Türkiye
Last update 19 May 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Diplomatic Representations of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Türkiye
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ankara, The Republic of Türkiye
Address: Atatürk Bulvarı № 124, 06680 Kavıklıdere-Çankaya, Ankara, Republic of Türkiye
Telephone: +90 312 46 720 71; +90 427 5142
Fax: +90 312 468 69 56
Out-of-hours hotlines:
+ 90 312 467 20 71; + 90 312 427 51 42
Hours: Mon - Fri, 09.00 - 17.30 h
E-mail: [email protected]
Visiting hours for citizens: 08.00 - 12.00 h
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/turkey
Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Istanbul, The Republic of Türkiye
Address: Ahmet Adnan Saygun Cd. № 34, Ulus - 2.Levent, 34340, Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye
Telephone: +90 212 281 01 14; +90 212 281 01 15; +90 21 2281 01 16
Fax: +90 21 2264 10 11
Out-of-hours hotlines:
+ 90 212 281 01 14; + 90 212 281 01 15; + 90 212 281 01 16
+ 90 533 383 64 14 /mobile number/
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/en/embassies/turkeygc2
Consular Office in Bursa to the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Istanbul, The Republic of Türkiye
Address: Adalet Mah. "Aydın Sok" № 1, Osmangazi-BURSA, 16180, Türkiye
(Str "Aydin sokak", № 1, Osmangazi Municipality, district Adalet, 16180, Bursa)
Telephone: +90 224 245 55 00; +90 224245 56 00
Telephone (direct): +90 224 245 52 52
Fax: +90 224 245 55 09
Out-of-hours hotline: +90 533 4931289
Office hours: 09.00-12.00
E-mail: [email protected]
Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edirne, The Republic of Türkiye
We would like to inform the citizens that the Consular Department at the Consulate General in Edirne is working with a normal schedule, taking into account the situation regarding the pandemics of COVID-19 in the Republic of Türkiye. Working hours of the Consular Department are from 09:00 until 13:00 every working day from Monday to Friday.
The Consulate General provides consular services for the provinces of Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdag.
COVID-19 related restrictive measures for entering Türkiye can be found at the following address: https://www.mfa.bg/bg/covid19map/Asia/turkey.
Address: Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edirne, 146 Talat Pasha Blvd., Saricapasha, Edirne, 22030, Republic of Türkiye
Telephone: +90 2842140617
Fax: +90 2842148482
Е-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/turkeygc
Working hours: 09:00 - 17:30
Working hours of the Consular Service with citizens: 09:00 - 13:00
Out-of-hours hotline during working days: +90 533 7396140
Hotline during holidays: +90 533 6298164
Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Sofia
Address: Sofia, 80 “Vasil Levski” Blvd.
Telephone: +359 2 935 55 00
Fax: +359 2 981 93 58
Hours: 09:00 to 12:30 a.m., 14:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Plovdiv, the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 4000 Plovdiv, 10 “Philip Makedonski” str.
Telephone: +359 32 632309; +359 32 624010; +359 32 624020
Fax: +359 32 624839
Office hours: 09:00 to 12:30 a.m., 14:00 to 18:00 p.m.
Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Burgas, the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 8000 Burgas, 38 “Democracy” Blvd.
Telephone: +359 56 87 99 40, +359 56 87 99 50
Fax: +359 56 821700
Office hours: 09:00 to 12:30 am., 14:00 to 18:00 p.m
General information
(1.) Security level:
(2.) Healthcare:
(3.) Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
(4.) Customs requirements:
(5.) Traffic on roads:
(6.) Practical advice:
In case of theft of personal documents or vehicle, assistance from the nearest police station should be sought for documentation of the event.
It is advisable to respect local customs and traditions.
When visiting mosques shoes must be taken off, and women cover their heads and exposed body parts with a cloth. Men should not wear shorts (some larger and more famous mosques have provided covers for those who are not appropriately dressed).
Offensive words and actions with regard to the Turkish nation, national flag and the Republic’s founder - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - are considered a very serious offense.
Taking pictures with cameras and camcorders should be made only in tourist areas and in places where this is not expressly forbidden.
When entering the Republic of Türkiye for tourism, employment is prohibited. When such cases are discovered by the authorities, the citizens are subject to detention and forced expulsion from the country.
It is recommended that available foreign currency is exchanged in small amounts. Usually, currency is exchanged with no commission at exchange offices, banks or hotels. ATMs are available almost everywhere in the cities and they accept major credit and debit cards. Exchange rates are published daily in Turkish newspapers. If a large amount of currency needs to be exchanged or a major purchase with the exchanged currency needs to be made that will be declared at customs, it is necessary to preserve the document of the exchange, which is to serve as proof before the customs authorities on the legal origin of funds.
In case of a traffic accident, with or without victims, the car should not be moved until the arrival of traffic police. In these cases, a test for alcohol and testimony are taken from the participants and a report is compiled.
To use the insurance, it is necessary to request a copy of the alcohol test and the preliminary report. This can be done within three days after the incident at the local police station.
In case of injury or death, the other participants in the incident are taken to the nearest police station to make statements. In these cases, a Bulgarian citizen should asked that the nearest diplomatic mission of our country be informed of the accident.
(7.) Local currency:
(8.) Climatic characteristics:
(9.) Other:
Local currency
Turkish Lira (TRY)
Interesting facts
Türkiye is situated on the border between Europe and Asia. To the East, it has borders with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran, to the South – with Iraq and Syria, to the West – with Greece and to the North - with Bulgaria.
The country has a coastline on the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean seas and its climate is diverse - from temperate to Mediterranean in the south. In administrative terms, Türkiye is divided into 81 regions - vilayets. Regional governors (valiis) are employees of the Ministry of Interior of Türkiye.
The capital Ankara is located on the Ankara plateau in Central Northern Turkey and is the second largest city after Istanbul. Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents and the largest city in Türkiye: its population numbering over 12 million people, but it is assumed that the entire metropolis is inhabited by more than 20 million people.
Crime and security
Street thefts are common in the tourist areas of Türkiye. In big cities, especially Istanbul, it is advisable to avoid visits to the outer high-risk neighbourhoods.
Customs requirements
Upon entry into the country by car, it is necessary to produce the documents of the vehicle, a valid driving license, as well as international insurance (green card) valid for the corresponding period of stay in Turkey. If the vehicle is owned by a third party, an authorisation is required, accompanied by a certified translation into Turkish or English. Upon entry into the country, customs authorities place a stamp in the passport of the driver of the vehicle, which is crossed upon leaving.
Road traffic
Large cities in Türkiye are characterised by intense road traffic.
The urban public transport system is very well developed and apart from buses, there are taxis, route taxis, metro and marine lines.
The national road network of the country is in very good condition. Speed limits are being strictly adhered to: in non-urban areas - 90 km/h (for buses and vans - 80 km/h), on safe highways - 120 km/h (for buses and vans - 100 km/h), in settlements - 50 km/h
The highway from Edirne to Ankara uses a toll tax system. Toll tax is required for crossing the bridges over the Bosporus. Toll taxes are not paid in cash but by an electronic card (KGS) which must be purchased and filled with cash at the border or at the first counter point on the highway. Gas stations in Türkiye are regularly located along the main roads and easily accessible, many of them working around the clock. Fuel prices often vary even within a day but on average is about 4:32 to 4:45 Turkish Liras for unleaded petrol and 3.85 to 3.90 Turkish Liras for diesel
Travel papers and visas
As of 27.07.2022, Bulgarian citizens can enter the Republic of Türkiye with a valid ID card /without the need to present an international passport/ when traveling for transit or tourism purposes not exceeding 90 days within 180 days.
Those wishing to stay for a longer period should apply to local competent authorities for authorisation to extend their residence.
Prohibition of entry into Türkiye for a period of one year is imposed on Bulgarian nationals who have remained in the country for more than three months without being duly authorised.
Visits of cultural workers, scientists and journalists
Visits of non-accredited Bulgarian journalists in Türkiye, of filmmakers, archaeologists, scientists wishing to conduct research that is the purpose of professional occupation, can perform their activities after obtaining a visa, pursuant to the “General principles relating to foreigners wishing to develop scientific or research activities or to shoot a film in Türkiye, and to those who apply on their behalf, or members of the press”, adopted by Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Türkiye № 88/12839 of 04.04.1988.
Conditions for employment and permanent residence
Bulgarian citizens who go to work in Türkiye or for training purposes are not exempt from visa requirements. They still need to obtain work visas from Turkish representations abroad.
Applications for residence permits should be submitted to the local police station within 30 days after arrival in Türkiye. Candidates are required to submit a work permit, work visa or study visa and an application, and to justify the grounds for their request of permanent residence (employment, education, marriage to a Turkish citizen, etc.).
After obtaining the residence permit, entry and exit of the Republic of Türkiye can be performed repeatedly within the validity period of authorisation. If an extension of validity or renewal of the residence permit is required, this needs to be done before the expiry of the permit.
Competitive service
Certification and Legalisation
For recognition in Bulgaria of a public document issued by a foreign country and vice versa, for a Bulgarian public document to be recognised in another country, the documents must be translated and provided with an “Apostille” under the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents done at The Hague on October 5, 1961, to which both Bulgaria and Türkiye are signatories. The translation must be performed by a sworn translator and his/her signature needs to be certified.
Issurance of Bulgarian identity documents
Every Bulgarian citizen residing in the country may apply at the Embassy in Ankara, Consulate General in Istanbul and Consulate General in Bursa for a passport, identity card or a temporary passport.
The Consulate General in Edirne is temporarily not accepting applications for the issuance of new passports, due to lack of technical equipment for the collection of biometric data - fingerprints and photographs. Applications for the issuance of ID cards or driving licenses issued without biometrics are accepted.