Bulgaria, as a member state of the EU, has a visa-free agreement with Ukraine. It guarantees Ukrainians the opportunity to enter Bulgaria only on the basis of a biometric passport and to stay in the country without processing documents for up to 90 days. Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain a visa before traveling.

Also, since the first days of the full-scale invasion, Bulgaria has greatly simplified the requirements for documents. Ukrainians can enter the country on the basis of any document confirming their identity: an old-style international passport, a passport of a citizen of Ukraine, a driver's license, and for children under 14 - a birth certificate.

As a temporary measure in view of the current situation in Ukraine, you may also enter with an expired passport. If you do not have any documents, you may be allowed entry on humanitarian grounds.

You will be allowed entry in Bulgaria if you have one of the following documents:

• Biometric passport
• Non-biometric passport
• Driving license
• ID card
• Birth certificate (children below 14 years old)

As a temporary measure in view of the current situation in Ukraine, you may also enter with an expired passport. If you do not have any documents, you may be allowed entry on humanitarian grounds.

If you do not have any of these documents, but have other official documents that indicate their identity – for example: certificates, passes, diplomas, membership cards, bank cards, employment records, property documents, you can still cross the border.

Ukrainians who have obtained temporary protection status can stay in Bulgaria. In the country, such a document is called "Registration card of a foreigner granted temporary protection". The maximum period of stay in the country was extended until March 2024 according to the EU recommendation.

To apply for the status of temporary protection, it is necessary to apply to the Border Police, the State Agency for Refugees or other bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (migration, police). The full list of institutions is at the link . The registration procedure lasts from 5 to 15 minutes.

Ukrainians in Bulgaria can also apply for refugee status. A person decides on the appropriateness of this procedure independently. You can learn about the difference between temporary protection status and refugee status here .

After the registration in Bulgaria and the receipt of the Registration Card of a foreigner who has been granted temporary protection by law, several important rights arise, without the need to obtain other registrations or permits. These rights apply for the duration of the temporary protection granted to them:

• to remain on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• right to work and vocational training;
• appropriate accommodation or means of accommodation if necessary;
• social assistance;
• medical care in emergencies;
• to return freely to their country of origin;
• free education for children under 18;
• free kindergarten for children up to 6 years.

You can get to the capital or other major city by bus, car or train. We are not aware of the allocation of free tickets for refugees by the Bulgarian government.

You can also travel by airplane, bus, car or train to different countries.

Currently, you are free to stay in Bulgaria without a visa for up to 90 days within a six-month period.

Furthermore, you can request temporary protection, which is valid until March 2024.

Those eligible for temporary protection include:

• Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before 24 February 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.

Children under 18 years of age, who are travelling alone or with other adults with whom they have no family relationship, and who declare at the Bulgarian border that they wish to enter and seek international protection must be admitted in Bulgaria and handed over to the social services. The asylum and protection application may be submitted to any Bulgarian public authority, including border police officers. The Bulgarian border police is obliged to provide information on how to submit such an application.

There are no restrictions on entry to the Republic of Bulgaria due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Ukrainians who have obtained temporary protection status can stay in Bulgaria. In the country, such a document is called "Registration card of a foreigner granted temporary protection". The maximum period of stay in the country was extended until March 2024 according to the EU recommendation.

To apply for the status of temporary protection, it is necessary to apply to the Border Police, the State Agency for Refugees or other bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (migration, police). The full list of institutions is at the link . The registration procedure lasts from 5 to 15 minutes.

Those eligible for temporary protection include:

• Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before 24 February 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 31 March 2022.

After the registration in Bulgaria and the receipt of the Registration Card of a foreigner who has been granted temporary protection by law, several important rights arise, without the need to obtain other registrations or permits. These rights apply for the duration of the temporary protection granted to them:

• to remain on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• right to work and vocational training;
• appropriate accommodation or means of accommodation if necessary;
• social assistance;
• medical care in emergencies;
• to return freely to their country of origin;
• free education for children under 18;
• free kindergarten for children up to 6 years.

Ukrainians who have obtained temporary protection status can stay in Bulgaria. In the country, such a document is called "Registration card of a foreigner granted temporary protection".

If you have received temporary protection, you can return to Ukraine for a short period of time without any negative consequences. Before leaving the country that has given you temporary protection, we recommend that you notify the state social security authorities.

If you hold a biometric passport, you will be able to travel within the EU countries. You can also stay in any city in Bulgaria for as long as your temporary protection status lasts.

Ukrainians in Bulgaria can also apply for refugee status. A person decides on the appropriateness of this procedure independently. You can learn about the difference between temporary protection status and refugee status here .

Ukrainians who have obtained temporary protection status can stay in Bulgaria. In the country, such a document is called "Registration card of a foreigner granted temporary protection". The maximum period of stay in the country was extended until March 2024 according to the EU recommendation.

To apply for the status of temporary protection, it is necessary to apply to the Border Police, the State Agency for Refugees or other bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (migration, police). The full list of institutions is at the link . The registration procedure lasts from 5 to 15 minutes.

The registration procedure lasts from 5 to 15 minutes. The document "Registration card of a foreigner granted temporary protection" will be issued within a few days.

Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, Bulgaria has greatly simplified the requirements for documents. Ukrainians can enter the country on the basis of any document confirming their identity: an old-style international passport, a passport of a citizen of Ukraine, a driver's license, and for children under 14 - a birth certificate.

There are numerous shops that offer such services. Look for photo studio & copy centers as they can provide you with this.

You can translate your documents at any translation agency in your city. Search for «превод на документи» on Google.

A1 Bulgaria is donating prepaid cards with mobile internet to refugees from Ukraine. More information here .

Yettel Bulgaria provides free calls to Ukraine and free roaming to its customers in Ukraine. Also Yettel is donating prepaid cards with included mobile internet to refugees from Ukraine residing in Bulgaria. More information here and here .