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Starting in 2021, Bulgarian citizens without residency status will be able to stay in the UK without a visa for up to 6 months.
On January 1, 2021, the transitional period expires after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. This is what this means for Bulgarian citizens: for their travels, work, study. This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Trip
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, citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland (who have no residence or temporary residence ) must have an international passport.
Bulgarian citizens who have received settlement status or temporary settlement status will have the right to enter the territory of Great Britain with only an identification card, at least until December 31, 2025. National identification cards may be used for enter 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.
Apply for a visa
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: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration.
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.
Please note that in addition to the visa application processing fee https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/fees-5-october, applicants must also pay a fee Provide them access to health care through the National Health Service: https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay. Certain professions will be exempt from paying the health fee.
The following immigration routes are open to Bulgarian citizens:
Skilled worker path
Skilled Workers – Health Care Skilled Work – Health Care Visa
Highly skilled workers
– Global talent Highly skilled workers
– Global talent route
Students Student path
Entrepreneurs in the field of innovation Innovative entrepreneurs
Special professions Specialized occupations
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.
It must be taken into account that 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 prior to January 1, 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 of 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 to review their visa application.
Important for 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.
Additional information related to the expiration of the transitional period on 12/31/2020. and the new rules for entering and staying in the UK, Bulgarian citizens can obtain the website of the Bulgarian Embassy in London: http://bulgarianembassy-london.org/
If they need help, Bulgarian citizens can contact the Bulgarian Embassy in London at the following phone numbers: +44 20 7581 3144; +44 0 20 7584 9400, +44020 75893763 or by email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
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