South Africa
Last update 12 June 2025Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased cauion (Be informed on the current situation in the country beforehand)
2
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The Republic of South Africa
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
Address: 1071 Stanza Bopape Str. (formerly "Church Street")
0083 Hatfield, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
Tel.: +27 12 342 3720
Emergency phone (after hours): +27 79 893 7336
Working hours: Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 17:30
E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/southafrica
The Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria is also accredited to: Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Namibia.
Consular Office
Attention: The Consular Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria may be contacted by Bulgarian citizens in need who are located in any of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Comoros, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Namibia.
Consular Office hours:
• Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 12:00 – submission of documents (by prior appointment only)
• Monday – Friday, 13:00 – 14:30 – collection of ready documents (no appointment required)
Information on consular matters is provided every working day from 14:00 to 16:00.
Appointments may be scheduled:
• by phone: +27 12 342 3720
• by e-mail: [email protected]
Non-working days: Saturdays, Sundays, and official public holidays. No administrative services are provided during these days, except in cases of urgent humanitarian need.
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of South Africa
Mr. Boris Vassilev
Location: Cape Town
Consular district: Cape Town
Address: 21 Meerlust Street, Table View, Cape Town, 7441
Mobile phone: +27 (0)73 433 0145
E-mail: [email protected]
Following the closure of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Sofia, the Bulgarian citizens requesting consular services should approach the accredited Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Athens, Greece:
Address: 60 Kifissias Avenue, PO Box 61152, Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 210 610 6645, +30 210 617 8020
Fax: +30 210 610 6640
E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected] .
General information
Security level:
Armed robberies, rapes, car thefts are common. In the dark, in the central business districts of large cities, there is a significant risk of crime and it is not recommended to go out on foot. Using GPS navigation, which automatically suggests the shortest routes to your destinations, can lead to driving in dangerous areas with an increased risk of crime.
We bring to the attention of Bulgarian citizens traveling to the Republic of South Africa the following information on measures to ensure the safety and well-being of foreign tourists implemented by the Government of South Africa:
- 2,300 tourism safety officers are deployed at 59 key tourist locations, including airports, train stations, museums, national parks, etc. Staff are trained to provide immediate assistance in the event of incidents with tourists and provide practical advice to ensure personal safety;
- an active SECURA Traveler SA mobile application worth 49 rand (with a 30-day validity period) has been introduced, which works with GPS coordinates and provides the ability to send a panic signal to the nearest police rapid response team;
- it is recommended that foreign tourists use registered legitimate tourist operators (hotels, guest houses, etc.) in which security is provided for the guests;
- the possibility of providing free shelter in a hotel to the victims of accidents, as well as access to medical care and psychological support if necessary.
- There is an opportunity to provide free shelter in a hotel to victims of accidents, as well as access to medical care and mental support if necessary.
Healthcare:
In connection with the increased cases of monkeypox (MPOX), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria makes the following recommendations to Bulgarian citizens traveling to South Africa:
1. To observe a high degree of personal hygiene, incl. frequent hand washing with soap / use of a disinfectant with at least 60% alcohol content. Avoid close contact, incl. sexual, with people who are infected or could be infected with MPOX.
2. Avoid contact with monkeys and rodents that could be carriers of the disease, as well as limit the consumption of raw meat from any animal.
3. Carefully monitor the state of health in case of initial symptoms of the disease (fever, headache, muscle pain, rashes) and if possible contact is considered, incl. sexual, with a carrier of the disease. In case of worsening of symptoms, seek medical help and self-isolate.
Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
As a rule, vaccinations are not required, but a vaccination certificate is required when entering South Africa from some countries with a high risk of yellow fever (in Africa and South America). It must be issued at least 10 days before travel. The vaccine provides protection 10 days after administration and provides lifelong immunity. The model certificate from the country concerned must be approved by the World Health Organisation. Since 2016, travellers to or from Eritrea, Zambia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tanzania do not need to have a certificate of yellow fever vaccination. To check which countries are at risk of yellow fever transmission and which countries require yellow fever vaccination click HERE.
Practical advice:
Before travelling to South Africa, find out the phone numbers and address of the Embassy in Pretoria. During your stay in the country, it is advisable to provide the Embassy with a contact telephone/address in case of emergency or in case you need to register in the section ‘I travel to...’ on the website of the MFA.
We also recommended:
• move with caution and preferably in groups;
• avoid carrying large amounts of cash, laptops, expensive cameras, mobile phones and jewellery on the streets;
• leave money and expensive items in hotel safes;
• avoid walking in the evening;
• under no circumstances resist an attack.
Interesting facts:
The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is located in the southernmost part of the African continent. It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini, with Lesotho as an enclave.
As of 23 June 2022, the restrictive measures related to pandemic COVID-19 have been lifted.
Detailed information about the Republic of South Africa can be found on the official website of the South African government: https://www.gov.za/about-sa .
Local currency:
South African Rand (ZAR).
EUR 1 ≈ ZAR 19
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens holding ordinary passports who intend to travel to the Republic of South Africa must possess a valid passport with an affixed entry visa for the country. The passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Republic of South Africa and must contain at least two blank pages.
Bulgarian citizens holding valid diplomatic or service passports who are not accredited in South Africa are exempt from the visa requirement for the Republic of South Africa, provided that their stay does not exceed 90 days and they do not engage in any professional or commercial activity for personal gain within the territory of the Republic of South Africa.
Bulgarian citizens holding ordinary passports who wish to enter the territory of the Republic of South Africa may apply for a visa at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Athens, Greece. For more information, inquiries should be sent to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. Bulgarian citizens transiting through the RSA to a neighbouring country of the RSA must hold a transit visa. The requirement does not apply to those travelling solely for transit purposes through South Africa's international airports: O.R. Tambo - Johannesburg, Lanseria - Johannesburg, Cape Town and King Shaka - Durban. These passengers will be fingerprinted. Detailed information on the visa regime for foreigners and the requirements for issuing visas can be found at HERE.
IMPORTANT! In relation to the amendments to the South African Immigration Act, as of 01 October 2014, it is mandatory for all children under the age of 18 to present an English translated birth certificate containing the names of both parents upon entry, exit and transit into South Africa. The birth certificate or a copy of the birth certificate must be legalised with an Apostille and a certified English translation.
If the child is accompanied by only one parent, in addition to the birth certificate as described above, a notarised and legalised written consent from the missing parent for the child to travel to/out of South Africa, a copy of the missing parent's identity document and a contact telephone number must be presented. The English translation must be certified.
If the child is travelling accompanied by a third person or alone, in addition to the birth certificate, as described above, notarised and legalized declarations should be submitted - consent from both parents, a copy of their personal documents and a contact telephone number. For unaccompanied children, a letter from the person welcoming the child to South Africa with the address where the child will reside and a copy of the welcoming person's identity document must also be provided. Detailed and up-to-date information on immigration legislation can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of South Africa http://www.dha.gov.za/.
Consular service
The Consular Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria is open to citizens for the submission of applications for Bulgarian identity documents, visas and certification of documents from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 12:00, by appointment.
To receive ready documents - Monday to Friday from 13:30 to 14:30, without an appointment.
For information and to make an appointment, call any weekday from 14:00-16:00 +27 12 342 3720. You can also send your requests to e-mail [email protected] . In case of emergency and urgent cases during out-of-hours, holidays and weekends, Bulgarian citizens in crisis situation can contact the Consular Office at +2779 893 7336.
Civil status:
Bulgarian consular officers have the authority to carry out civil registration of Bulgarian citizens.
Birth certificate:
When a child with at least one Bulgarian parent is born in South Africa, the parent must obtain an unabridged birth certificate issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs. Once the document is received, it is legalised with an Apostille by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa (DIRCO).
The birth certificate with the Apostille should be submitted to the municipality of the mother's permanent address in Bulgaria or, if the mother is not a Bulgarian citizen, to the municipality of the father's permanent address. This can be done in person, through an authorised person or through the Embassy in Pretoria.
Death certificate:
In the event of the death of a Bulgarian citizen in South Africa, relatives should obtain an unabridged death certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa.
When the relatives of the deceased are in Bulgaria, the Embassy in Pretoria assists the local authorities in issuing the necessary document.
The document should be legalised with an Apostille by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa (DIRCO).
The death certificate, bearing the Apostille, shall be presented to the municipality of the permanent address in Bulgaria of the deceased Bulgarian citizen. This can be done in person — by the relatives of the deceased, or through the official channel - through the Embassy in Pretoria.
Conclusion of marriage:
South African law allows foreign nationals to marry local nationals and South African nationals to marry foreign nationals before an authorised representative of the South African Department of Home Affairs, provided certain conditions are met.
After the marriage, the Bulgarian citizen must obtain an unabridged marriage certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa.
The document should be legalised with an Apostille which is affixed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa (DIRCO).
The civil marriage certificate, bearing the Apostille, is presented to the municipality of the permanent address in Bulgaria of the person who has married a citizen of the Republic of South Africa. This can be done in person or officially - through the Embassy in Pretoria.
Detailed information on local authority requirements for the above documents is available at ТУК.
Certifications and legalizations:
The Consular Service at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria has the authority to provide limited notarial services, such as certification of signature and/or content on private documents (declarations, powers of attorney) that are not subject to registration.
If the document concerns immovable property, a certification of the signature and the contents and two originals of the text of the document are required, one of which is kept in the archives of the Consular Office.
The Consular Office can perform these services only if the document is in Bulgarian and is intended to serve before the competent authorities in the Republic of Bulgaria.
The conditions of Tariff No 3 on the fees to be charged for consular services in the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the State Fees Act shall apply with regard to the speed of the service - regular, fast or express order.
Documents issued by South African institutions are recognized in Bulgaria only when they or an annex thereto are stamped in original with an Apostille by the Consular Section of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa (telephone 012 351-1232). Documents issued in this way, accompanied by an Apostille, must be translated into Bulgarian. The translation is carried out by authorised translation agencies and shall be certified by the Certifications and Legalizations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. Alternatively, it can be done by one of the sworn translators at the Embassy, with the signature of the sworn translator being certified by the Consular Office.
The Consular Office with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Pretoria does not translate documents.
Documents issued by Bulgarian institutions are recognised in South Africa only if they or an annex to them bear an original Apostille stamp. In Bulgaria, an Apostille can be issued by the Department of Certifications and Legalisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice, depending on the document. The document must then be translated into English and the translation certified by the Certification and Legalisation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.