To contain the spread of novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid – 19), amendments in the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act have been adopted. According to the Art. 24, para 13 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria, A foreigner with a permitted long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria, on which the period of residence expires during the declared state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or within nine months after the lifting of the state of emergency may apply for extension of residence up to nine months after the lifting of the state of emergency and this term shall not be considered as interruption when the foreigner applies for a long-term or permanent residence. A foreigner with a permitted long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria, on which the period of residence expires during the declared state of emergency on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or up to nine months after the lifting of the state of emergency, may enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria without a visa within 9 months after the lifting of the state of emergency.

The Republic of Bulgaria declared a state of emergency on March 13, 2020, until May 13, 2020, when the state of emergency has been lifted. As of May 14, 2020, until November 30, 2020 an Emergency Epidemic Situation is declared in the Republic of Bulgaria.