As of 1 July, Bulgaria has changed its entry conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the Bulgarian authorities have revised the conditions for entry into the Republic of Bulgaria in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new measures shall apply until 31 July 2021.
On the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, the system of classification of the countries of origin on several areas (green, orange, red) is applied. It is determined by the degree of spread of COVID-19 in these states.
Also, a special category / area was established, in which Romania was also included. It is the category that includes all countries with which Bulgaria has a reciprocal free trade agreement. In this category, on the wool Romania, is also the Czech Republic.
Thus, persons traveling from Romania may enter the Republic of Bulgaria without being required to present documents other than travel documents (ID card or passport).
Romanian citizens, traveling from states in the green or orange area, may enter the territory of Bulgaria subject to the presentation of one of the following documents:
1. A valid EU digital certificate attesting to the vaccination or a similar document. A document certifying the completion of the vaccination scheme against COVID-19. The vaccination schedule is considered to be carried out by carrying out the appropriate number of doses of vaccine against COVID-19, in accordance with Annex 3 to the Order of the Minister of Health of Bulgaria (https://www.mh.government.bg/media/filer_public/2021/06/30/zapoved_r4PjG8n.pdf) and a period of 14 days from the date of the last dose. The completed vaccination schedule is considered including the combined administration of a dose of Vaxzevria / Astra Zeneca vaccine and a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
2. A valid EU digital certificate attesting to the cure (for persons who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have been cured) or a similar document - a document attesting to a positive result of a PCR test or a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 (https://www.mh.government.bg/media/filer_public/2021/06/30/zapoved_r4PjG8n.pdf), performed with a maximum of 180 days and a minimum of 11 days before, according to the date of the test entered in the document.
3. A valid EU digital certificate attesting to the test or a similar document - a document certifying a negative result of a PCR test, performed no later than 72 hours before arrival or of a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 of those listed in Annex 2 of the order of the Bulgarian Minister of Health (https://www.mh.government.bg/media/filer_public/2021/06/30/zapoved_r4PjG8n.pdf), performed with a maximum of 48 hours prior to arrival, considered from the date of the test, registered in the respective document.
The categories exempted from the compulsory measure of presentation of one of the above-mentioned documents are the following:
- drivers and flight attendants performing international passenger transport;
- drivers of lorries carrying out or completing the international carriage of goods on entry into Bulgaria;
- members of naval crews and persons engaged in the maintenance of ships who, on entering the territory of Bulgaria, are in the performance of their duties;
- aircraft crew members, flying to and from public airports in Bulgaria and similar technical personnel;
- cross-border workers (persons living in Bulgaria and traveling daily or at least once a week to a Member State of the European Union, Turkey, Serbia or the Republic of Northern Macedonia for the purpose of working as an employed or self-employed person, and persons living in those States and travel daily or at least once a week to Bulgaria for the purpose of carrying out their activity as an employee or self-employed person;
- pupils and students living in Greece, Turkey, Serbia, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and Romania and traveling daily or at least once a week to Bulgaria for educational purposes, as well as pupils and students living in Bulgaria and traveling daily or at least once a week in Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Romania for educational purposes;
- persons transiting the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, in cases where immediate departure from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria can be guaranteed;
- children up to 12 years old;
- people arriving from the Czech Republic.
Restrictions on access to the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria / situation at border crossing points upon entry into the Republic of Bulgaria:
Romanian citizens wishing to travel to the Republic of Bulgaria from countries other than Romania, and who do NOT fall within the exceptions to the mandatory measure of presentation of one of the documents mentioned above, may enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria only through the following border crossing points:
- from the Hellenic Republic: Kulata Makaza, Kapitan Petko Voyvoda and Ilinden - the last point being open only to lorries (see also the restrictions below);
- from the Republic of Serbia: Vrashka Chuka, Kalotina and Oltomantsi;
- from the Republic of Northern Macedonia: Gyueshevo, Zlatarevo and Stanke Lisichkovo;
- from the Republic of Turkey: Kapitan Andreevo, Lesovo and Malko Târnovo;
- Burgas Airport; Varna Airport; Plovdiv Airport; Sofia Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2); Port of Burgas; The port of Varna.
More information about the new measures and lists of related countries can be found in the document issued by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria.