Bulgaria

No, within the validity period of your temporary protection status you can return to Ukraine for visits.

It depends on who provided you with the financial assistance. If it was a non-governmental or international organization, you will not be provided the same cash assistance after you go back to Ukraine. For state-provided financial and social assistance, you can read more about the eligibility criteria for different types of assistance here. For example, most state-provided social assistance requires that the beneficiary permanently resides in Bulgaria, the children attend school regularly etc.

Currently, there is no procedure for canceling a temporary protection card in Bulgaria. All TP cards are valid until March 2026.

Returning to Ukraine does not cancel your temporary protection in Bulgaria. As temporary protection has been extended until 04.03.2025, you have the right to apply for an extension (in case your temporary card has expired) at any time until the end of its validity. If you already have temporary protection in Bulgaria but want to relocate to another EU country, you need to contact the competent authorities in the respective country to find out what their requirements for application are.

Yes. People with temporary protection status have the right to benefit from the Humanitarian Protection Programme that provides housing. To do this, you should contact the National Operational Headquarters. Before you are redirected to a specific accommodation place, you will be placed for initial screening in a transit centre located in the town of Elhovo, 2 Chataldzha Street, Bulgaria. You can be placed there from 1 to 14 days.   

If you are already accommodated, but for a justified reason, you need to temporarily leave your accommodation, for example, because you need to return to Ukraine, a relative has passed away, you need to visit a hospital, etc., and you want to continue living in the same place where you are currently accommodated, you must notify and receive confirmation from the National Operational Headquarters (NOH).

The notification is made before you leave by email at the following email addresses [email protected] or [email protected] and at [email protected]. You need to attach to the email Attachment 3. Upon return, you also need to inform NOH. You can find the full information on the entire procedure and required documents here.

You should write a corresponding application to the National Operational Headquarters (NOH), attaching a photo of the temporary protection card, documents confirming your family relationship and a passport with the number of border crossings or your travel tickets. You can contact the NOH via these emails: [email protected],  [email protected], and these phone numbers +359 (0)2 905 5555 | +380 322 465 075. The form for the application can be downloaded here.

If you have a Ukrainian ID card, you will be allowed to cross the border with the condition that you are returning to Ukraine. If the documents confirming your identity are: an internal passport of Ukraine (in the form of a booklet); a foreign non-biometric passport, you need to contact the Consular Department of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria.

If you have no identity documents, you will be issued a Passavan (Certificate to return) at the Consular Department of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria. More information here.

Currently, there is no procedure for cancelling your temporary protection in Bulgaria, therefore even if you return to Ukraine the minimum installments for health insurance will be accumulated. Your health insurance rights are interrupted if you stop paying for three months or more. If you decide to come back to Bulgaria, you will have to cover your health expenses which can be higher. Read more about health insurance in Bulgaria on this link.

Once you re-enter Bulgaria, you will be asked to pay for the absent period.

A general recommendation from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is to collect all the records from the school that prove educational achievements, classes taken, grades and other. For detailed information please check the Ministry of Education and Science page.

Yes, you can. You should issue a notarized permit for the person who will represent the child’s interests while you are temporarily away. If you leave a longer period, you should contact the Department of Child Protection (Отдел „Закрила на детето“) for processing the relevant documents. Find the department office nearest to you.

You should contact the National Revenue Agency. They will provide you with a certificate for your current employment status. More information can be found here.

Depending on your personal situation you may need to:

1. Deregister from the address where you have officially registered with the local authorities before leaving the country.
2. Ensure that you have fulfilled any tax obligations in Bulgaria before departing. This may include filing final tax returns, settling outstanding tax payments, or obtaining tax clearance certificates if required.
3. Close bank accounts or utility services (such as electricity, water, or internet) in Bulgaria, or transfer them before leaving. Check for any outstanding bills or obligations.
4. If you own a vehicle in Bulgaria, you may need to deregister or transfer ownership before leaving the country. This typically involves notifying the traffic police and returning license plates and registration documents.
5. Depending on your situation, you may need to inform your: employer, landlord, school, or local police of your departure from Bulgaria.
6. Ensure that you have settled any legal matters or obligations you may have in Bulgaria before leaving, such as contracts, leases, or pending legal proceedings.

If you are going to travel with your pet (cat, dog, ornamental bird or ferret) to a third country (outside the EU), it is necessary to check in advance the relevant conditions and requirements, as well as the necessary documents (certificates, laboratory tests, pet passports, vaccines) under which the pet will be allowed to enter its territory without problems. More information can be found on Bulgarian Food Safety Agency site.

Your pet can travel with you within the EU or from a non-EU country to an EU country if it has:

1. been micro-chipped (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets) or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
2. been vaccinated against rabies
3. had treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.
4. A valid European pet passport issued by an official veterinarian, wherein all immunizations or re-immunizations performed shall be recorded when traveling from one EU country to another. Where pet animals are moved and transported from third non-EU countries into the Republic of Bulgaria, they shall be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by an official veterinarian, as well as a passport.

You are advised to close your bank account to avoid paying fees. Please contact your bank to learn about the terms and conditions of closing your account and if it can be done online.