;
  13. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Kalotina“;
  14. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Kapitan Andreevo“;
  15. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Kapitan Petko voyvoda“;
  16. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Kulata“;
  17. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Lesovo“;
  18. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Makaza“;
  19. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Malko Tarnovo“;
  20. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Oltomantsi“
  21. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Oryahovo“;
  22. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Russe“ 
  23. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Stanke Lisichkovo“
  24. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Somovit-Nikopol“
  25. BORDER CHECKPOINT “Strezimirovtsi“

The entry in the country is conducted on an assessment of the prevalence of COVID-19 in the respective countries by criteria and placement of the countries in color zones.

Color zones are as follows:

  • Green zone;
     
  • Orange zone;
     
  • Red zone;

Persons arriving by color zones of the countries in the Republic of Bulgaria

Green zone countries:

  • The person is admitted to the territory of the country upon presentation of a valid EU digital COVID certificate for vaccination, disease or testing or for a similar document containing the same data as the EU COVID digital certificate.
  • Persons who do not present a document are quarantined for 10 days in home or other accommodation where the person has indicated that he will reside, with a prescription issued by the director of the relevant regional health inspectorate or his authorized deputy-director.
  • The quarantined person may perform a polymerase chain reaction – PCR test to detect COVID-19 or a rapid antigen test of those listed in Annex № 2 not earlier than 72 hours of arrival in the country. In case of a negative result of the conducted research, the quarantine of the person shall be considered terminated from the day following the registration of the result in the National Information System for Combating COVID-19.

Orange zone countries:

  • Those persons are admitted to the territory of the country only upon presentation of a valid EU digital COVID certificate for vaccination, recovery from the illness or a test conducted, or a similar document containing the same data as the EU digital COVID certificate.
  • Persons who do not present a document under item 4.2 are placed under quarantine for a period of 10 days in home or other accommodation where the person has indicated that he will reside, with a prescription issued by the director of the relevant regional health inspection or a deputy director authorized by him.
  • The quarantined person under item 4.2.1. may conduct a polymerase chain reaction test to detect COVID-19 or a rapid antigen test of those listed in Annex No 2 not earlier than 72 hours of arrival in the country. In case of a negative result of the conducted research, the quarantine of the person shall be considered terminated from the day following the registration of the result in the National Information System for Combating COVID-19.

Red zone countries:

  • Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norther Ireland, the Republic of North Macedonia, the State of Israel, the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Serbia and their family members arriving from a Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northe Ireland” shall be admitted to the territory of the country upon presentation of a valid EU digital COVID certificate for vaccination or recovery from the illness or a similar document, together with a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction test conducted up to 72 hours before entry into the country examination by the method of polymerase chain reaction for COVID- 19, certified by a valid EU digital COVID certificate or similar document.
  • Bulgarian citizens and persons with permanent, long-term or long-term residence on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and members of their families who do not present any of these documents are allowed on the territory of the country and placed under quarantine for 10 days or in another place of accommodation where the person has indicated that he will reside, with a prescription issued by the director of the relevant regional health inspectorate or a deputy director authorized by him/her;
  • Bulgarian citizens and persons with the status of permanent, long-term or continuous residence on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and members of their families, who present upon entering the country only one of the documents specified in item 4.4. (for vaccination or recovery, or for a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test performed up to 72 hours before entry into the country) shall be quarantined for a period of 10 days at home or another place of accommodation, where the individual has indicated that he/she will reside, with a prescription issued by the director of the relevant regional health inspectorate or his/her deputy authorized by him/her. The quarantined individual may perform a polymerase chain reaction test for detection of COVID-19 performed no earlier than 72 hours of arrival in the country. In case of a negative result of the test, the person's quarantine shall be considered terminated from the day following the registration of the result in the National Information System for Combating COVID-19.
  • The children of age 12 to 18 arriving from a red zone country, are admitted to the territory of the country upon presentation of a negative result from a test conducted up to 72 hours before entering the country by polymerase chain reaction for COVID-19, certified through a valid EU digital certificate for test or an equivalent or similar document. If they do not present such a document, they shall be placed under quarantine for a period of 10 days in the home or other accommodation where they will reside, with a prescription issued by the director of the relevant regional health inspectorate or authorized by him deputy director. The quarantined person may perform a polymerase chain reaction test to detect COVID-19 not earlier than 72 hours of arrival in the country. In case of a negative result of the conducted test, the quarantine shall be considered terminated from the day of registration of the result in the National Information System for Combating COVID-19.

All countries outside the European Union and the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation that are not in red zone counties list are considered orange zone countries.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

List of countries and overseas territories by color zones, countries with information about a significant negative change in the epidemic situation and countries with a reciprocal basis, according to Annex 1 under item I, 3 of Order № РД-01- 19 / 14.01.2022, amended and ext. with Order № РД-01-26 / 17.01.2022:

Green zone:

  1. The Vatican City State;
  2. Republic of Romania;

Orange zone:

All countries outside the green and red zone.

Red zone:

  1. Australia
  2. Republic of Austria;
  3. Republic of Albania;
  4. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan;
  5. Barbados;
  6. The Bahamas;
  7. Belize;
  8. Bermuda;
  9. Bosnia and Herzegovina;
  10. British Virgin Islands;
  11. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
  12. Gibraltar;
  13. Grenada;
  14. Greenland;
  15. Georgia;
  16. Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe;
  17. Dominican Republic;
  18. The State of Kuwait;
  19. Kingdom of Esvatini;
  20. Israel;
  21. Eastern Republic of Uruguay;
  22. Ireland;
  23. Iceland;
  24. Italy;
  25. Jordan;
  26. Cape Verde;
  27. Cayman Islands;
  28. Canada;
  29. Qatar;
  30. Kyrgyz Republic;
  31. Principality of Andorra;
  32. The Principality of Liechtenstein;
  33. Principality of Monaco;
  34. Colombia;
  35. Swiss Confederation;
  36. Cooperative Republic of Guyana;
  37. Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
  38. Kingdom of Bahrain;
  39. Kingdom of Belgium;
  40. Kingdom of Denmark;
  41. Kingdom of Spain;
  42. Kingdom of the Netherlands;
  43. Kingdom of Norway;
  44. The Kingdom of Sweden;
  45. Curacao;
  46. Kingdom of Lesotho;
  47. ​​The Lebanese Republic;
  48. Multinational State of Bolivia;
  49. United Republic of Tanzania;
  50. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
  51. Isle of Man;
  52. Aruba Islands;
  53. Argentine Republic;
  54. Republic of Botswana;
  55. Republic of Guatemala;
  56. Hellenic Republic;
  57. Republic of El Salvador;
  58. The Republic of Estonia;
  59. Republic of Zambia;
  60. Republic of Zimbabwe;
  61. Republic of Cyprus;
  62. Republic of Costa Rica;
  63. Republic of Cuba;
  64. Republic of Latvia;
  65. The Republic of Lithuania;
  66. Republic of the Maldives;
  67. Republic of Malta;
  68. Republic of Mozambique;
  69. Republic of Namibia;
  70. Republic of Panama;
  71. Republic of Paraguay;
  72. The Republic of Poland;
  73. The Portuguese Republic;
  74. Republic of San Marino;
  75. The Republic of Northern Macedonia;
  76. Republic of Seychelles;
  77. Republic of Suriname;
  78. Republic of Serbia;
  79. Republic of Tajikistan;
  80. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago;
  81. The Republic of Turkey;
  82. The Republic of Finland;
  83. Republic of Chile;
  84. Republic of South Africa;
  85. Saba;
  86. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
  87. Sint Eustatius;
  88. Slovak Republic;
  89. Slovenia;
  90. United States of America;
  91. Turkmenistan;
  92. Turks and Caicos Islands;
  93. Hungary;
  94. Faroe Islands;
  95. Federal Republic of Germany;
  96. Federative Republic of Brazil;
  97. Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis;
  98. Fiji;
  99. France;
  100. Croatia;
  101. Montenegro;
  102. Czech Republic.

 

Annex 4, I,11, Order No РД -01-19 /14.01.2022

Countries whose COVID-19 vaccination, testing and disease certificate are considered equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate:

  1. Armenia;
  2. Georgia;
  3. Vatican City State (only in respect of vaccination certificates issued);
  4. Israel;
  5. Eastern Republic of Uruguay;
  6. Iceland;
  7. Cape Verde;
  8. The Principality of Andorra;
  9. The Principality of Liechtenstein;
  10. The Principality of Monaco;
  11. Swiss Confederation;
  12. Kingdom of Morocco;
  13. The Kingdom of Norway;
  14. Kingdom of Thailand;
  15. The Republic of Lebanon;
  16. New Zealand;
  17. United Arab Emirates;
  18. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
  19. The Republic of Albania;
  20. Republic of El Salvador;
  21. The Republic of Moldova;
  22. Republic of Panama;
  23. Republic of San Marino;
  24. The Republic of Northern Macedonia;
  25. The Republic of Singapore;
  26. Republic of Serbia;
  27. Тhe Republic of Turkey;
  28. Taiwan;
  29. Togolese Republic;
  30. Tunisia;
  31. Ukraine;
  32. The Faroe Islands;
  33. Montenegro.

The list is subject to update and supplementation depending on the development of the epidemic situation.

Information by countries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in connection with the travel conditions at COVID-19 – https://www.mfa.bg/bg/covid19map

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

On 15 November 2021, the European Commission adopted four decisions certifying that the COVID-19 certificates issued by Georgia, Moldova, New Zealand, and Serbia are equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate. As a result, from 16 November 2021, the four countries will be connected to the EU system and their COVID certificates will be accepted under the same conditions as the EU digital COVID certificate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

By the Order No РД -01-19 /14.01.2022 of the Minister of Health:

"State (territory) from which the person arrives" means the country (territory) - the starting point of his departure, regardless of the stay associated with his transit through other countries during his movement.

“Valid digital COVID EU vaccination certificate or similar document” is a document for completed vaccination course against COVID-19. The document must contain the names of the person written in Latin, according to the identity document he/she travels, date of birth, the date of last received dose of vaccine against COVID-19, serial number of the dose, and doses total number in double vaccines, the trade name of the vaccine against COVID-19, name of the manufacturer/holder of the marketing authorization, country of issue and name of the issuing competent authority and, for the EU certificate, its unique identifier.

The completion of a vaccination course is considered to be the administration of the appropriate number of doses COVID-19 vaccine listed in Annex No 3 and expiry of a 14-day period from the date of last dose administration. The combination of one dose of Vaxzevria / AZD1222 with one dose of Comirnaty / BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine) is also considered a completed vaccination course.

“Valid EU digital COVID certificate” is a document certifying that a person has suffered from COVID-19 and which is valid for the period from the 11th to the 180th day from the date of the examination entered in the document. The certificate must contain the names of the person written in Latin, according to the identity document he/she travels, date of birth, date of the first positive result of the NAAT test and a positive result (Positive), details of the issuing authority, country, which the examination was done and its unique identifier. “NAAT test” means a molecular test for nucleic acid amplification, such as polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR), cyclic-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and transcriptional-mediated amplification (TMA) techniques used to detect the presence of ribonucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 (RNA).

A document analogous to the EU's digital COVID certificate of illness is a document certifying that a person has suffered from COVID-19, and which is valid for the period from the 11th to the 180th day from the date of the examination entered in the document. The document must contain the names of the person written in Latin, according to the identity document with which he/she travels, date of birth, date of the first positive result of PCR test or rapid antigen test and a positive result (Positive), information about the medical institution, carried out the examination (name, address or other contact details) or the issuing authority and the country in which the examination was conducted.

“Valid EU digital COVID certificate for testing” or a similar document is a document showing a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction test performed up to 72 hours before entry into the country or a negative result from a rapid antigen test conducted up to 48 hours before entry into the country, as of the date of sampling entered in the document. The document must contain the names of the person written in Latin, according to the identity document with which he/she travels, date of birth, type of test, written in Latin method (PCR or RAT) and negative result (Negative), date and time of collection test sample, trade name and manufacturer of the test (mandatory for rapid antigen tests), name of the laboratory / medical institution that performed the test, country where the test was performed and authority that issued the certificate / document, and for the EU certificate - and its unique identifier.

Equivalent to the EU digital COVID certificate are also COVID-19 certificates issued by a third country in accordance with standards and technological systems that are interoperable with the Digital COVID Trust Framework. EU certificate. The list of countries whose COVID-19 vaccination, testing and relapse certificates are considered equivalent to the EU digital COVID is in Annex № 4.

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