Bulgaria visa
Passport Validity Requirement | 3 Months |
Passport Validity Start | Departure |
Continent | Passport Country | Visa Status | Valid Days | Operation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Oceania |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
South America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
North America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Oceania |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
- | |
North America |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Europe |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Asia |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- | |
South America |
|
Visa-free Visa-free |
90 Days | |
Africa |
|
Visa required Visa required |
- |
1、 Visa Notice
Bulgaria has two embassies and consulates in China, namely the Embassy of Bulgaria in China and the Consulate General in Shanghai. Shanghai, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang are within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of China in Shanghai, while other regions outside of the aforementioned six provinces and cities are within the jurisdiction of the Embassy of China.
According to EU Council Resolution 2024/210 of December 30, 2023, on the full application of Schengen legal provisions in the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania, Bulgaria will become part of the Schengen Area from March 31, 2024, but initially only personnel checks at the air and sea borders will be cancelled.
Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports and official ordinary passports to travel to China must obtain a Schengen visa in advance. According to relevant agreements, Chinese citizens holding diplomatic or official passports, as well as Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region passports, are exempt from visa requirements when entering, leaving or transiting through Bulgaria. However, they are allowed to stay visa free for a total of no more than 90 days every 6 months from the date of entry.
The latest visa policies are mainly as follows:
1、 Starting from March 31, 2024, a unified Schengen visa valid throughout the entire Schengen area will be issued. Unified Schengen visas issued after March 31, 2024 will allow their holders to travel throughout the entire Schengen area in accordance with Schengen rules (generally staying for no more than 90 days per 180 days) without the need for internal land border checks. The duration of stay starts from the day of entry into Schengen territory, including entry into Bulgaria.
2、 According to Article 2 of EU Council Resolution 2024/210 and further explanation in Article 8 of the preamble, national short-term stay visas issued by Bulgaria and Romania before March 31, 2024 are still valid during their validity period, but visa holders can only travel to Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus and cannot travel to other Schengen member states. If the aforementioned visa holders wish to travel to other Schengen member states, they must apply for a Schengen visa.
3、 According to Article 2 of EU Council Resolution 2024/210, residence permits and long-term stay visas issued by Bulgaria will remain valid after March 31, 2024, until their expiration date.
Long term stay visa holders who are still valid after March 31, 2024, can freely travel within the Schengen area according to Schengen rules (generally staying for no more than 90 days every 180 days) without the need for inspection at internal land borders.
Holders of a residence permit issued in a unified format in accordance with Council Regulation 1030/2002 (as amended by Council Regulation 380/2008) that is still valid after March 31, 2024, or holders of any other residence permit certified by the Committee in accordance with Article 39 of the Schengen Border Law and Annex 22 of the Practical Guidelines for Border Personnel that is still valid after March 31, 2024, will have the right to stay in other Schengen countries visa free for a short period of time in accordance with Schengen rules (generally not exceeding 90 days per 180 days), and the duration of stay shall not exceed the validity period of the aforementioned residence permit, and must undergo inspection at the internal land border.
4、 The Romanian government's national short-term and long-term stay visas, as well as residence permits issued before March 31, 2024, are equivalent in validity to the Bulgarian national visa when used for transit and stay before their expiration date.
For specific requirements and procedures for applying for a Schengen visa to China after March 31, 2024, please pay attention to the websites of the Embassy of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. The relevant websites are as follows:
https://mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria
https://www.mfa.bg/zh/5632
Special reminder: Bulgarian visas issued after March 31, 2024 allow holders to travel to the Schengen area, but visa applicants must generally apply for a visa in the country of their main destination for travel.
2、 Entry and Exit Notice
When entering the country, the purpose of the visit should be truthfully and reasonably declared to border, immigration, and customs officials. It is necessary to carry a valid passport (with a remaining validity period of more than 6 months), visa, air ticket, and materials related to the purpose of entry, such as invitation letter, admission notice, hotel reservation, return ticket, itinerary arrangement, financial proof, etc., with you for verification.
When leaving the country, if the passport is lost, damaged, or expired, one can leave with an international travel document issued by the host country's diplomatic or consular representative office. When departing, the border inspection department will stamp and annotate the name of the border port and the date of departure on their international travel document.
In case of staff inquiries or inspections, please show due respect and answer questions truthfully. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly, you should express your opinion in person. Evidence can be collected and stored for future protection through complaints or judicial channels. If denied entry and stranded at the airport, the other party may be required to provide basic humane treatment.
If there are items that need to be declared, please truthfully fill in the customs declaration form and other documents, and do not neglect or have a sense of luck.
Special reminder: Holding a valid Schengen visa does not guarantee entry security. If a citizen of a third country does not comply with Article 6 of the EU Council Regulation (2016/399) on the movement of persons when entering the border, according to Article 14 of the same Regulation, the right to retain the right to refuse their entry.
Bulgarian customs policy follows relevant provisions of EU law. Carrying foreign exchange equivalent to 10000 euros or more into or out of the country must be declared to customs. In practice, the amount of cash carried by a group during customs clearance is based on the actual amount carried by each person on site, and is not calculated based on the average number of group members.
Carrying more than 1 liter of strong liquor with an alcohol content exceeding 22 degrees, or more than 2 liters of wine and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content below 22 degrees, 200 or more cigarettes or 50 or more cigars, or tobacco products weighing more than 250 grams, should be declared to the customs. Precious metals and other professional and technical equipment must also be declared upon entry. Carrying medication is limited to the regular dosage required by individuals. All imported products of animal and plant origin must comply with EU phytosanitary and veterinary management standards and be accompanied by corresponding inspection certificates. If prohibited items are carried without declaration, the customs has the right to confiscate the items and impose fines depending on the situation.
For detailed information, please refer to the relevant instructions on the Customs website:
https://customs.bg/wps/portal/agency-en/home/info-citizens/info-citizens
1、 Nationality Policy
Bulgaria recognizes dual citizenship, but believes that citizens who hold other nationalities at the same time are only considered as citizens under Bulgarian law. If a citizen enters into or terminates a marriage with a foreign citizen, or if one spouse changes their nationality, the nationality of the other spouse shall not be changed as a result. Support obtaining citizenship based on the principles of bloodline and place of birth.
2、 Alien residence policy and related procedures
Foreigners' residence permits under the National Insurance Council are mainly divided into short-term residence, long-term residence and permanent residence. The above applications for residence permits are accepted by the Capital Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the foreigners' administrative supervision departments under the local bureau, and the acceptance results will be notified in writing. Please refer to the following website for the application process and required materials:
https://www.mvr.bg/migration/en/administrative-services/administrative-servces/issue-of-residence-permits-to-third-country-nationals
Bulgaria's risk level is blue (low risk)
The overall social security situation in Bulgaria is good, with fewer cases of malignant criminal offenses, but theft, fraud, and other security incidents occur from time to time. Please keep your passport, ID card and other important identification documents safe when going out, keep copies and electronic versions for backup, try not to carry large amounts of cash and valuable items with you, and be vigilant at all times, especially in crowded areas such as pedestrian streets, shops, subway stations, and train stations. If you unfortunately encounter lost documents or property theft, while ensuring personal safety, please report to the local police immediately at 112.
The speed of motor vehicles is generally fast. When walking, please be sure to concentrate and pay attention to the vehicles. Do not play or play with your phone. Please purchase tickets in advance when taking public transportation such as buses, trams, and subways, and actively cooperate with the ticket inspector for inspection when boarding. If renting a car locally, the driver must hold valid insurance or an EU driver's license, and the vehicle must have compliant insurance.
The natural conditions are relatively good, with occasional natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and snowstorms, but generally the degree of damage is relatively light. When protecting tourism and daily life, attention should be paid to the warning information issued by the government. In winter, the climate is cold and there is a lot of snow, so it is recommended not to travel to remote mountainous areas.
Real time weather conditions can be viewed: http://www.weather.bg/
The food safety situation is good, the quality is high, and the hygiene conditions in the catering industry are generally good. It is recommended to choose a regular restaurant for dining.
Emergency phone number: 112
Fire alarm: 160
Ambulance: 150
Police: 166
Road emergency assistance: 02-91146
Mountain rescue: 02-9632000/08881470
Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria:+359-882055378
It is guaranteed to have direct flights to major European countries and some Asian and African countries. Currently, there is no direct flight to China, and it can be transferred to and from China via Vienna, Frankfurt, Paris and other places.
There are currently four major airports in Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv. contact information:
Sofia Airport: Flight information (+359 2) 9372211/2122/2213; VIP lounge (+359 2) 9372192; Lost and Found: https://sofia-airport.eu/en/about-us/contacts/ Medical services (+359 2) 9372146; Border police (+359 2) 937350/9827545; website: www.sofia-airport.bg
Burgas Airport: Flight information (+359 56) 870248; VIP lounge (+359 56) 870110; Lost and Found (+359 56) 870273; Medical services (+359 56) 870236; Safety duty (+359) 884801220; Border police (+359 56) 870335; Customs: (+359 56) 870347; website: www.burgas-airport.bg
Varna Airport: Flight information (+359 52) 573323; VIP lounge (+359 52) 573460; Lost and Found (+359 52) 573423; Medical services (+359 52) 573467/472; Safety duty (+359 52) 573389; Border police (+359 52) 573421; Customs: (+359 52) 573441; website: www.varna-airport.bg
Plovdiv Airport: Flight information (+359 32) 601127; website: www.plovdivairport.com
Bulgaria Air has direct flights to 31 cities in European and Middle Eastern countries and has partnerships with major European airlines. Ticket booking and information center (+359 2) 4020400. website: www.air.bg
Sofia Airport provides access to the city center by subway, bus, or taxi. When taking a taxi from the airport, it is best to call at the taxi office window in the waiting hall to avoid taking an irregular taxi and being deceived.
Sofia Central Railway Station and Long Distance Bus Station are located in the northern part of Sofia city, providing direct access to major cities in the country and surrounding major cities via land transportation. Central Railway Station contact number (+359) 884193758, website: www.bdz.bg; Bulgarian National Railway 24-hour hotline (+359 2) 93111111. Long distance bus station contact phone number (+359 2) 8133202; website: www.centralnaavtogara.bg。
Car rental can be found on websites such as www.hertz.com, www.autorentbg.com, and www.rentacarbulgaria.com. When renting a car, it is necessary to present a valid Bulgarian identity document and a recognized driver's license. When driving, it is important to comply with traffic regulations.
Bulgaria has two major Black Sea ports, Varna and Burgas, and docks such as Ruse, Svishtov, Lom, and Vidin are built along the Danube River.
The transportation within the city is relatively convenient, with a wide coverage of bus routes. The bus is an unmanned ticketing vehicle. Before boarding, please pay attention to buying a ticket at the newsstand next to the station. After boarding, punch a hole in the ticket and leave the ticket stub for staff to check in temporarily. In addition to physical tickets, non inserted credit or debit cards can also be used to purchase tickets.
There are four subway lines under construction in Sofia, running through the east, west, north, and south of the city. Contact number: (+359 2) 9212001; website: www.metropolitan.bg。
Carrying luggage on public transportation has a volume limit, and specific dimensions can be found on station signs. Extra large luggage must be purchased separately with a luggage ticket.
The one-way prices of taxis vary greatly, so it is recommended to take a regular taxi company's vehicle to avoid unnecessary expenses.
1、 Sofia City
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. It is located in the Sofia Basin in central western Bulgaria, with an average elevation of 550 meters, an area of 492 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 1.29 million. It is the largest city in Bulgaria. Sofia is a charming tourist destination and a world-renowned garden city with multiple hot springs and sweet springs. The city center square has the tomb of Dimitrov, government buildings, and ethnic galleries, and almost all streets branch out from the center square. There are Revolution Museum and Alexander Nevsky Church near the square. Next to the church is the tomb of the famous Bulgarian writer Vazov, in front of which stands his bust.
2、 Plovdiv City
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria, located 120 kilometers southeast of the capital city Sofia, with a population of approximately 350000. It is an important economic, cultural, and transportation center in Bulgaria. The city is located in the most prosperous agricultural area in central southern China, surrounded by vast plains and fertile land, producing abundant grain, fruits, and vegetables. The old city is located on a hill in the center of the city and was once a castle used as a guard in history. The essence of the traditional architecture of the city is concentrated here, which also occupies a very important position in the history of conservation architecture. Many narrow streets in the city still maintain their ancient style, and the upper floors of residents' houses are supported by inclined arches, protruding layer by layer, which is quite distinctive. The main historical sites in Pu city include the ancient Roman theater of Plovdiv and the Palini church, which is famous for its carved altar and stepped ancient bell tower.
3、 Varna City
Located in the northeast of Bao, Varna is a coastal city, the largest seaport in the country, and a famous tourist destination. It is known as the "Pearl of the Black Sea" and has a population of approximately 335000. Varna has a mild climate with distinct four seasons, long sunshine hours, and an average summer temperature of around 26 degrees Celsius. The sea surface is calm and the beach is shallow and vast. Golden Beach "is a famous seaside resort along the Black Sea coast, with a total length of 4 kilometers and a distance of 17 kilometers from the city center of Varna. The sand here is delicate and soft, the shallow sea area is wide, and the seabed is flat. There are numerous hotels of different grades and architectural styles nestled by the mountains and the sea, arranged in a staggered manner in the dense forest, making it one of the most popular leisure and vacation destinations for tourists.
1、 Featured products
(1) Rose products: Bulgaria is known as the "Land of Roses" due to its unique geographical location and climate conditions, making it the most suitable country for growing high-quality roses. Its rose oil quality, production, and export volume are all the highest in the world. The Rose Valley, located around the city of Kazanlak, is the main production area for roses.
(2) Wine: Bao is one of the countries producing and exporting wine, and the winemaking industry is an important traditional industry in Bao's economy. Vinaria, an international wine exhibition held annually at the Plovdiv International Fair, is the largest wine exhibition in Central and Eastern Europe.
(3) Dairy products: Baode Dairy has a long history and a wide variety of dairy products, and is the birthplace of yogurt. The main dairy products are cheese (white cheese and yellow cheese).
2、 Local currency
The legal currency of Bulgaria is the lev, which has a fixed exchange rate with the euro at 1 euro=1.95583 lev. The lev is a freely convertible currency. Except for some star rated hotels and other foreign-related business establishments that accept Euro cash, domestic cash payments can generally only be made using Levo. Most consumer venues accept credit cards such as American Express, Diners, Visa, and Master. A few exchange points allow direct exchange of Chinese yuan.
3、 Price level
Bulgaria has good natural geographical and climatic conditions, abundant agricultural products, and sufficient supply of vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy products, and other products domestically. There are supermarkets of varying sizes in major cities, ensuring the supply of daily food and household items at moderate prices. Most imported goods from abroad have high prices, and special or large quantities of required goods require advance booking.
4、 Banking institutions
The central bank of Bulgaria is the Bulgarian National Bank. Private banks mainly include: UniCredit Bulbank、DSK Bank、First Investment Bank、United Bulgarian Bank、Post Bank、Raiffeisen bank (Bulgaria) Wait.
5、 Credit card usage
Credit cards can be used in large shopping malls, shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants. Credit cards issued by major banks in China for international business can also be used, but Chinese credit cards with only the "UnionPay" logo cannot be used in Bulgaria yet.
6、 Value added tax
The current value-added tax (VAT) rate is 20%, while the VAT rate for tourism services and hotel accommodation industries is 9%. For other products and services exempt from value-added tax, please refer to the website of the State Administration of Taxation: www.nra.bg
Hospitals, medical stations, and private clinics are located in all towns within Bulgaria, and pharmacies are also everywhere, but the overall medical infrastructure is average. Most citizens are entitled to medical insurance, and the cost of medical treatment is moderate. It is recommended to consult the relevant medical insurance company in detail before traveling for insurance, to confirm whether their insurance is applicable to medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and other projects that occur abroad, and whether their claims can be directly paid to foreign medical institutions, or paid by the insured first and then returned by them.
The main hospitals in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, include:
Military Medical Academy, Address: st. Georgi Sofiyski 3, 1606 Sofia Center, Sofia, Phone: (+359 2) 9226000, (+359 2) 9225543; website: www.vma.bg
Pirogov Hospital, Address: 21 Totleben Blvd, 1606 Sofia, phone: (+359 2) 9154411, (+359 2) 9154213; website: www.pirogov.eu
Acibadem City Clinic UMBAL Tokuda (Private Hospital), Address: Nikola Y. Vaptsarov Blvd. 51B, 1407 Sofia (by car, the entrance is from St.Atanas Dukov ), Phone: (+359 2) 4034000; website: www.acibademcityclinic.bg
There are generally no prevalent diseases within the country.
Medical emergency hotline: 112
1、 Main holidays:
New Year's Day: January 1st.
Liberation Day (National Day): March 3rd, commemorating Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule.
Easter: a Friday to Monday during the period of March 22nd to April 25th, including Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Day, and Week, totaling 4 days, determined according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar of that year.
Labor and International Workers' Solidarity Day: May 1st.
Army Day (Saint George's Day): May 6th.
Commemorating Kirill and Methodist Brothers Day, Alphabet, Education, Culture, and Slavic Script Festival: May 24th. One of the most important national holidays, in the 9th century AD, the Kirill and Methodist brothers of Sauron (now in Greece) created the Slavic script, breaking the dominance of the Latin alphabet in European religion, literature, and social life, and making immortal contributions to human cultural affairs. On May 11, 1851, Bao publicly celebrated the Slavic Language Festival for the first time. In 1990, the Bulgarian National Assembly declared Slavic Language Festival (May 24th) as a national statutory holiday. From 2021, it will be changed to its current name
Unification Day: September 6th. (In 1878, according to the Berlin Treaty signed after the end of the Russo Turkish War, Bulgaria was divided into two parts. One was the Duchy of Bulgaria in the west, and the other was the Duchy of "East Rumelia" in the east. The people of Bulgaria firmly opposed the division of their country by foreign powers and launched a struggle to restore national unity. On September 6, 1885, the "East Rumelia" uprising army captured the capital city of Plovdiv, overthrew the governor appointed by the Ottoman Empire, and declared the merger of "East Rumelia" with the Duchy of Western Bulgaria. This event is known as "East West Unity" in Bulgarian history.)
Independence Day: September 22nd.
National Enlightenment Day: November 1st.
Christmas Eve and Christmas: December 24-26.
Other local and folk festivals:
Grape Pruning Festival: February 14th.
March Flower Festival: March 1st, also known as March Festival.
Flower and Willow Branch Festival: The last Sunday of April.
Rose Day: The first Sunday of June. Bao is an important exporter of rose oil, accounting for 40% of the world's production. Rose oil is the main raw material for manufacturing high-grade perfume. The price of 1 kg rose oil in the international market is 5000 to 6000 dollars. Therefore, rose oil is called "liquid gold". Bulgaria has a history of over 300 years in the production of rose oil. To preserve the tradition of rose oil production, Bao has designated the first Sunday of June as "Rose Day" since the late 1960s. During the rose harvest season, the Kazanlak region located at the southern foot of the Balkan Mountains celebrates the "Rose Festival". To demonstrate the hardworking, intelligent, and hospitable character of the people through cultural activities, and promote economic and trade exchanges.
2、 Common Etiquette
Like many other countries, the concept of protecting people's families is very important. They believe that their family members should be respected and treated with courtesy, especially the elderly in the household. If your friend introduces you to their family, pay attention to greeting them and maintain the respect they deserve.
Bao still retains many traditions, and a formal handshake and appropriate greetings (according to the time, greeting the other person good morning, good day, good afternoon) are the most suitable etiquette for meeting. If facing a group of people, make sure to shake hands and greet the oldest or highest ranking person in the crowd. If you know each other, you should use respectful language to address them; If you don't know the other person well, men should call them "Mr. XXX (surname)" and women should call them "Ms. XXX (surname)". It is acceptable to have a kiss with the other person, but remember that this informal greeting should be initiated by the other person first.
Eastern Orthodoxy is an important part of Bulgarian life. Some Eastern Orthodox churches are open to the public, such as the Boyana Church in Sofia. As a foreigner who travels and goes on business in Bulgaria, he/she should maintain minimum and appropriate norms and manners. If you plan to visit a church, please be sure to dress appropriately. Before picking up the camera to take photos, it is necessary to first confirm whether the visiting location allows shooting before making a decision.
If you are invited to dine at a business partner or friend's house, you should pay attention to some social etiquette. If you don't forget to bring some gifts to the other person, flowers (note that they must be odd numbered stems) and wine are good gifts. Make the other person feel that you have put a lot of effort into the gift without being too extravagant, casual, and extravagant.
If the other party's family members attend the banquet, the oldest person present should start the meal. As a guest, you may be invited to start first, but it is polite to insist on inviting the elderly to dine first. Furthermore, it is not advisable to start without receiving a sincere invitation from the host.
Generally speaking, Bulgarians enjoy chatting and discussing at the dinner table, and table manners are not overly formal or refined. Although the atmosphere at the dining table is relatively casual, it is still important to note that elbows should not always be placed on the table. They attach great importance to civilized behavior and particularly avoid making sounds of chewing food while dining. I think this is a disgraceful and uncivilized behavior.
Generally, you will first taste a small amount of food before enjoying your meal again. This indicates that you enjoyed your dinner very much and also reflects that the dinner provided by the host was very sumptuous.
3、 Diet
Bread and pancakes are the staple foods of Bulgarians. The dishes tend to have a Russian style with a hint of German characteristics, mainly using techniques such as braising, stewing, frying, and grilling. Representative dishes include roasted pork, vegetable meat buns, fried meat patties, fried chicken, fried prawns, and roasted lamb. Breakfast usually consists of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, bread, sausages, cheese, as well as cold dishes such as juice, coffee, tea, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Lunch is usually eaten casually. Dinner is usually more formal, with main dishes and a strong emphasis on taste. After lunch and dinner, dessert is served and coffee or black tea is consumed. Yogurt made from Lactobacillus is famous all over the world.
4、 Clothing
The traditional ethnic costume of Bao is for men to wear long pants with loose bottoms and a vest embroidered with gold borders. The traditional ethnic costumes for women are mainly Skuman and Shaya.
Skuman is a sleeveless or knee length garment embroidered with elaborate embroidery, paired with a long skirt. Shaya is a knee length outerwear with an open front, available in both long and short sleeves. She wears a shirt underneath and pairs it with a skirt. There are also embroidered aprons that wrap around the front and back to replace the skirt. Women usually fold scarves into triangles and wear them on their shoulders.
Bulgarians are generally not very particular about their attire, and their principle is simplicity and affordability. The clothes they often wear are shirts, short sleeved shirts, etc., while suits are mostly worn in formal occasions. There are also certain differences in ethnic costumes across different regions. Emphasize the difference between inside and outside, be more casual at home, and require more solemnity outside.
5、 Taboo
Avoid the numbers "13" and "Friday". It is believed that "13" is a malevolent deity, and if "Friday" meets "13", it symbolizes that disaster is imminent.
1、 Power supply voltage
The Bulgarian power plug adopts the European unified standard (double hole round head), and domestic appliances generally require additional conversion plugs with a standard voltage of 220 volts.
2、 Communication Network
There are three main telecommunications operators in China, VIVACOM、YETTLE、A1, The mobile communication service has covered the whole country, and the Internet penetration rate is high, but the signal in some mountainous areas and fields is poor. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom's domestic SIM cards can all achieve international roaming in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria international telephone area code:+359, capital Sofia area code: 02.
Mobile phone dialing within the country: direct dialing of mobile phone numbers.
Dialing a landline from a mobile phone within the country: area code+landline number.
Dialing a mobile phone from a landline within the insurance coverage area: direct dial the phone number.
To make a phone call to China within the country: 0086+(excluding 0) area code+phone number.
Dial Chinese mobile phone number 0086+within the insurance coverage area.
Dial the security phone number 00359+(excluding 0) in China.
Dial the landline number in China: 00359+(excluding 0) area code+landline number. Domestic calls are cheaper. International calls vary according to the rate of the destination country, and calls to Chinese Mainland cost more.
Convenient postal and express delivery services. DHL, UPS, FEDEX and other companies have offices in insurance.
unit | phone | website |
Unified distress hotline within Europe and Bulgaria | one hundred and twelve | https://www.112emergency.eu/bulgaria |
police | one hundred and sixty-six | Same as above |
fire fighting | one hundred and sixty | Same as above |
Medical emergency | one hundred and fifty | ditto |
Government (Ministerial Conference) | +359 29402770 | http://www.gov.bg |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | +359 29482999/2404 | https://www.mfa.bg |
Ministry of Internal Affairs | +359 29825000/2574 | |
immigration office | +359 29824808/7251/3764 | https://www.mvr.bg/migration |
Police Headquarters | +359 29828860 | https://www.mvr.bg/gdnp |
Border Police Headquarters | +359 29831865 | https://www.mvr.bg/gdgp |
Sofia City Police Department | +359 29825100/038 | https://www.mvr.bg/sofia |
general customs administration | +359 298594528 | |
tourism administration | +359 29046809 | https://www.tourism.government.bg |