Bulgaria: Coronavirus related special procedures
Updated on 2/10/2020
Restrictions• The use of facial mask (or other means covering the nose and the mouth - including
cloth, scarf, helmet, etc.), is mandatory in all closed public places (except eating anddrinking establishments). Nevertheless, wearing of protective masks in open public
places is highly recommended.
• On 13 May Bulgarian authorities lifted the „state of emergence“ and introduced„emergency epidemic situation" for the period from 14 May till 14 June. The“emergency epidemic situation” has been extended until 30th of November.
• In an order in force from 1st of October till 30 of November the Minister of Healthhas confirmed the temporary prohibited entry into the territory of the Republic of
Bulgaria of all foreign nationals through all border crossing points by all means oftransport.
The following categories are excluded from the prohibition above:- Bulgarian citizens, citizens of Member States of the European Union, UK, Schengen
States (including San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican) and their family
members (including persons who are in actual cohabitation with them); citizens ofAustralia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Ruanda, Republic of Korea,Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, UAE, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania,Kosovo, Bosna and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, Israel, Kuwait, Belarus andTurkey; persons with permanent and long-term residence status in the territory of theRepublic of Bulgaria and members of their families, persons with visa “D”, as well as
persons who hold a residence permit in a Member State of the EU, UK or Schengen
State (including San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican) and their familymembers;- Medical professionals, medical scientists, social workers and their managers if thepurpose of their journey is linked to their professional work;- Workers involved in the delivery of medicinal products, medical devices andpersonal protective equipment, medical equipment, including its installation andmaintenance;- Transport personnel engaged in the carriage of passengers and goods,
aircraft crews engaged in commercial air transport and other transport personnel, asappropriate, including vessels crews and persons involved in vessels maintenance;- Officials (Heads of State, Government, etc.) and members of their delegations, aswell as diplomats, administrative and technical staff of missions of foreign countries,
officials of international organisations, military personnel, personal of security andpublic order services and humanitarian workers, carrying out their duties, as well as
their family members;- Persons travelling for humanitarian reasons ("humanitarian reasons" exist when notallowing into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or leaving it by a foreigner shallcause a serious danger to his/her health or life due to objective circumstances, or tothe integrity of his/her family, or the best interest of the family or of the child requires
his/her admission or stay in the country);- Representatives of trade, economic and investment activities and persons directly
involved in the construction, maintenance, operation and security of strategic andcritical infrastructure of the Republic of Bulgaria, in the implementation of projects

certified under the Investment Promotion Act, analyses of projects of potential
investors and other activities relevant to the country's economy, certified by a letterfrom the Minister of Economy or another minister responsible for the respective
activity, persons involved in shipbuilding and ship repair; as well as their famelymembers;- Seasonal farm workers and workers in tourism sector;- Cross-border workers;- Persons traveling due to educational reasons- Persons organizing and participating in international sport events;- Foreign citizens traveling to receive a decree on acquired Bulgarian citizenship,certified by a letter of the Minister of Justice;- Persons organizing and participating in international cultural events.
• The above mentioned persons, excluded from the prohibition of entering the country
are allowed to transit through the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Transit is allowed only where immediate leaving the territory of Republic of Bulgaria
can be guaranteed.
• All persons who are allowed to enter Bulgaria and arriving in Bulgaria with adeparture point in EU, UK, Schengen States (including San Marino, Andorra,Monaco, the Vatican), Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Ruanda,
Republic of Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, UAE, Serbia, Belarus and Turkey are
exempted from the requirement to present a PCR test for Covid-19.
• All persons who are allowed to enter Bulgaria and arriving in Bulgaria with adeparture point in third countries (except mentioned in the previous paragraph), areallowed to enter Bulgarian territory only after presenting a proof of negative PCR test.
The test should be dated within 72 hours before entering. The proving document
must contain:- the names of the person according to the identity document he travels with;- name, address and other contact details of the laboratory performed the test;- date on which the test was performed;- method of the test, written with Latin letters (PCR); and- negative result, written with Latin letters (Negative).
Exception to the PCR tests:a) Bulgarian citizens and citizens of other EU Member States, UK, and Schengen
States (including San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican) who are:- Persons travelling for humanitarian reasons;- Representatives of trade, economic and investment activities and persons directly
involved in the construction, maintenance, operation and security of strategic andcritical infrastructure of the Republic of Bulgaria, in the implementation of projects
certified under the Investment Promotion Act, analyses of projects of potential
investors and other activities relevant to the country's economy, certified by a letterfrom the Minister of Economy or another minister responsible for the respective
activity, persons involved in shipbuilding and ship repair; as well as their famelymembers;b) Bus drivers performing international transport of passengers;c) Truck drivers performing or completing international transport of goods by
their entering on the territory of Bulgaria;d) Vessels crew members who are Bulgarian citizens;e) The following persons, regardless of their nationality:

- Medical professionals, medical scientists, social workers, and their managers if thepurpose of their journey is linked to their professional work;- Workers involved in the delivery of medicinal products, medical devices andpersonal protective equipment, medical equipment, including its installation andmaintenance;- Officials (Heads of State, Government, etc.) and members of their delegations, aswell as diplomats, administrative and technical staff of missions of foreign countries,
officials of international organisations, military personnel, personal of the security andpublic order services and humanitarian workers, as well as their family members,
carrying out their duties;- Cross-border workers;f) Short-term business trips abroad of state administration officers, carrying out theirduties;g) Members of the aircraft crews, performing flights from and to the public airports in
Bulgaria and persons engaged in the aircraft maintenance;h) Persons transiting the territory of Bulgaria.
Bulgarian citizens, persons with permanent and long-term residence status in theterritory of the Republic of Bulgaria and members of their families, who do notpresent a proof of negative PCR test dated within 72 hours before entering shall bequarantined for a period of 14 days at home or other accommodation where theperson has indicated that he/she will reside, with a prescription issued by the directorof the relevant regional health inspectorate or a person authorized by him.
• In cases where drivers of goods vehicles, which are allowed to transit Bulgaria, but
due to a ban by a neighbouring state cannot leave Bulgaria, a place will bedetermined by Agency “Road Infrastructure’ where the truck and the driver must stay
until the ban is abolished, after that he has to leave the country.
On 30.03.2020 and until further notice the border crossing point between Bulgariaand Greece “Zlatograd-Thermes” has been closed due to the spread of COVID-19
and announced quarantine in the respective Greece border region.
Relieves
On 14th of April 2020 Bulgarian Agency "Road Infrastructure" has issued anorder temporary suspending the official holidays driving ban for trucks over 12tones.
In addition Bulgarian Government has granted further temporary tolerance
concerning the enforcement of driving and rest times for drivers under EU Regulation
561⁄2006 to the national and international transport of goods. This exception applies
from 17 April 2020, 00:00 to 31 May 2020, 24:00. Measures lifted are the following:- Art. 6(1): replacement of the maximum daily driving limit of 9 hours with one of 11hours;- Art. 7: replacement of the minimum daily break requirements by imposing a break of
45 minutes after 5 and a half hours; and- Art. 8(6): possibility to take two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods ofminimum 24 hours, provided that:• the drivers take at least 4 weekly rests within these 4 consecutive week and at
least two of them should be regular weekly rests; and• the two reduced weekly rests should be compensated before the next rest period.

- Derogation to Article 8(8) of Regulation 561/2006: possibility for the driver to takethe regular weekly rest in the vehicle, as long as it has suitable sleeping facilities foreach driver and the vehicle is stationary.
• The Bulgarian government granted temporary tolerance concerning theenforcement of driving and resting times for drivers under the EU Regulation
561⁄2006 to the national and international transport of goods This exception applies
from 19⁄03⁄2020 00:00 to 16⁄04⁄2020 24.00. Measures lifted are the following:- Art. 6(1): replacement of the maximum daily driving limit of 9 hours with one of 11hours;- Article 7: replacement of the minimum daily breaks requirements by imposing abreak of 45 minutes after 5 and a half hours;- Art. 8(6): reduction of the regular weekly rest period from 45 hours to 24 hours.
The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency has published an interactive map of thegreen corridors for road transport of goods transiting the territory of the Republic ofBulgaria. The map contains useful information on rest areas and the respective
number of parking slots, sanitary facilities, possibility to buy food, availability ofinternet connection, lighting, video surveillance, fuel station, nearest emergency
services,
numberofslots
forrefuellingrefrigerated
trucks,etc.:
http://www.api.bg/index.php/en/green-corridors or https://www.bgtoll.bg/en.