Bulgaria. Ukrainian refugees receiving services and assistance at the inauguration of the Blue Dot refugee support center located at the Central Railway station in Sofia

BULGARIA 

Blue Dot Country Information

© UNHCR/Dobrin Kashavelov

Here is what you can do on this page:

  • Look in the map to find the nearest Blue Dot and all the active Blue Dots in Bulgaria.

  • Search for information and organizations active in Bulgaria, through the below sections.

  • See how you and persons you are traveling with can stay safe during your journey.

  • Provide us with feedback and/or compliant and flag harmful behaviours you or any of the persons traveling with you witnessed or suffered from.

  • For more information about general services for refugees in Hungary and for persons fleeing Ukraine into Bulgaria, please consult the UNHCR Help page for Bulgaria.

Information and services in Bulgaria

Legal Stay

On March 4, 2022, the European Council implemented the Directive on the temporary protection of Ukrainian citizens entering the territory of the Member States of the European Union. This enables all people running from the war in Ukrainian to gain access to rights on the territory of Bulgaria.

For more information on your legal stay, rights and obligations you can call the following numbers:

Legal aid Hotline Bulgarian Helsinki Committee: Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00: 00359 8888 19 745; email: [email protected]

Legal aid hotline Foundation Access to Rights: + 359 2 879 32 80 (9-18, Monday to Friday)

You will be allowed entry in Bulgaria if you have one of the following documents:

  • Biometric passport
  • Non-biometric passport
  • Driving license
  • ID card
  • Birth certificate (children below 14 years old)

As a temporary measure in view of the current situation in Ukraine, you may also enter with an expired passport. If you do not have any documents, you may be allowed entry on humanitarian grounds.

It is allowed to enter Bulgaria by car, regardless of whether or not there is international insurance. More information about car insurance after entering Bulgaria

It is also allowed to enter Bulgaria with pets, regardless of whether they have identification with a chip accompanying passports or vaccination certificates. The relevant Bulgarian authorities have adopted a simplified procedure for these cases. More information on this issue – or write to e-mail: [email protected]

For more information on your legal stay, how to apply to Temporary protection, your rights and obligations, you can visit:

     

    Work, livelihood and cash assistance

    Ukrainians and their family members who have received temporary protection, asylum or international protection in Bulgaria have the right to work in the country without a permit. 

    The hotline of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy at 0800 88 001 provides free consultations in Bulgarian, Russian and English to Ukrainian citizens on access to the labor market in Bulgaria and opportunities for social support for children and families. 

     

    Job Dashboard 

     

    Medical care, psychological help and disability support

    People who have temporary protection in Bulgaria have equal rights to health care with Bulgarian citizens. Those registered for temporary protection, who entered the territory of Bulgaria before 26.04.2022, are counted as health insured from 26.04.2022. For all Ukrainian citizens who have entered the territory of the country after 26.04.2022. shall be considered from the date of granting temporary protection.

    Health insurance of Ukrainian citizens over 18 years of age and under 63 for women and under 65 for men will be covered by the state for a period of 3 months from the date of temporary protection. For those under 18 and over 63 for women and over 65 for men, the health insurance contribution will be at the expense of the state for the period of temporary protection.

    If you require urgent medical care, please dial the National emergency phone number 112

    More information about getting medical help in Bulgaria:

     

    Who to contact regarding mental health care:

    • Bulgarian Red Cross

      • Hotline psycho-social support 0800 11 466 (every day from 8:00 to 18:00)

    • Nadja Center Foundation

      • Address: Sofia, 166 Kniaz Boris I blvd., 2nd floor, apt. 5
        Phone:         00359 2 981 93 00
        E-mail:         [email protected]

     

    Accommodation

    Depending on your status and future plans you have a few options when searching for accommodation. The Bulgarian government provides free accommodations in hotels throughout the country with meals included. The other temporary option is to live in a property provided by one the many volunteers. This option is also free. The paid alternatives are mid and long-term rents. Long term rent is the most suitable if your plan is to stay in Bulgaria.

     

    Privately operated websites:

    Education and childcare

    The country’s regional education departments accept applications from Ukrainians seeking or receiving international or temporary protection who want to enroll their children in kindergarten or school. Depending on the age, the grade completed so far, the location and the desire of the parents, the refugee children and students are directed to a specific educational institution. The aim is to complete this preparatory work as soon as possible so that refugees can join the training as soon as they receive official legal status in Bulgaria.

    Social assistance

    If you have temporary protection status, you can apply for one-time assistance. The aid amounts to BGN 375 and is granted to a family (single or with several members).

    Contact the Social Assistance Directorate at your address of residence. You can find the address, contact phone number and e-mail of the Social Assistance Directorate at your place of residence at this link.

    Social Assistance

    To access social benefits, you must submit an application-declaration for assessment of the right to assistance to the Social Assistance Directorate (depending on your current address). The social benefits are:

    1.    one-time social assistance in the amount of up to BGN 375. ;

    2.    one-time social assistance for issuing an ID card;

    3.    monthly social assistance;

    4.    targeted heating aid (submission period from 1 July to 31 October)

    For more information on how to apply:

    Social services

    To access social services, you can submit an application for the use of social services to the Social Assistance Directorate. The Directorates will provide you with complete information on the types of appropriate social services, the terms and conditions for their use. A preliminary needs assessment will be prepared in a timely manner in order to refer you to a social service. Social services provide specialised support for adults and children.

    Social services will give you access to:

    1.     temporary shelter;

    2.     information and consultation;

    3.     advocacy and mediation;

    4.     therapy and rehabilitation;

    5.     day and resident care.

     

    Other humanitarian actors and charities:

    • Caritas Sofia

     

    • Mission Wings Foundation (Stara Zagora):

    Safety, protection and legal aid

    In case of an emergency, please dial 112, the National Emergency number

    Human trafficking:

    Human trafficking is a serious crime against people, a serious violation of human rights and abuse of human dignity.

    Human trafficking always involves the exploitation of victims in various forms:

    ·      sexual exploitation, including forced prostitution;

    ·      forced / compulsory labor;

    ·      slavery, forced obedience and similar practices;

    ·      removal of organs;

    ·      begging and other coercive criminal activities.

    Association Animus provides information for Ukrainian refugees on Human Trafficking:

    Human Trafficking Information (Government of Bulgaria):

    Where to seek assistance:

    • National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings: + 359 2 807 80 50
    • National hotline against trafficking in human beings (Foundation Campaign A21): 0800 20 100
    • Hotline (Executive Agency “General Labor Inspectorate”): 0700 17 670
    • National telephone line for children (State Agency for Child Protection): 116 111
    • Hotline for Victims of violence (Animus Association Foundation): 080018676; (+35929817686)

    Violence:

    Violence is all forms of physical or psychological violence, assault or abuse, lack of care or neglect, abuse or exploitation, including sexual offenses and abuse.

    In case of violence you can contact:

     Free Legal Support

    • Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
      • Phone: +359 2 980 20 49; +359 2 981 33 18 (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00)
      • Hotline:+359 8888 19 745 (Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 09:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00)
      • Viber: 00359 888 788 10
      • E-mail: [email protected]
      • Website https://asylum.bg/uk/home-dashboard-ua 
    • National Legal Aid Bureau
      • National telephone for legal assistance: 00359 70018250 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00)
      • Address:Sofia 1421, 1 Razvigor Str

    Child protection and children helplines

    Info for unaccompanied children:

    “Unaccompanied” child is a minor or minor foreigner who is on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and is not accompanied by his parent or another adult who is responsible for him under Bulgarian law or custom. The access of unaccompanied children to the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is ensured in view of their best interests and their right to request and receive temporary protection in the Bulgarian state.

    In cases where the child is accompanied by an adult relative who is not a parent or guardian, or by another close family member to whom the child has been entrusted by a parent or guardian, this circumstance should be verified either by presentation of a power of attorney by a parent, or, in the absence of a power of attorney – by filling in and submitting by the accompanying person a sample declaration to the border / police officers to take responsibility and care for the child.The person, accompanying the child has to inform and present the filled in declaration to Child Proetction Departemnt of the respective Directorate Social Assistance (depending on the current address)

    The Child Protection Department in the Social Assistance Directorate: 

    • Organises immediate assistance to children in distress, incl. counselling and social support;
    • Directs to counselling services for psychological and pedagogical support for children and families and to organisations providing legal assistance in cases of children;
    • Provides accommodation in a family of relatives and friends;
    • Provides accommodation in a foster family;
    • Provides accommodation in a social service for residential care.

    Who to  contact:

    • Child Protection Department in the Social Assistance Directorate
    • National hotline for children 116 111 – reporting, counselling and support

    For more information on unaccompanied children:

    Children who are in Bulgaria without their parents

    Information for unaccompanied children

     

    National child helpline website and Helpline: 116 111

    For specialised support, you can contact one of the three Child Advocacy Centres (CAC) in Bulgaria, located in Sofia, Montana, Shumen. CACs are a ‘one-stop shop’ where child victims and witnesses of violence and crimes can receive consultations and services, including legal services, psychological support, social support, assistance with medical examinations, and child-sensitive forensic interviews and hearings.

    Child Advocacy centers:

    CAC Shumen: 24/7 phone line: 089 336 11 04 or at e-mail: [email protected]

    CAC Montana: 24/7 phone line: 089 701 13 47 or at e-mail: [email protected]

    CAC Sofia: 24/7 phone line: 087 669 22 80 or at e-mail: [email protected]

    Other

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