Security level:
Canada is a relatively safe country. Visitors should take the usual security precautions. It is not advisable to carry large amounts of cash. If you become a victim of a crime in Canada, you should contact the nearest police station and the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the city of Ottawa or the Consulate General in Toronto.

On the territory of Canada, including near populated areas, forest fires occur on large areas every year during the spring and summer season.  As a result of the recent relatively high temperatures and below normal rainfall, the risk of fires is currently elevated.  This requires those who are planning a trip to Canada to inform themselves in advance and prepare for the peculiarities of local climatic and atmospheric conditions, as well as to follow the latest information from local authorities (provincial and federal) about the possible presence of natural disasters/accidents.

Specifics of the legislation:
During their stay in Canada, Bulgarian citizens must observe and respect the laws and customs of the country. You fall within their jurisdiction during your stay there. We recommend that you inform yourself about them in advance and comply with them. Penalties for breaking the law can be more stringent than those in Bulgaria for the same offenses.
Pay special attention to and observe local rules on the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages and psychotropic substances. In Canada, the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places is prohibited.

Healthcare:
The level of healthcare is relatively good. It is imperative that you take out medical insurance before traveling abroad. Healthcare fees for non-Canadians not permanently residing in Canada are extremely high, ranging from C$ 1,000 to C$ 2,000 per day. There are no communicable diseases that require mandatory vaccination.

Customs requirements:
Items and accessories for personal use shall not be declared and shall not be subject to duty if they are within the normal quantity.
The following restrictions apply: it is forbidden to import weapons, ammunition, explosive substances and narcotics, meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables without the permission of the sanitary authorities.
Passengers over 19 years of age are allowed to import duty-free 1.5 litres of wine, 1.14 litres of hard liquor, 24 beers of 335 ml each, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and up to 200 grams of tobacco, individual gifts of up to 60 Canadian dollars each.
Medicines may be imported when in their original packaging, with a description of the contents.
Domestic animals may be imported if they have documentation from a veterinarian that they are healthy and have been vaccinated against rabies.
Customs requirements for Canada can be found at: https://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs
There are no limits on the maximum amount of cash you can carry. Amounts over CAD 10,000 or their equivalent in foreign currency must be declared or risk confiscation and, in the case of particularly large amounts, the person carrying the cash may be subject to compulsory detention.
Further information on Canadian customs requirements and regulations can be found at: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

Road traffic:
The traffic rules are laid down by different acts in the different provinces. Compared to those in the Republic of Bulgaria, there are some differences, both in the rules (e.g. those for priority at a junction) and in the appearance of some traffic signs. The penalties for offences are very high, and in serious cases of speeding can include vehicle confiscation.
With a driving licence issued by the Bulgarian authorities, you can drive for two to three months, depending on the province.
Car insurance is compulsory.
A credit card and a driving licence are required to rent a car.

Practical advice:
It's not compulsory, but it's a good idea to register with the Embassy or Consulate General, especially if you're travelling to remote provinces in Canada. This would facilitate getting in touch with you in case of emergency or if necessary.
Before leaving the Republic of Bulgaria or immediately after your arrival, write down the addresses and telephone numbers of the Embassy or Consulate General in Canada. It is appropriate for this information to be provided to the administration of hotels you are staying at, the tour operators you travel with and the local police office, if necessary.
If you are detained by the local authorities for any reason, require to get in touch with the Embassy in or the Consulate General in Toronto. The consular officer will contact you as soon as possible.
In the event of theft of your identity documents, cash, travel tickets, etc., immediately notify the nearest police office in person and in writing and ask for a copy of the record establishing the event. Contact the Embassy in Ottawa or the Consulate General in Toronto in order to make arrangements for obtaining the necessary documents to continue your trip or return to Bulgaria.
You can receive direct financial assistance from the Embassy in Ottawa or the Consulate General in Toronto only if your relatives or close relatives deposit the amount you need in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Property Management Directorate.
We advise you to conclude a contract for health, tourist, travel or other insurance in advance.
Place all medications in their original packaging and check whether some of them are not considered illegal drugs abroad. If you use such substances, carry a copy of a doctor’s prescription confirming this fact.
Avoid carrying third party belongings when crossing borders.

The emergency telephone number in Canada is 911.

Local currency:
Canadian dollar (CAD)

Others:
The official languages are English and French.

As of December 1, 2017, the need for visas for Bulgarian citizens planning a short-term stay in Canada for tourism, business or visiting purposes has been eliminated. The length of stay allowed when visiting the country without a visa can be up to 6 months and is determined by Canadian border authorities upon entry into the country.
Despite the visa-free regime for short-term stay, Bulgarian citizens arriving by air in Canada need to have obtained prior authorization through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system. The authorization is valid for a period of 5 years, but no longer than the validity of the passport with which it was obtained.

Bulgarian citizens entering Canada through a land or sea border crossing do not need an eTA in advance.

It is only possible to obtain an eTA through an official Federal Government of Canada website, at the following e-mail address:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html

The procedure is carried out entirely online. A valid passport, a credit or debit card with a fee of CAD$7 and a valid e-mail address are required to apply for an eTA. In most cases, requests are approved within a short period of time. The application process may take several days if additional evidence is required.

Attention! Applicants for an eTA should be vigilant when accessing the official website mentioned above, as there is information about various active websites offering fraudulent services related to obtaining an eTA but aiming to mislead and deceive applicants."

Work in Canada:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria draws attention to the fact that the lifting of visa restrictions affects only Bulgarian citizens traveling and staying in Canada on a short-term basis. The new rules do not affect people who want to work or study in the country.
Bulgarian citizens who want to work legally in Canada can get detailed information about the necessary documents at: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/romania-roumanie/visas/work_temp_travailler.aspx?lang=eng
Work permits are issued by the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship of Canada, and are applied for at the Canada Offshore Visa Center in Sofia or online.
Those working illegally are fined and deported if they re-offend.

Certifications and legalizations

“On January 11, 2024 the Apostille Convention (Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents) comes into effect for Canada. The Republic of Bulgaria is a party of the Apostille Convention and applies its provisions.

The competent authorities issuing Apostille in Canada are:

1. The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada – for documents issued by the Federal authorities or by the Authorities of all the provinces except for Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

2. For the documents issued by the Authorities of the provinces British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec – the competent Authority of the respective province:

British Columbia - the Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia;

Alberta - the Ministry of Justice of Alberta;

Saskatchewan- the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan;

Ontario - the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario.

Quebec - Ministry of Justice of Quebec.”

The documents authenticated in Canada before January 11, 2024, in order to be used in Bulgaria, must be legalized. The Bulgarian Embassy in Ottawa and the Bulgarian Consulate General in Toronto will continue to legalize documents authenticated in Canada before January 11, 2024.

Official information about the Apostille Convention and how it will change authentication services before and after it takes effect in Canada on January 11, 2024 is available at the website of the Government of Canada:

https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/apostille-convention.aspx?lang=eng

https://www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/apostille-convention.aspx?lang=fra

Issuance of identity documents:
The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto carry out the replacement of the personal documents of Bulgarian citizens and have the necessary equipment for taking biometric data (digital photo, fingerprints and digital signature).

Civil status:
In order to be recognized in Bulgaria, a document issued by the Canadian institutions must be legalized according to the above procedure and translated into Bulgarian.
The Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto carry out civil status activities: recording in the Bulgarian registers of births, marriages and deaths of Bulgarian citizens occurring abroad.
- Registration in the Republic of Bulgaria of children of Bulgarian citizen(s) born in Canada on the grounds of a Canadian birth certificate
Every Bulgarian citizen has a Unique Civil Number (UCN) - a unique number that uniquely identifies individuals. All newborn children, including those born abroad, acquire a UCN after their registration in the population registers of the municipality of their parents' permanent address.
The birth certificate drawn up by the Canadian local authorities is to be re-executed at the Civil Registry Office of the municipality where the mother of the child has her permanent address in Bulgaria (if the mother is not a Bulgarian citizen - where the father has his permanent address). The municipality issues the birth certificate, with the registered number, on the basis of a birth certificate drawn up by a local civil status authority - legalized at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada and at the Embassy in Ottawa or the Consulate General in Toronto, translated into Bulgarian and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The foreign document shall be submitted to the Civil Status Office in Bulgaria in person, through an authorized person or through the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.
The documents submitted to the Bulgarian municipal authorities remain in their archives.
- Registration in Bulgaria of a civil marriage of Bulgarian citizens contracted in Canada
When registering a marriage contracted in Canada, Bulgarian citizens must provide the relevant municipality with a legalized certificate of civil marriage to the local authorities, as well as a translation of the certificate.
The municipality where a civil marriage contracted abroad is registered is the municipality of the permanent address of the spouse who is a Bulgarian citizen; if both spouses are Bulgarian citizens, it is the municipality of the permanent address of the husband.
- Registration in Bulgaria of the death of a Bulgarian citizen occurring abroad
A death of a Bulgarian citizen occurring abroad shall be registered in the municipality of the person’s permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria.
The municipality shall re-execute the death certificate issued by the local civil status authority — legalized at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada and at the Embassy in Ottawa or the Consulate General in Toronto, translated into Bulgarian and certified at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The foreign document shall be submitted to the Civil Registry Office by the relatives of the deceased or through the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.
When a person who has died abroad is transported to Bulgaria, the relatives must also be provided with a document certifying whether the person was suffering from a contagious disease.
The Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto do not fund or carry out the service and transportation of the deceased. In case of death, the relatives of the deceased Bulgarian citizen should contact a funeral home/agency in the country of residence to learn about the service and transportation of the deceased abroad.

Fees:
Legalization fee (3 working days for regular service) - CAD 30.00 (payable in cash, money order or certified cheque, payable to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ottawa or the Consulate General in Toronto).
If services are performed by mail, the documents must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope or other form of express or registered mail.