MFA: As of January 1, Bulgarians will be able to reside in the UK without a visa for up to 6 months.

In connection with the expiration of the transition period after Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) clarified the conditions for Bulgarian citizens in relation to their travel, work and training on the island.

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As of January 1, 2021, Bulgarian citizens who do not have the status of residence or the status of temporary residence will be able to enter and remain visa-free in the UK for a short stay of up to 6 months. During this time, citizens will be able to enter the country many times for tourism, participation in meetings and conferences, short courses, but not to live permanently, work or have access to public funds.

As of October 1, 2021, according to the new rules for entering the UK, published on the website of the British Foreign Office, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (who have no residence or status temporary residence) must have a passport.

Bulgarian citizens who have received the status of residence or the status of temporary residence will have the right to enter the UK only with an ID card, at least until December 31, 2025. National ID cards can be used for entry to the UK and beyond, if they meet the safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

When traveling for tourism, visitors will be able to travel to the UK with their Bulgarian driver’s licenses.

Those Bulgarian citizens who do not have resident status or temporary resident status, but intend to reside for a period longer than 6 months to work, study or want to settle in the UK, will need to apply for a visa. Those who wish to apply for a visa can do so on the UK government website.

Biometric passport holders, such as Bulgarians, can complete the visa application through a smartphone app. If they fail or cannot read the passport, they will need to visit the Visa Application Center.

Successful applicants will receive secure access to their immigration status in lieu of a physical document.

In addition to the fee for processing the visa application, applicants must also pay a health fee, which will provide them access to medical care through the National Health Service. Certain professions will be exempt from paying the health fee.

Settlement situation: temporary and permanent

Bulgarian citizens, as well as all other EU citizens who have acquired the status of temporary residence in the UK, have the right to be absent from the UK for 2 consecutive years, unless they wish to obtain the status of permanent residence.

Permanent residence status requires that the citizen has not been absent from the UK for more than 6 months in each of these years for 5 consecutive years. Therefore, if the citizen has a status of temporary residence and wishes to obtain a status of permanent residence, then the citizen is required not to be absent for more than 6 consecutive years in each of these 5 consecutive years.

Each case is considered individually and exceptions are allowed, for example in case of illness, childbirth, civil service, etc., allowing this period to be exceeded once, but not more than 12 months.

Conditions for Bulgarian students

The termination of the right of permanent residence and the right to free movement of EU citizens in the UK as of 1 January 2021 will lead to a change in the immigration status of current and future EU students in the United Kingdom.

EU students, including those enrolled in the current academic year 2020-2021, are eligible to apply for the EU Clearance Program, but only if they are physically present in the UK before 1 January 2021. Arrive and settle there before the end of the transitional period It is essential to preserve your right of access to emergency care in the country through a European Health Card (TSE) or a temporary replacement certificate by the TSE.

The right to receive unplanned treatment: emergency and urgent assistance through the TSE or a replacement certificate is guaranteed to people whose stay began before December 31, 2020 and continues after that date. The maximum length of stay is not defined by law and depends on the factual circumstances of each case.

For students, the stay can last until the end of their studies. They can return to the country where they have their habitual residence to visit their family or another country for a vacation.

Those EU students who intend to arrive in the UK after December 31, 2020 to study, including those enrolled in the current academic year 2020-2021 who have not resided in the UK, must apply for a student visa before arrival. you are.

They will not be covered by the coordination rules of the social security systems contained in the Withdrawal Agreement and, therefore, they will not receive health care based on the rights granted by the TSE. They will have to pay an immigration health insurance fee when applying for a visa, which will give them access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Applicants for a student visa will be required to pay an immigration health fee of £ 470 per year, in addition to the fee for examining their visa application.

Student fees

Bulgarian students starting their studies after the summer of 2021 will be required to pay student fees in full and will not have access to state guaranteed student loans. The amount of the fees will be determined by the individual universities and can vary from a part of the UK to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.