Changes to the validity periods of personal documents in Bulgaria

Documents for Bulgarian citizens

The validity of Bulgarians’ identity cards and driving licences is automatically extended by a further six months if it expires in the period from the declaration of the epidemic (13 March) to the end of October 2020.

The law does not specify whether such changes apply to driving licences obtained by foreigners in Bulgaria. It is best to clarify this question with the KAT at your place of residence.

Documents for foreigners

Other changes provided for by the law also concern foreign citizens. Like Bulgarians, they can count on documents whose validity was due to end in the period from 13.03.20-31.10.20 remaining valid for a further six months.

This applies to the following types of documents:

• EU long-term resident status permit;
• EU Blue Card permit;
• residence permit for an EU long-term resident foreigner who has received international protection from another EU country;
• permanent residence permit in Bulgaria;
• permanent residence permit for a family member of a Bulgarian citizen;
• long-term residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen who has not exercised their right to free movement;
• permanent residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen who has not exercised their right to free movement;
• long-term or permanent residence permit (long-term residence permit or permanent residence permit) for a family member (other than a spouse, a child under 21, a parent or other direct ascendant, or a parent or other direct ascendant of the spouse) who is entitled to maintenance from an EU citizen or is a family member of an EU citizen holding a primary right of residence;
• long-term or permanent residence permit (long-term residence permit or permanent residence permit) for a family member (other than a spouse, a child under 21, a parent or other direct ascendant, or a parent or other direct ascendant of the spouse) whose health is personally cared for by an EU citizen;
• long-term or permanent residence permit issued to a partner with whom an EU citizen maintains a duly attested long-term relationship;
• residence card of a family member of an EU citizen, issued to a family member of an EU citizen residing in the country on a long-term or permanent basis who is not themselves a citizen of the European Union and has exercised their right to free movement;
• certificate of long-term or permanent residence issued to citizens of the EU, Switzerland and the countries of the European Economic Area.

The law notes that documents with an extended validity period are valid only on the territory of Bulgaria and certify solely the right to reside in the country.

It should be noted that the changes do not apply to foreigners with a long-term residence permit obtained on other grounds – including pensioners and representatives of foreign companies.

The law on the state of emergency also provides for changes to the law on foreigners. In particular, it has been added that a foreign citizen whose long-term residence permit expires during the period when the state of emergency was declared may submit documents to extend the long-term residence permit within two weeks after the emergency measures are lifted. And those foreigners whose long-term residence permit expired while they were outside Bulgaria may, within 14 days after the state of emergency is lifted, enter Bulgarian territory without a valid permit card or visa.

The changes also affected the provision under which permanent or long-term status may be withdrawn if a foreigner has been absent from EU territory for 12 consecutive months. Under the amendments, absence during the period of the state of emergency is not counted.

We would remind you that the state of emergency in Bulgaria was declared on 13 March and lasted until 13 May. After that, a state of emergency epidemic situation was declared, to which the law no longer applies.

Expired type D visas due to the emergency situation in the country

How to extend a long-term residence permit under a state of emergency?

Deadlines for filing annual reports extended