VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Bulgaria
A visa is required to visit the country.
Required documents for obtaining a Bulgarian visa:
1. Passport valid for at least 3 months. from the end of the tour.
2. Application form for a visa (for each tourist, including children under 16).
3. Actual color photograph (on a monotonous light background, red is prohibited) – 2 pcs., size 3.5×4.5 cm (for each tourist, including children under 16 years old).
4. For citizens of the CIS – a certificate of registration in Moscow, otherwise a visa is issued at the place of residence.
When submitting an application form for a Bulgarian visa, a consular fee of 740 rubles is charged, which is certified by a receipt. In case of refusal to issue a visa, the consular fee is not refundable. Visa fees are charged before consular service, together with consular fees, which is certified by a receipt for the total amount.
The receipt must be kept. In case of refusal to issue a visa, the visa fee is reimbursed only upon presentation of the original receipt. The cost of an ordinary Bulgarian visa for citizens of the Russian Federation is 1100 rubles. Children under 16 years old are served free of charge. Prices for other types of visas (urgent, double-entry, multiple-entry and others) vary. Citizens of the Russian Federation, carrying out tourist trips through organized tourism, on the basis of a voucher from a Russian tour operator, are exempted from paying visa fees.
Application deadlines:
Visas for short stay and transit visas are issued within seven working days, and urgent single entry visas for short stay and urgent single entry transit visas – within three working days. Visas for long-term stay are issued within at least 30 working days.
It is allowed to import into Bulgaria duty-free 250 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of wine, gifts in a reasonable amount. Jewelry, video cameras, computers and other expensive items are subject to declaration. The import of drugs and weapons is absolutely prohibited.
When leaving the country, valuables must be included in the declaration. It is forbidden to export from the country works of art or objects of historical, artistic or scientific value.
From Bulgaria it is possible to export icons that are not a national treasure. Therefore, before purchasing antiques, you must obtain permission to export them. Otherwise, all of them will be confiscated, and the tourist will be forced to pay a decent fine.
Bulgaria, Russian Embassy in the country:
Sofia, bul. Dragan Tsankov, 28, tel. 963-09-12.
Consulate General of Russia: Varna, st. Macedonia, 53, tel. 60-27-18.
Contact in Bulgaria
While in Bulgaria, you can call Russia from almost anywhere. At the post office, you can order a long-distance call or call from a machine using a phone card. It will cost less than calling from a hotel.
It should be borne in mind that different telephone companies compete with each other and the cards of one company do not work in the phones of another. Phone country code – 359
Emergency Phones in Bulgaria
Police 166
Traffic police 165
Fire brigade 160
Ambulance 150
Road assistance 1286
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1 – New Year
March 3 – Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke, Easter
May 1 – Labor
Day May 6 – Day of Courage and the Bulgarian Army
May 24 – Holiday of Bulgarian culture and Slavic writing, Saints Cyril and Methodius
Day September 6 – Unification of Bulgaria
September 22 – Independence Day
December 25 – Christmas
USEFUL THINGS
Many museums are closed on Mondays, and some are closed on Tuesdays. Their usual mode of operation is from 9.00 to 18.00, sometimes there is a break for lunch.
The country has a wide network of public and private hotels. On the coast you can rent a room in a private house. In the mountains you can rent a small house.
Roads in Bulgaria leave much to be desired: there are often no markings or lighting, road works are usually not fenced off with signs, many drivers drive with dim or extinguished lights, village cattle or horse-drawn vehicles often block the roads.
SHOPS
According to lawschoolsinusa, in large cities, shops are usually open from 9.00 to 19.00 (there may be options). There are grocery stores open 24/7.
Opening hours from 9.30 to 18.00. Break for lunch in different shops from 12.00 to 15.30. There are 24-hour shops, some open on Saturdays and Sundays
In Sofia, the best shops are located along Vitosha Boulevard and in the gallery in front of the NDK Culture Palace. In the TSUM store on Largo Street you can buy leather goods, knives, CDs, and souvenirs. Before you make a large purchase, ask about customs regulations.
TIPS
Tips are given to the porters, maids. Waiters are given a tip, rounding up the bill. Money should not be left on the table. The tip is about 10% of the order.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Tourists are served by the young generation of Bulgarians. It does not know Russian well. Before traveling to the country, it is useful to learn the basics of the Bulgarian language and use it. The expression of agreement-disagreement in Bulgaria is opposite to that accepted in Russia, i.e. Bulgarians shake their heads in agreement, and nod their heads in denial.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
The health care system in Bulgaria generally works well, especially in large cities and resorts. The hotels always have doctors and medical rooms. It is customary to pay for services and medicines privately. Calling an ambulance is free.
In the event of a traffic accident or an accident, tourists receive free medical care. Long-term treatment is paid, but inexpensive. Medicines, despite the fact that many of them are from Western firms, are inexpensive.
