From 1 July 2021, the Bulgarian government has introduced new rules for entering the country

From 1 July 2021, the Bulgarian government has introduced new rules for entering the country. They will be in force for a month and thereafter, as is customary, may be extended or amended. We have gathered the most important points for you.

Assessment of the spread of COVID-19

For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the Bulgarian government has formulated clear criteria on the basis of which the level of coronavirus spread in a given country is assessed.
A total of 3 criteria have been identified:

• The number of new cases per 100,000 people over 2 weeks.
• The percentage of positive results out of all tests carried out over the past 7 days. Tests refer to rapid antigen tests and PCR tests;
• The total number of tests carried out over 7 days per 100,000 people.

Based on the results, all countries are allocated to zones: green, orange and red.
For the analysis, data officially published by the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are used.  Where the information is contradictory or incomplete, a corresponding note will be made.
Analysis of the data obtained is carried out at least once a week. The updated list of countries comes into force the following day. If the epidemic situation in a particular country deteriorates sharply, the analysis is carried out more frequently.

Distribution of countries into zones depending on the level of the epidemiological situation

The distribution of countries into zones makes it possible to quickly understand the requirements for entering Bulgaria.

Green zone

This includes states in which, at the time of the study, the following results were recorded:

• Over 2 weeks per 100,000 people, fewer than 75 cases were registered. In this case, positive tests were obtained in 4% of cases or more, or
• Over 2 weeks per 100,000 people, from 75 to 200 cases were recorded. Positive results were obtained in less than 4% of cases.

As of 1 July, the "green zone" countries include Germany, Poland, Lithuania, France, Iceland, Austria, Malta, Greece, Luxembourg, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Italy, Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino, Vatican, Monaco and Andorra.

Upon entry, one of the following documents must be presented:

• a vaccination certificate meeting EU requirements, or its equivalent;
• confirmation that the traveller has recovered from coronavirus;
• a test with a negative result.

If documents are not provided, the person is placed in a 10-day quarantine. If a PCR test or an antigen test is taken within 24 hours from the moment of arrival and the result is negative, the quarantine may be lifted. The lifting takes one day.

Orange zone

The majority of states as of 1 July belong to the orange zone. These are all countries that are not on the green and red lists.

Assessment criteria:

• Over the past 14 days, from 75 to 200 infected per 100,000 people were registered. In this case, the number of positive samples is 4% or higher, or
• Over the past 2 weeks, from 200 to 500 infected per 100,000 people were identified.
• Upon entry, a vaccination certificate confirming the administration of a full dose of the vaccine, a certificate of the presence of antibodies, or a negative COVID test is required.

Bulgaria has the right, out of every 100 people entering the country, to carry out rapid antigen tests on no fewer than 5 of them. 

Red zone

For a country to fall into the red zone for COVID, one of the following conditions must be met:

• By the time of the study, over 2 weeks, 500 or more cases per 100,000 people were identified;
• The information provided by the country is insufficient, comes from an unreliable source, or fewer than 300 tests per 100,000 people have been carried out;
• The country has seen the emergence of a variant of the virus which causes concern due to changes in the genome or level of transmission.

As of 1 July, the red zone includes India, Bhutan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Mongolia, Oman, the Maldives, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Cuba, El Salvador, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Botswana, the Seychelles, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia. 

Citizens and travellers from countries in the red zone are not admitted to Bulgaria, with the exception of medical specialists, officials, students, and seasonal workers. Entry is permitted for participants of international competitions, cultural events, participants and representatives of investment projects, and drug developers. All of them are required to provide confirmation of vaccination or a certificate showing that they have recovered from coronavirus. In addition, a negative PCR test is required.

Bulgarian citizens and persons with a residence permit or permanent residence who arrive from countries in the red zone are placed under a 10-day quarantine.

Who is not required to present coronavirus documents

The government has defined categories of citizens who may enter Bulgaria without COVID documents. Among them are:

• Drivers and stewards of buses running international routes;
• Lorry drivers;
• Members of ships' crews;
• Members of aircraft crews and the technical personnel serving them;
• Border guards;
• Pupils and students residing in countries neighbouring Bulgaria, studying at Bulgarian educational institutions and required to make daily or, at a minimum, weekly trips to Bulgaria.
• Transit passengers;
• Children under 12 years of age;
• Persons with regard to whom agreement has been reached on entry without presenting documents.

Overall, the conditions for entering Bulgaria have become more structured and allow for flexibility and the possibility of rapid change. It is worth noting that the list of vaccines and COVID-19 testing methodologies taken into account has not changed.

Read also "From 28 June 2021, flights from Russia to Bulgaria will resume".