Important changes for the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria
On November 26, 2019 amendments and supplements to the Rules for implementation of the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria were promulgated, which entered into force on the same day.
The adopted changes are related to the facilitation of the procedures for applying for obtaining of a right of residence with respect to foreigners of Bulgarian origin - third-country nationals, which in turn will lead to increased opportunities for access of skilled work force on the Bulgarian labor market.
A procedure for gathering of the families of foreigners with granted international protection, asylum or temporary protection is established as the necessary documents for the specified category of foreigners are defined. A procedure for granting of a right of extended residence in the Republic of Bulgaria to foreigners who have obtained a status of stateless persons is introduced.
Proceedings against unaccompanied children of foreigners are being brought in line with the new protection measures. The measure „placement in a specialized institution“ is abolished and a new measure – „social and integrated health and social services for residential care“ is introduced. There is a possibility to be granted an extended residence status in the Republic of Bulgaria to such children until they reach the age of 18 years.
For the purpose of reducement of the administrative burden for foreigners applying for residence on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, the requirement for submision of a document for a paid state fee, when the information about this payment may be obtained electronically, is eliminated.
For the sake of clarity in the procedures for granting of a right of residence to foreigners of Bulgarian origin, for which the coordination with the Consular Relations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is abolished, to foreigners - researchers and to foreigners - students, accepted in a full-time form of education at a higher education institution in the Republic of Bulgaria, some provisions of the Rules are precised.
For granting of a right of residence in the Republic of Bulgaria the foreigners will have to submit bilingual applications.
