As from 1st of January 2007 the Republic of Bulgaria applies the Common Visa Policy of the European Union under the terms of the Treaty of Accession to the European Union. According to the article 4 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania and the adjustments to the treaties on which the European Union is founded, the provisions of the Schengen acquis, listed in Annex II, are binding on and applicable in Bulgaria from the date of accession to the European Union. The Schengen acts not referred to in the annex, while binding on Bulgaria from the date of accession, shall apply pursuant to a Council decision after verification in accordance with the applicable Schengen evaluation procedures that the necessary conditions for the application of all parts of the acquis concerned have been met.
After the accession to the European Union, one of the main priorities of Bulgaria is the accession to the Schengen area. Following a Decision of the Council of Ministers, Bulgaria has declared readiness for joining the Schengen area on March 2011.
The accession to the Schengen area requires full harmonization of the national legislation with the Schengen acquis and implementation of the Schengen best practices related to the issuing of visas.
As from the date of accession to the EU, Bulgaria strictly applies Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement and its amendments and has adapted its visa regime according to the lists in Annex I (third countries whose nationals must to be in possession of a visa) and Annex II (third countries whose nationals are exempt from the requirement to possess a visa) of the said regulation.
For the time being Bulgaria issues national visas only which do not allow entry into the Schengen area!
