Important information for Ukrainian citizens

With all Temporary Protection Certificates (TPC) expiring by the 4th of March 2024, all Ukrainian citizens should continue their stay in Bulgaria by choosing any of the possible options.

Considering this, Ukrainian and third-country nationals working in Bulgaria on the basis of a temporary protections certificate have two options to continue their employment:

1. Renew their temporary protections certificates until the extended term

2. Find a new suitable option for residence permit in Bulgaria

For more comprehensive details about these processes, please find the information provided below.

I. Extend the temporary protection status (TPS)

We consider that it’s the easiest way to relocate and will allow the TPS holders to reside, work, study, etc. in Bulgaria without special permissions. The disadvantage is that currently the period of residence under temporary protection is not taken into account when calculating the 5 years needed for permanent residence or any other residence permit after that.

According to Decision No. 54 dated 25.01.2024 of the Council of Ministers, it is officially decided that the period of temporary protection is extended until 04.03.2025. TPS holders wishing to renew their registration cards can visit the nearest regional directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, Directorate of Internal Affairs (SDVR) for the city of Sofia or the Registration and Reception Centers (ROC) of the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers on the territory of the Bulgaria. The re-registration process will continue until 31.03.2024, after which applications will be accepted only at State Agency for Refugees centers. You can also find detailed information about temporary protection points on the "Bulgaria for Ukraine" portal: https://ukraine.gov.bg/bg/

When issuing a new registration card, Ukrainian citizens are required to hand over their already invalid card to the registration staff.

II. Switch to another residence permit (EU Blue card, Single residence permit, etc.)

After the expiration date of the TPC and only if it's not renewed, the companies that have hired the TPS holder could apply for their highly qualified employees for EU Blue card (EU BC) residence permit or similar residence permit according to the qualification of the employee. It is important to note that all Ukrainian nationals with biometric passports will have up to 90 days for visa-free stay in Bulgaria.

The process might take up to 3 months and the term of the requested residence permit could be up to 5 years.