The Schengen zone is an association of 26 European states that have abolished customs and passport controls at common borders. In order to travel freely within this space, it is necessary to open a so-called unified Schengen visa. It should be noted that not all member states of the European Union (EU) have joined this association yet. The question of whether Bulgaria is a Schengen member has been relevant over the past decade.
Why Bulgaria is not part of the Schengen area
In 2007 Bulgaria joined the EU. Despite this, the Bulgarians did not receive the right to enter Schengen. It was immediately planned that the state would sign the agreement in 2021. But in the end, the Finnish and Dutch representatives voted against, explaining their decision by the extremely high level of corruption in the country.
The accession of the Republic of Bulgaria (RB) to Schengen was postponed for 6 months. But even after this period, the agreement was not signed. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether Bulgaria is part of the Schengen zone is negative today.
The country's entry into the union was repeatedly postponed at the initiative of representatives of Great Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands. Countries such as Cyprus, Romania and Croatia found themselves in a similar situation.
Prospects for the signing of the Schengen Agreement by the Republic of Belarus
In 2021, Germany's position regarding Bulgaria's accession to Schengen changed: the Germans supported the desire of the Bulgarians to join the union. It was assumed that on January 1, 2021, the agreement would nevertheless be signed, as a result of which air and land borders would be opened.
But a circumstance arose that radically changed these plans. Thus, a report of the European Commission was published, in which it was said that the Bulgarian government had taken insufficient measures to eradicate corruption in the state.
In this regard, until today the answer to the question of whether Bulgaria is a country of the Schengen Agreement remains negative.
In addition, in 2017-2018, intensive flows of refugees arriving on their territory became a serious problem for the Schengen countries. Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway introduced border controls with other Schengen states. “Fences” have also appeared on the borders with countries that are not part of the union, including Bulgaria. The cancellation of the restrictions, despite their negative assessment by the European Commission, was postponed until May 2021.
In November 2021, EU representatives began to talk about the possibility of signing the Schengen Agreement with Bulgaria immediately after the liquidation of border controls by Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. But the representatives of the majority of European states were in favor of only partial opening of the borders of the union for the Bulgarians - exclusively for air traffic.
As a result, it was finally decided that the country will join Schengen in terms of air traffic in May 2021. We are not talking about when Bulgaria will enter Schengen on land borders due to unresolved migration problems.
Which countries can the holders of the Bulgarian visa visit?
In July 2021, an agreement was signed between Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Cyprus, according to which the listed states recognized each other's national visas. A small free zone was formed - the so-called micro-Schengen area. Therefore, answering the question of where you can go with a Bulgarian visa, you should name:
- Cyprus,
- Romania,
- Croatia.
Travelers must comply with certain rules of stay in these countries: to cross the border as many times as the Bulgarian visa allows, and within the time frames indicated in the document.
At the same time, the presence of a national Bulgarian visa excludes the possibility of visiting other European states that are part of the Schengen area. Thus, it is still not possible to answer positively to the question of whether it is possible to enter Schengen with a Bulgarian visa.
What entry permit can I use to visit the Republic of Belarus
To cross the borders of Bulgaria, you can get a national visa. It can be single, double, multiple. The embassy of the country issues national visas of the following categories:
- visa C is an official permit for short-term stay in the state. Businessmen, persons making private visits, tourists are allowed into the country through it;
- D visa is also known as immigration visa. It is issued by those who plan to obtain a residence permit (residence permit), a permanent residence permit (permanent residence).
For modern travelers, it is important to know if a Schengen visa is suitable for entering Bulgaria. Citizens who are holders of multiple and double Schengen stamps of category C, as well as national visas of category D, issued by one of the Schengen states, have the legal right to cross the Bulgarian border in transit, as well as stay in the country for no more than 90 days within 6 months.
Thus, it becomes obvious that Russians are allowed to enter Bulgaria on a Schengen visa. At the same time, the number of days spent in the state will not affect the number of days during which the holder of the stamp is allowed to stay in the Schengen countries.
For Russians living in regions bordering Europe, it is convenient to apply for multiple Schengen visas for up to 5 years to travel across the EU. For example, residents of the northwestern regions, territorial proximity to Finland, allows them to quickly obtain a Finnish Schengen visa.
If necessary, you can go to Bulgaria on the Finnish Schengen.
Persons returning to Russia have the right to transit through the Bulgarian territory, even if the number of entries and days of stay on a Schengen visa has already been exhausted. The main condition is that the document itself at this moment is still valid.
It is not allowed to come to the Republic of Belarus on a single-entry Schengen visa. Since 2021, the rules of entry have changed in the state, so the holders of such documents must also obtain a national Bulgarian visa.
It is allowed, but, as practice shows, it is undesirable to travel to Bulgaria on an unopened Schengen visa (that is, without crossing the borders of the state that issued it): difficulties may arise when renewing an entry permit.
Output
Bulgaria is one of the first candidates to join Schengen. The estimated date for the signing of the agreement by the country is 2021, although the exact date has not yet been determined.
A Schengen visa (multiple and double entry) is valid in Bulgaria. This means that its owners have the right to cross the Bulgarian border and stay on the territory of the state for the period specified in the document. You cannot travel within Schengen with a Bulgarian national visa.
