Bulgarian passport

Bulgarian passport is an international travel document issued to nationals of Bulgaria, and may also serve as proof of Bulgarian citizenship. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of Bulgarian citizenship, the passport facilitates the process of securing assistance from Bulgarian consular officials abroad or other European Union member states in case a Bulgarian consular is absent, if needed.

Bulgarian passport
The front cover of a contemporary Bulgarian biometric passport
The data page of a contemporary Bulgarian biometric passport
TypePassport
Issued by Bulgaria
First issued29 March 2010 (current biometric version)
PurposeIdentification
EligibilityBulgarian citizenship
Expiration5 or 10 years after acquisition for adult.[1] 5 years for children.
Cost
  • 40BGN / €20 (adults aged 14–58)
  • 20BGN / €10 (under 14 and 58-70)
  • 10BGN / €5 (over 70)[2]

According to the 2018 Visa Restrictions Index, Bulgarian citizens can visit 169 countries without a visa or with a visa granted on arrival, which ranks it 16th in the world. Bulgarian citizens can live and work in any country within the EU as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty.[3]

Every Bulgarian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence, establishment and employment in any of the states of the European Union and EFTA.

Application

The Ministry of Interior is responsible for the issuing and renewing of Bulgarian passports.

Use

For travel within the European Union, (Schengen Area and Common Travel Area countries), as well as to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, North Cyprus[4] and Serbia, Bulgarian citizens are not required to carry a passport and only need a valid national identity cards.

A Bulgarian passport gives its bearer the right to assistance and protection by Bulgarian diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad (or to those of other EU member states when there is no Bulgarian diplomatic mission or consulate in the destination country or territory).

The passport remains the property of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Categories
  • Regular – available to all Bulgarian citizens and valid for five or ten years.[5]
  • Service – issued to their staff on request by the respective government agency or directorate.
  • Diplomatic – issued to diplomats, high-ranking state officials and their immediate families.

Physical appearance

Bulgarian passports are of the common EU design, burgundy in colour, with the Bulgarian Coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The text "Европейски съюз" (Bulgarian) / "European Union" (English), the country's official long name "Република България" (Bulgarian) and the English form "Republic of Bulgaria" are inscribed in capital letters above the coat of arms, with the word "паспорт" (Bulgarian) / "passport" (English) underneath. It is issued for a period of five years, and contains 32 or 48 pages.

Security features include holographic images, micro printing, UV-visible features, watermarks, etc. In addition, the passport holder's photograph is digitally printed directly onto the paper, in standard ink as well as a holographic image. All passports are machine-readable.

Biometric passports

Since 29 March 2010,[6] all newly issued Bulgarian passports contain a chip with biometric data, and also feature the text "Европейски съюз" (Bulgarian) / "European Union" (English) above the country's official name, thus reflecting Bulgaria's EU membership. Additional design changes include the placement of pictures of famous Bulgarian landmarks and monuments on the inside pages of the passports. The new passport fees are 20 € (40 BGN).

Passport note
The title pages

The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside Bulgarian passports states:

The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria requests all Civil and Military Authorities to let through the holder of this passport without hindrance and, in case of need, to render him/her the necessary aid and assistance in accordance with the international law.



This passport is valid for all countries.

Languages

The data page/information page is printed in Bulgarian, English and French.

Visa requirements
Main article: Visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens
  Bulgaria
  Freedom of movement
  Visa not required
  Visa on arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required prior to arrival

As of 1 October 2019 Bulgarian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 170 countries and territories, ranking the Bulgarian passport 17th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.[7]

Visitor statistics

According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, these were the top 10 destination countries for Bulgarians:[8]

Rank Destination 2014 2016
1 Turkey1 106 9131 218 842
2 Greece866 6091 200 576
3 Romania321 546423 396
4 Serbia316 146404 975
5 North Macedonia327 033360 422
6 Germany239 310344 713
7 Italy126 313178 287
8 Austria110 085163 979
9 United Kingdom101 737141 941
10 Spain102 417139 418
  • 1943 pages from a Bulgarian Diplomatic passport used for travelling to Switzerland
  • Kingdom of Bulgaria passport, circa 1944
  • Pre-EU
    Bulgarian non-biometric passport (1999–2009)

See also

References
  1. M3 Web - http://m3web.bg (11 July 2019). "From 2021: Bulgarian Passports Will Be Valid for 10 Years - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. "Такси за издаване на лична карта и паспорт на български граждани". www.mvr.bg. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  3. Treaty on the Function of the European Union (consolidated version)
  4. "VISA Regulations - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". gov.ct.tr. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  5. M3 Web - http://m3web.bg (11 July 2019). "From 2021: Bulgarian Passports Will Be Valid for 10 Years - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. "Bulgaria to Start Issuing Biometric IDs in March 2010 - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". novinite.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. "Global Ranking - Visa Restriction Index 2016" (PDF). Henley & Partners. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  8. "Trips of Bulgarian residents abroad by months and by country of destination - National statistical institute". www.nsi.bg. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
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