INFORMATION ABOUT BREXIT

Important notice: In view of the new EU border management systems (Entry/Еxit and the European Travel Authorisation System  - ETIAS), please be aware that in order to be exempted from the requirements for third country nationals under the rules of operation of these systems, the UK beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, residing in Bulgaria, must be in possession of the residence document under the WA, issued by the Bulgarian authorities following the procedures described in this section and be able to present it for the purposes of border control. 

In addition to the beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, UK citizens and their family members who hold a long-stay visa or a residence permit on one of the grounds under the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria are also exempted from the requirements of these systems.

You can download the application form here: Application Form_UK

  *Please note that the information in this section only provides guidance on applicable law and procedures. Full information can be obtained from the competent Bulgarian authorities.

UK nationals – beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement

UK nationals who fall within the personal scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, as provided for in Art.10 thereof, can use their passports up to their date of validity for entry and exit from the Republic of Bulgaria.

UK nationals - Non-beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement

For UK nationals who are not beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, the following requirements shall apply:

• For a short-term stay up to 90 days in every period of 180 days, the UK nationals shall enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a valid passport without a visa.

Their family members should present at the border crossing point a valid passport, as well as a visa, when such is required depending on their nationality.

Тhe Republic of Bulgaria considers as equal to its national visas for transit or for a planned stay on its territory for no more than 90 days in a period of 180 days, the following documents issued by Member States applying the Schengen acquis in full, as well as Cyprus: 

- valid residence permits;

- valid visas issued by Schengen Member States for two or multiple entries, provided that the long-stay (type 'D') visa has been used once to enter the issuing country and the short-stay (type 'C') visa has been used once to enter a country fully implementing the Schengen acquis;

- valid short-stay visas (type 'C') issued by Romania or Cyprus for two or multiple entries, and long-stay visas (type 'D') issued by Romania or Cyprus, provided that they have been used once for entry into the issuing country.

• For a stay which is longer than 90 days both UK nationals and their family members will need a valid passport and a visa for long-term residence or a valid residence permit issued by the competent Bulgarian authorities.

In order to be valid, the passport should be issued in the last 10 years and its term of validity should cover at least 3 months period after the planned date for leaving Bulgaria.

The list of countries whose nationals holding ordinary, official/special or diplomatic passports need a visa to enter and stay on the territory of the country and those with a visa-free regime with the Republic of Bulgaria, can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the following link:

https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria

Terms and conditions for issuance of residence documents under the Withdrawal Agreement

The applications of the UK nationals and their family members have to be submitted in person to the Migration Directorate or the relevant Migration Office at the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior as per their address of residence.

In all cases under this section the residence permits, issued to UK nationals and their family members, will be in the format prescribed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/ 2002 of 13 June 2002 (plastic card) and will contain a reference in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement and the acts on its implementation.

The fee for issuance of the document is EUR 15.34. For express service the fee is in a double amount.

Required Documents

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

UK nationals

• A completed application form;
• A valid national ID document (passport) + copy of this document;
• (only in the cases of new address of residence) Proof of address of residence (document proving the ownership or use of property, such as a notary deed of ownership or a rental contract or a declaration signed by your landlord certifying that he/she agrees to provide a registered address of residence; if the declaration is not submitted in person by the landlord or a person authorized by him/her, it must contain a notary validation of signature);
• Application fee payment receipt

 Family members

• Valid national ID document (ID card or passport; if the family member is a third country national he/she might also need a visa, where applicable) + copy;
• Documentary evidence that he/she is a family member (marriage certificate; birth certificate; evidence of living together, etc. Please note that the documents that are not in Bulgarian have to be translated and legalised);
• Аpplication fee payment receipt.

LONG - TERM RESIDENCE

UK  nationals

• A completed application form;
• A valid national ID document (passport) + copy of this document;
• Proof of address of residence (document proving the ownership or use of property; or  declaration signed by the landlord certifying that he/she agrees to provide you with an address of residence; if the declaration is not submitted in person by the owner or a person authorized by the owner, it must contain a notary validation of signature or housing order in the cases of state or municipality-owned housing);
• Application fee payment receipt.

In addition to the above listed documents, you have to submit the following documents, in accordance with your respective grounds for long-term residence:

Employment

If you are an employed or self-employed person in Bulgaria, you have to submit:

• Copy of your employment contract (you might be asked to present a statement from your employer that you are currently employed) or a proof that you are self-employed (e.g. document for registration with a professional organisation or state authority, when applicable, patent for business activity, etc.)

Education

If you are enrolled in an educational establishment, and have health insurance and sufficient financial resources to cover your expenses and those of your family for the duration of your stay, you need to present:

• Evidence of enrollment in educational course/s – statement from the educational establishment that you are currently enrolled in;
• Copy of a medical insurance policy with full coverage for Bulgaria (unless the university provides a health insurance);
• Proof of sufficient financial resources (a copy of a credit or debit bank card, etc.).

Other grounds

If you have health insurance and sufficient financial resources to cover your expenses and those of your family members during the duration of your stay in Bulgaria, then you need to present:

• Copy of a medical insurance policy with full coverage for Bulgaria;
• Proof of sufficient financial resources (a copy of a credit or debit bank card, proof of pension contributions, etc.).

Family members

Within 3 months from their entry into Bulgaria family member/s need to present:

• A completed application form;
• Valid national ID document (ID card or passport; if the family member is a third country national he/she might also need a visa, where applicable) + copy;
• Documentary evidence that he/she is a family member (marriage certificate; birth certificate; evidence of living together, etc. Please note that the documents that are not in Bulgarian have to be translated and legalised);
• Аpplication fee payment receipt.

*

Registration of Frontier workers

UK nationals, who have been working in Bulgaria as frontier workers, including self-employed before the end of the transition period and continue to do so thereafter, need to register with Migration Directorate of the MoI. They will have to present documents showing their capacity of frontier workers within the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement. Their registration will be confirmed with a document with reference to their status as frontier workers. 

*

For additional questions or information related to your case, please contact the nearest Migration Office according to your address of residence or use the following email address: [email protected]     

As of 01.01.2021 those UK nationals, who have established their habitual residence in Bulgaria, can drive motor vehicles on the territory of the country with their national driving licences up to one year from the date of issuance of their Bulgarian residence document. Within this one year, the UK driving licence can be replaced for a Bulgarian one without passing an exam.

Procedure for replacing UK driving licence with a Bulgarian one

Competent authority for replacement of the driving licence

In order to replace a driving licence issued by the UK with a Bulgarian one, UK nationals should submit an application in person in the traffic police unit in the respective Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior as per their address of residence.

Required Documents

• A standard application provided by the Traffic Police Unit (computer-generated);
• Declaration, stating that habitual residence is in the Republic of Bulgaria and the person does not own a valid driving licence issued by another Member State;
• Bulgarian residence document;
• the current UK driving licence;
• Physical fitness assessment card of the driver issued by a general practitioner (in the presence of certain diseases specified in Ordinance No. 3 of 11.05.2011 on physical fitness requirements for drivers, the card shall be issued by the Transport Central or relevant Regional Medical Expert Commission);
• For the professional categories ("C1", "C", "D1", "D", "TTM" - tramcar) – a copy of a certificate for psychological fitness
• receipt for payment of the fee (it is also possible to pay the fee on the spot at the relevant Traffic Police Unit via a POS terminal)

The new driving licence shall be obtained at the same traffic police unit where the application is submitted.

The replacement with a Bulgarian driving licence takes place after presenting the UK driving licence. Тhe UK driving licence shall be handed over to the officer from the relevant traffic police unit on receipt of the new driving licence. The replaced driving licence will be returned to the UK ex officio.

The replacement with a Bulgarian driving licence cannot be done when the driving licence issued by the UK has been lost or stolen.

Deadline for issuing of a driving licence

Up to 30 days after submission of the application (no express service is offered).

Fees

The fee is EUR e

It can be paid on the spot through a POS terminal or by any bank (there may be a bank fee; fees may vary from bank to bank).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

RESIDENCE

Q What is the definition of a family member?

Family members are:

• spouses/partners
• children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren under the age of 21, who are unmarried
• dependent children over the age of 21, who are unmarried
• dependent parents, grandparents or great-grandparents
• dependent relatives

Q Where can I submit my application?

UK nationals and their family members should submit their application in person to the Migration Directorate or the relevant Migration Office at the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior – as per address of residence.

Q What is the fee?

For the issuance of the residence document, provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement and the respective legal acts on its implementation, the fee is EUR 15.34. For express service the fee is double.

DRIVING

 Q When can I apply for a replacement of my British driving licence for a Bulgarian one?

Уou can replace your UK driving licence for a Bulgarian one anytime, if you have your habitual residence in Bulgaria, i.e. you have been residing in Bulgaria for more than 185 days prior to applying for a replacement of the UK driving licence.  

You can drive motor vehicles on the territory of the country with your UK driving licence up to one year from the date of issuance of your Bulgarian residence document. Within this one year, the UK driving licence can be replaced for a Bulgarian one without passing an exam.

Q Should I renew my British licence in order to use it in Bulgaria after Brexit?

If you wish to replace your British driving licence with a Bulgarian one, you must have been resident in Bulgaria for at least 185 days before you apply in accordance with the requirement for habitual residence in Bulgaria.

Q:  Do I need an International Driving Permit in order to drive in Bulgaria after Brexit?

There is no such requirement. The International Driving Permit is issued in accordance with the Vienna Road Traffic Convention on the basis of the national driving licence, the number of which is written on it. The International Driving Permit is valid when accompanied by the national driving licence. 

 Q What documents do I need to provide in order to exchange my UK driving licence and keep my existing categories?

-     A standard application form provided by the Traffic Police Unit - the application is computer-generated with data filled in automatically and you will only need to verify and sign the document to confirm that the information is correct;

-    A declaration that your habitual residence is in the Republic of Bulgaria and that you do not hold a valid driving licence issued by another EU Member State – it is also available on site at the relevant Traffic Police Unit and needs to be signed in person at the Traffic Police Office.

-    Your Bulgarian residence document;

-    Your current UK driving licence - it will be finally handed over to the officer from the relevant Traffic Police Unit on receipt of the new driving licence. The replaced driving licence will be returned to the UK ex officio;

-    A medical certificate from a General Practitioner stating that you are fit to drive;

-   A receipt for payment of the fee (it is also possible to pay the fee on the spot at the relevant Traffic Police Unit via a POS terminal).

In addition to the documents listed above, to exchange your UK driving licence for professional categories "C1", "C", "D1", "D", "TTM" - tramcar, you will also need to provide a copy of a certificate for psychological fitness.

Q How can I remove any categories that I don’t need anymore?

If you wish to remove any existing categories from your new Bulgarian driving licence, you should state so in writing when submitting your application.

Q How much will I need to pay to exchange my driving licence?

The application fee for exchanging driving licences is EUR 12.78 (approx. £11).

You can pay the fee on the spot via a POS terminals available at Traffic Police Offices or make a transfer from any bank. There might be an additional charge depending on the bank collecting the fee.

Q Do I need a translator/ interpreter to exchange my licence?

The procedure for replacement your driving licence is conducted in Bulgarian. Therefore, if you are unable to communicate in Bulgarian, you should consider bringing a Bulgarian speaker with you. If you decide to hire a professional translator/interpreter, you will be responsible for any costs related to their services.