Bulgaria: Authorities to ease additional domestic COVID-19 restrictions starting April 12 /update 25

Bulgaria to ease additional domestic COVID-19 restrictions starting April 12. International entry restrictions remain in place.

Event

Authorities in Bulgaria plan to ease additional domestic COVID-19-related restrictions due to a slight decrease in infection rates. Starting April 12, schools will open for certain students. In addition, catering establishments will be allowed to resume indoor dining; restaurants and other dining establishments may be open 06:00-23:00 daily. Starting April 16, authorities will also allow shopping malls to reopen.

Other existing restrictions remain largely unchanged as of April 9. Private gatherings may not exceed 15 attendees. Public and private conferences, seminars, and exhibitions are suspended. Public, commercial, and administrative facilities are limited to a maximum capacity of one person per 3 square meters (32 square feet). Facemasks remain mandatory in all enclosed public spaces, including on public transport. Airports are open but operating on reduced schedules. The nation's COVID-19 state of emergency (SoE) will remain in force until at least April 30.

Local officials have the authority to amend measures and impose additional restrictions; as a result, tighter controls may be in force in certain areas.

International entry restrictions
Bulgaria permits citizens of the EU and the Schengen Area, as well as Australia, Belarus, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Kuwait, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Ukraine, to enter the country. Upon arrival, all incoming travelers are required to present a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within the past 72 hours; freight transporters and aircraft crews are exempt.

All travelers entering from any African country must self-isolate for at least 10 days upon arrival and take a COVID-19 PCR test at the end of this quarantine period; the self-isolation ends if the test is negative.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.