Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry to temporarily suspend issuing visas
From August 9 to 18, Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions will not accept applications for visas and for Bulgarian passports and identity cards, the Foreign Ministry said on August 2.
The announcement comes some days after reports in the Bulgarian-language media said that there were problems with the issuance of Schengen visas by Bulgaria.
As of March 31 2024, Bulgaria’s airports and sea ports became part of the Schengen zone.
The reports said that Schengen visas issued by Bulgaria were problematic, because an attempt to check the visa electronically in another Schengen country would result in a refusal. This was the result of a failure by Bulgaria to make the electronic systems compatible, according to the reports.
The Foreign Ministry statement made no reference to these reports, but said that the ministry was in the process of implementing a large-scale project, previously agreed with all responsible institutions in Bulgaria and the EU, including the implementation and commissioning of a new version of the National Visa Information System (NVIS).
Technological implementation of this necessitated a temporary suspension of work with the current system, the statement said.
The ministry said that compensatory measures would be introduced which would allow, from August 9 to 18, the issuance of temporary passports and verification of powers of attorney and declarations in emergency and humanitarian cases, such as force majeure, natural disasters, urgent travel related to the illness or death of a close family member, and travel of minor children.
“As we apologize for the inconvenience caused, we ask citizens who have scheduled appointments for submitting applications for the issuance of a passport and identity card or for certifications and legalizations in the specified period to contact the relevant consular office to reschedule their appointment,” it said.
It said that consular services had been instructed in advance by the Consular Relations Directorate to provide assistance to citizens in case of need.
Caretaker Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dimitar Glavchev was asked questions in Parliament on August 2 by MP Kaloyan Metodiev about the matter.
Glavchev declined to comment on the media reports, saying that this was “not serious”.
According to Glavchev, the new Schengen visa system would be implemented in about a week.
He said that Bulgaria would not face any further obstacles from its partners about full membership of the Schengen visa zone.
All obstacles related to Bulgaria’s entry into “land Schengen” would be overcome by the end of the year, according to Glavchev.
(Photo: Foreign Ministry)
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