Palestinan
Last update 13 September 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 4: Termination warning throughout the country (except in case of extreme necessity)
4
Select passport type
We call on Bulgarian citizens to refrain from travelling!
Diplomatic mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ramallah
Address: Al Kawtar st. VIP Center 2 floor, Al Bireh - Ramallah, Palestine National Authority
Telephone: +970 2 24 13 143
Fax: +970 2 241 3144
Out-of-hours hotline: +972 56 941 52 60
Working hours: 08:00 – 15:00
Opening hours: 11:00 – 13:00 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Website: http://www.mfa.bg/embassies/palestina
Consular Office:
Address: Al Kawthar st. - VIP Center - 2nd floor, Al Bireh – Ramallah, Palestine
Telephone: +970 2 24 13 143
Fax: : +970 2 241 3144
Opening hours: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, 10:00 – 13:00
Embassy of the State of Palestine in Sofia
Address: 1164 Sofia, 22 James Bourchier Blvd.
Telephones: +359 2 963 43 24, 963 31 23
Fax: +359 2 963 25 71
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
Crime is at an average level. There is a danger of certain conflicts on political grounds.
Healthcare:
Healthcare is at an average level.
Customs requirements:
Customs requirements for Palestine can be downloaded from HERE.
Road traffic:
The traffic rules are identical to those in Bulgaria.
Practical advice:
Bulgarian citizens wishing to travel to Palestine should be aware that, given the special status of the Palestinian territories, there are differences in the travel, access and stay regimes in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
Given the fact that when travelling in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the West Bank, border controls at entry and exit are carried out by the Israeli border authorities, the requirements and recommendations for travellers are the same as for the State of Israel. It should be borne in mind, however, that security risks in the West Bank are considerably high (this applies most to the areas of Jenin, Hebron, Nablus, Beita, etc.). Given these circumstances and the presence of numerous checkpoints between the Israeli and Palestinian territories, those wishing to travel are advised to do so with organised tour groups where possible.
With regard to the Gaza Strip, travel there is highly inadvisable, given the extremely complicated crossing regime and the constant risk of armed incidents and conflicts breaking out. Any travel to the Strip should be undertaken only in cases of extreme necessity. The procedure for travel to Gaza requires prior coordination (online registration and waiting for permission) with the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), and is further complicated by the fact that the territory of the Strip is controlled by the Islamic Resistance Movement — Hamas, declared a terrorist organization by many countries.
In view of the rapidly changing dynamic situation in Palestine, the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ramallah recommends Bulgarian citizens wishing to travel to the Palestinian territories to contact the State Department in advance at the indicated telephone numbers or e-mail addresses in order to be informed in detail about the current situation, the security situation and possible risks.
It is recommended that the situation in Palestine be monitored through the mass media and that if assistance is needed, an attempt be made to contact the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in Ramallah.
All Bulgarian citizens present on the territory of the Gaza Strip can voluntarily register their passport details and contact telephone numbers, which will be used in case of humanitarian emergency.
For registration our compatriots can contact the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ramallah:
Address: Al Kawtar st. VIP Center 2 floor, Al Bireh - Ramallah, Palestine National Authority
Telephone: +970 2 24 13 143; Fax: +970 2 241 3144 ;
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Website: http://www.mfa.bg/embassies/palestina
Working hours: 08:00 – 15:00
Out-of-hours hotline: +972 56 941 52 60
Registration can also be made at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tel Aviv at:
e-mail address: [email protected]
Telephones: 9:00 – 17:30: + 972 3 696 13 78
from 9:00 to 9:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30: + 972 3 696 13 61.
Local currency:
Israeli shekel (ILS).
Travel papers and visas
You must travel with an international passport in Palestine. The visa regime with Palestine is fully regulated by the 1993 Palestine-Israel Agreement. Visas are not required for short-term travel on all types of passports (diplomatic, official and regular) and stays of up to 90 days in total in Israel and Palestine.
For long-stay visas for all types of passports (diplomatic, official and regular), visa applications, together with all required supporting documents, are submitted on the spot and issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. The Palestinian authorities do not issue visas.
Practical advice
Information and recommendations for Bulgarian citizens, wishing to travel within and to Palestinian territories
The Bulgarian citizens wishing to travel in Palestine need to know that considering the particular statute of the Palestinian territories, there are differences in the regimes for travelling, access and stay in the West bank and in the Gaza Strip.
Following the fact that during travelling, entering and exiting the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank the border control is executed by the Israeli Border Authorities, the requirements and recommendations for the travellers are the same as they are for the State of Israel. It should be considered that the risks in terms of the West Bank’s security are considerably higher /this is most prevalent for the regions of the cities Jenin, Hebron, Nablus, Beita and others/. Considering these circumstances and the presence of many checkpoints between the Israeli and Palestinian territories, it is recommended for those wishing to travel to do so with an organized tourist group.
On the topic of the Gaza Strip, travelling there is highly not recommended, considering the extremely complicated checkpoint passing process and the constant risk of emergence of armed unrest and conflict. Eventual travels to the strip should only occur in cases of ultimate necessity. The procedure for travelling to Gaza requires prior agreement /online registration and waiting for an approval/ with the Israeli administration for Coordination of government activities in the territories/COGAT/, with the said procedure being additionally complicated from the fact, that on the territory of the strip the control is exerted from the widely-claimed by many countries as terrorist organization - Islamic Resistance Movement - “Hamas”.
Considering the quickly changing dynamic setting in Palestine, the Diplomatic Representative Office of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ramallah recommends that the Bulgarian citizens, wishing to travel in Palestinian territories should contact the Diplomatic Representative Office pre-emptively through the shown phone numbers or e-mail addresses, so that they can be informed in detail about the current situation, the circumstances in terms of security and the potential risks.
Competitive service
The Mission may certify signatures, the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine, as well as the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. Our mission shall assist in the issuance and extension of identity documents through the Bulgarian Embassy in Tel Aviv. Citizens can contact the office of the Mission in Ramallah for information and possible assistance in consular matters of any nature.
Certifications and legalizations:
The office of the Mission in Ramallah certifies powers of attorney, declarations and documents that are issued by the Palestinian authorities (birth and death certificates, civil marriage certificates, etc.) that are certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine.
Documents issued by the Bulgarian authorities and stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria shall also be certified.
The processing of files related to personal documents is carried out at the Bulgarian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Civil status:
In connection with the registration of births, marriages or deaths, the Mission shall certify the signature and seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine on documents issued by the Palestinian authorities.