Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria tightens entry rules for Russian citizens

Photo: Archive

The Council of Ministers adopted a decision according to which holders of valid diplomatic and service passports from Russia will no longer be allowed to enter, exit, transit and temporarily stay in Bulgaria without a visa.

For holders of diplomatic passports, a visa regime was already introduced on 25 February 2022 with the adoption of Council Decision (EU) 2022/333. Today's decision also introduces a visa regime for holders of Russian service passports as of 20 October.

In doing so, the government is now aligning the legislation with the European Commission's decision to fully suspend the visa facilitation agreement between the European Union and Russia, which came into force on 12 September this year.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

A cool morning and summer temperatures on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the lowest temperatures will range from 10 °C to 15°C, around 11°C in Sofia. In the morning hours, there will be low clouds or reduced visibility in some lowland areas and around water bodies. It will be sunny during the day. There will..

published on 9/15/25 6:40 PM
Atanas Zapryanov

Bulgarian Defence Minister Zapryanov meets Albanian counterpart Vengu in Tirana

Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov met his Albanian counterpart Pirro Vengu in Tirana on Monday in his first official visit to Albania, the Albanian Defence Ministry said. The two ministers highlighted strong defence and security ties..

published on 9/15/25 6:25 PM

Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summons the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sofia

On September 15, 2025, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in connection with the deliberate violation of Polish airspace by Russian military drones on..

published on 9/15/25 3:18 PM