Bulgaria stops issuing tourist visas to Russians

According to tour operators, the Bulgarian Consulate in Moscow informed them of the temporary suspension of the acceptance of documents for tourist visas due to the current emergency situation.

The reason is the announcement of 14 employees of the diplomatic mission and consular offices of Bulgaria in Russia as persona non grata.

This step of the Russian side was a response to the decision of the Bulgarian authorities to expel from the country 70 Russian diplomats and technical staff of Russian diplomatic departments, including the Russian Consuls General in Varna and Ruse.

Bulgaria Visa Application Centers in Moscow, Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg (including regional visa centers) are closed due to "technical reasons".

How long the pause in the visa process will last is not known. Sources say that the Bulgarian side will look for opportunities to resume issuing visas in Russia.

“The resumption of the work of the Consular Service of Bulgaria in Russia will be announced additionally,” the message addressed to tour operators informs.