I am in Bulgaria – Я в Болгарії

Do I need any document to enter the country?  

Ukrainian citizens have the right to seek asylum as refugees in Bulgaria even without a valid passport.  

The European Commission has issued operational instructions to the border police authorities of EU Member States to ease entry regulations for refugees coming from Ukraine. This entails that refugees can enter Bulgaria with one of the following types of documents: biometric passport, non-biometric passport, ID card, driving license, birth certificate (for children under 14 years of age) 

According to the EU Temporary Protection Directive, refugees from Ukraine will automatically receive temporary protection in the territory of the EU Member States, including Bulgaria, for an initial period of 1 year. In the coming days, the Bulgarian government is expected to adopt an act determining the procedure for Ukrainian refugees to register in Bulgaria and obtain their residence documents as refugees under temporary protection. 

What are my rights as a refugee in Bulgaria? 

After registering in Bulgaria and obtaining the temporary protection card, you will immediately and by law be entitled to the following rights: 

• Right to remain in Bulgaria for the period of temporary protection 
• Right to work in Bulgaria without the need of other permissions 
• Right to access professional training if necessary 
• Right to access appropriate accommodation and accommodation facilities if necessary 
• Right to social assistance 
• Right to emergency medical care. Members of vulnerable groups (e.g., children under the age of 18, unaccompanied children, pregnant women, single parents with minors, elderly people and people living with disabilities, serious health conditions, mental disorders, victims of violence) have the same right to full medical care as Bulgarian citizens. 
• Right to free education for children under the age of 18.  
• Right free access to kindergartens for children up to 6 years of age. For more information on where and how to apply for enrolment in schools and/or kindergartens visit https://mon.bg/bg/news/4708 
• Right to return to your country of origin 

Find more information about your legal status in Bulgaria here https://ukraine.gov.bg/your-legal-status/ 

What support can I get if I am a person living with diabetes?

In Bulgaria, insulin and other diabetes medications, as well as supplies, are prescribed by General Practitioners and can be obtained free of charge or with partial co-payment by patients, through the National Health Fund. After obtaining the status of refugee, you can benefit of the same access to insulin, diabetes medications, and supplies as Bulgarian citizens.  

The Bulgarian Diabetes Association is currently requesting information from the Ministry of Health on the procedure for providing diabetes medications and insulin to people coming from Ukraine with urgent need, and who are not yet registered as refugees. 

Can I enter Bulgaria by car?

You are allowed to enter Bulgaria by car, regardless of whether or not you have an international insurance.  

More information about car insurance after entering Bulgaria can be found here: http://guaranteefund.org/en/contacts. 

Can I enter Bulgaria with pets?   

You are allowed to enter Bulgaria with pets, regardless of whether or not they have an identification chip, passport, or certificates. Bulgarian authorities have adopted a simplified procedure for these cases.

For more information on this, visit https://www.bfsa.bg or send an email at ukraine@bfsa.bg. 

Useful links

Bulgarian Government platform providing information to refugees and connecting with organisations offering assistance (in Bulgarian, Ukrainian, English and Russian)
https://ukraine.gov.bg/ 

Information about the status of refugee in Bulgaria
https://ukraine.gov.bg/your-legal-status/

Support to Ukrainian citizens in Bulgaria
https://www.motherukraine-bg.org/home  

Information about enrolling in schools and kindergartens in Bulgaria
https://mon.bg/bg/news/4708 

International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) tables of equivalence between medicines registered in Ukraine and those available in other countries
https://www.fip.org/news?news=newsitem&newsitem=435

Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and entering the EU
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/eu-solidarity-ukraine/eu-assistance-ukraine/information-people-fleeing-war-ukraine_en#preparing-to-leave

Information on free travel options offered by European transport companies
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/eu-solidarity-ukraine/eu-assistance-ukraine/information-people-fleeing-war-ukraine

Contacts

Red Cross Bulgaria
help@redcross.bg
0800 20101 (available in Ukrainian and Russian on working days 8am to 8 pm)

Helpline Legal aid
+359 884 110 050

Helpline Humanitarian aid
+359 884 110 330

Helpline Ministry of Foreign Affairs
+35929482404

Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria
+359 878 015 102