site.btaParliament Passes Conclusively Amendments to Aliens in Bulgaria Act

Parliament Passes Conclusively Amendments to Aliens in Bulgaria Act

Sofia, December 2 (BTA) - The National Assembly Friday passed conclusively amendments to the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

The MPs abolished the single-entry transit visas valid for up to two days, which could be issued by the border control authorities as an exception, where necessitated by an interest of the State or by exceptional circumstances. The border control authorities will continue to issue single-entry short-stay visas valid for an authorized stay of up to 15 days, including on humanitarian grounds.

According to the revisions, long-stay visas valid for up to one year and authorizing a stay of up to 360 day may be issued where so provided for by a Council of Ministers ordinance. So far, such visas were issued to students, interns or persons posted to this country.

For entry into Bulgaria, aliens will have to hold a passport or an equivalent travel document or a visa, where such is required (so far the requirement was for a foreign travel document or another equivalent document or a visa). A special chapter was inserted in the law, detailing the terms and procedure under which aliens and members of the staff of a diplomatic mission or consular post or representatives of international organizations can acquire citizenship.

Visas will be refused to persons who have violated the border, passport, visa, exchange-control or customs regime of the Republic of Bulgaria. Visa refusals will be appealable as to their legal conformity under the procedure established by the Administrative Procedure Code.

The MPs resolved that the time limits for submitting visa application will be determined by a Council of Ministers ordinance. So far, visa applications had to be submitted not earlier than three months before the start of the planned visit. The amendments also specify the persons who qualify for the grant of a durable residence permit.

The lower limit of the fine or pecuniary penalty imposed on carriers, who or which transport aliens by land, by air or by water to and/or from Bulgaria without having fulfilled their obligations to check the aliens' documents, was lowered from 6,000 to 3,000 leva.