The front cover of a contemporary Bulgarian passport

Kingdom of Bulgaria passport circa 1944

A Bulgarian passport is a document issued to nationals of Bulgaria for the purpose of international travel, and may also serve as proof of Bulgarian citizenship. The Ministry of Interior Affairs is responsible for the issuing and renewing of Bulgarian passports. For travel inside the European Union, Schengen countries, as well as Croatia, Bulgarian citizens are not required to carry a passport and can use only their national ID cards. The passport gives its bearer right to assistance and protection by Bulgarian and EU diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad and remains the property of the Republic of Bulgaria. For other meanings, see Passport (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Schengen. ...

Types

• Regular - available to all Bulgarian citizens.
• Service - issued to their staff on request by the respective government agency or directorate.
• Diplomatic - issued to diplomats, high-ranking state officials and their immediate families.

Physical Appearance

Bulgarian passports are of the common EU design, being burgundy in color, with the Bulgarian Coat of arms emblazoned in the center of the front cover. The country's official long name "Република България" (Bulgarian) and the English form "Republic of Bulgaria" are inscribed in capital letters above the coat of arms, and the word "паспорт" (Bulgarian) / "passport" (Englsh) below. It is usually issued for a period of five years, and contains 32 pages. A European passport is a passport issued by a member country of the European Union to its citizens. ... Burgundy is a shade of dark red associated with the Burgundy wine of the same name, which in turn is named after the Burgundy region of France. ... The coat of arms of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: , Gerb na Balgariya) consists of a crowned golden lion rampant over a dark red shield; above the shield is the Bulgarian historical crown. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Security features include holographic images, micro printing, UV-visible features, watermarks, etc. In addition, the passport holder's photograph is digitally printed directly onto the paper, in standard ink as well as a holographic image. All passports are machine-readable. A machine readable passport (MRP) is a passport where the data on the identity page is encoded in optical character recognition format. ...

Starting in 2009, all newly-issued Bulgarian passports will contain a chip with biometric data, and also feature the text "Европейски съюз" (Bulgarian) / "European Union" (English) above the country's official name, thus reflecting Bulgaria's EU membership. Additional design changes include the placement of pictures of famous Bulgarian landmarks and monuments on the inside pages of the passports. Symbol for biometric passports, usually printed on the cover of passports The contactless chip found in British passports A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic identity document that uses biometrics to authenticate the citizenship of travellers. ...

Passport Note

The title pages

The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside Bulgarian passports states:

The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria request all Civil and Military Authorities to let through the holder of this passport without hindrance and, in case of need, to render him/her the necessary aid and assistance in accordance with the international law.

This passport is valid for all countries.

Languages

The data page/information page is printed in both Bulgarian and English. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Visa-free travel

Visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens:
       European Union & EFTA - Unlimited access      Visa-free travel      Visa on arrival      Visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and special passports only      Visa required

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was established on May 3, 1960 as an alternative for European states that were not allowed or did not wish to join the European Community (now the European Union). ...

Europe

All  European Union member states

Note: Passport is not required for travel within the EU — a valid Bulgarian ID card is sufficient. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Austria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cyprus. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Estonia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hungary. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Latvia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Luxembourg. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malta. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Portugal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovakia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ...

Other European countries

^† Passport not required — a valid Bulgarian ID card is sufficient. Image File history File links Flag_of_Albania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Andorra. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Croatia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greenland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guernsey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Gibraltar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_isle_of_man. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jersey. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iceland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liechtenstein. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Macedonia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Moldova. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Monaco. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Montenegro. ... This article is about the country in Europe. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_San_Marino. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Serbia. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ukraine. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Vatican_City. ...

Africa

Image File history File links Flag_of_Burundi. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Benin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cape_Verde. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Comoros. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Djibouti. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kenya. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Madagascar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritius. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mozambique. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saint_Helena. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Seychelles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tanzania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uganda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Zambia. ...

Americas

Image File history File links Flag_of_Antigua_and_Barbuda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Aruba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Barbados. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belize. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_British_Virgin_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Costa_Rica. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Dominica. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ecuador. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_El_Salvador. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Falkland_Islands. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Grenada. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guatemala. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Haiti. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Honduras. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jamaica. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands_Antilles. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Paraguay. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Anthem For Sweden - The Land of The Incredible Biffs Capital (and largest city) Gustavia Official languages Swedish Government  -  Prime Minister of Sweden Nick XII Bonaparte  -  Prefect Per af Biffsläkt  -  President of the Territorial Council none yet; however Henning is the mayor of Saint-Barthelemy Overseas Collectivity of Sweden   -  Swedish... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saint_Lucia. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital (and largest city) Marigot Official languages French Government  -  President of France Jacques Chirac  -  Prefect Dominique Lacroix  -  President of the Territorial Council none yet; however Albert Fleming is the mayor of Saint-Martin Overseas Collectivity of France   -  Island divided between France and the Netherlands 23 March 1648... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Turks_and_Caicos_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uruguay. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ...

Asia

Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Azerbaijan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bangladesh. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brunei. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cambodia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hong_Kong. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iraq. ... Anthem Ey Reqîb (English: Hey Guardian) Location of Iraqi Kurdistan (dark green) with respect to Iraq (light green) on a map of the Middle East. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jordan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Laos. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Macau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Maldives. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nepal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Palestine. ... Palestinian government redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sri_Lanka. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tajikistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Yemen. ...

Oceania

² Visa issued at point of entry.
³ $10 Tourist card required.
⁴ Kyrgyzstan will introduce a visa requirement for Bulgarians on July 1st, 2008, see also [1] Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Cook_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Fiji. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kiribati. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_French_Polynesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Micronesia. ... Anthem Patriots of Micronesia Capital Palikir Largest city Weno Official languages English (national), Ulithian, Woleaian, Yapese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, and Chuukese (at state or local level) Government Constitutional government1  -  President Joseph J. Urusemal Independence from US-administered UN Trusteeship   -  Date 3 November 1986  Area  -  Total 702 km² (188th) 271 sq mi... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Niue. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Palau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Samoa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_East_Timor. ... Motto: Unidade, Acção, Progresso (Portuguese: Unity, Action, Progress) Anthem: Pátria Capital (and largest city) Dili Official languages Tetum and Portuguese1 Demonym East Timorese Government Parliamentary republic  -  President José Ramos-Horta  -  Acting President Fernando de Araújo  -  Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão Independence from Portugal²   -  Declared November 28, 1975... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tuvalu. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Visa-free for Diplomatic passport holders

In addition, Bulgarian holders of diplomatic paassports may travel visa free to the following countries :

•  People's Republic of China
•  Mongolia
•  North Korea
•  Russia
•  South Africa
•  Vietnam

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mongolia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_North_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Vietnam. ...

See also

• Citizenship of the European Union
• Bulgarian diplomatic missions
• List of passports
• Foreign relations of Bulgaria

Citizenship of the Union was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty signed in 1992. ... The following is a list of passports: Australian passport Argentine passport Armenian passport Belarusian passport Belgian passport Belizean Passport British passport Bulgarian passport Canadian passport Chilean passport Chinese passport Colombian passport Costa Rican Passport Croatian passport Cuban passport Cyprus passport Czech passport Danish passport Dominican Republic passport Dutch passport Egyptian... Bulgaria has generally good relations with its neighbors and has proved to be a constructive force in the region under socialist and democratic governments alike. ...

External links