Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Last updated:  [05/16/23] COVID-19 Information Update on Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for nonimmigrant travel As of 12:01 a.m. EDT on May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. Please ... Read More»

Worldwide Caution: Al-Qa’ida Leader’s Death

On July 31, 2022, the United States conducted a precision counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s deputy and successor as leader of al-Qa’ida. Al- Zawahiri was one of the masterminds of the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, and had continued to urge his followers to attack ... Read More»

Health Alert – U. S. Embassy Sofia (29 June 2022)

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia (June 29, 2022) Location: Countrywide Event: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Monkeypox in Multiple Countries . Actions to take: Travelers should AVOID: Close contact with sick people, including those with skin lesions or genital lesions. Contact with dead or live ... Read More»

Demonstration Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria (June 21, 2022)

Location: Sofia Event: As reported in the news and media, numerous political protests are expected to occur in Sofia during the coming days in relation to the developing political situation in Bulgaria. These protests have the potential to block major routes and intersections in the center of the city, particularly near the government buildings near ... Read More»

Demonstration Activity in Sofia

Protest: A protest is expected to occur across the street from the U.S. Embassy on Saturday, June 18th, starting at approximately 1300.  Twenty to thirty people are expected to protest Bulgaria’s involvement with NATO. Event:  All U. S. citizens and their families are recommended to avoid the areas impacted by demonstration activities for the duration of ... Read More»

Health Alert – The CDC Rescinds Testing Order for Air Travel to United States

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia (June 11, 2022) Location: Countrywide Event: As of June 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) order requiring all persons to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States, is rescinded. Starting at 12:01 a.m. on ... Read More»

Message for U.S. Citizens: Launch of Passport Renewal Online Fee Payment Program

The Department of State/U.S. Mission to Bulgaria is pleased to announce the launch of an online payment program for adult passport renewal for U.S. citizens resident in Bulgaria. Qualified applicants will no longer need to make an interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy. Effective June 5, 2022, passport applicants wishing to pay for their DS-82 ... Read More»

Demonstration Alert: U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria (May 18, 2022)

Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Event: Various groups from the transportation sector are planning peaceful demonstrations in and around the city of Sofia on Wednesday, 18 May 2022, which are expected to lead to significant traffic congestion and delays throughout the city tomorrow morning and afternoon. Taxi drivers are expected to gather in the morning in Boyana ... Read More»

Demonstration Alert: U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria (May 11, 2022)

Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Event: Nationwide strikes by truck drivers and transport companies are expected to cause disruptions to traffic in major cities across Bulgaria (Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv) in the coming week. While not expected to be violent, these protests have the potential to block major routes and highways inside, and approaching, the major ... Read More»

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria (May 4, 2022)

Location: Bulgaria Event: Health Alert: End of COVID-19 entry restrictions into Bulgaria as of May 1, 2022 As of May 1, 2022, the Government of Bulgaria ended all COVID-19 entry restrictions into Bulgaria. Travelers arriving to Bulgaria no longer need to provide COVID-19 related documents to enter the country. Please note that all other requirements ... Read More»

Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria

Location:  Bulgaria Event:  Bulgarian Parliament extends the validity of Bulgarian identity documents for 6 months.  On November 6, 2020, the Bulgarian National Assembly amended the State of Emergency Act to extend the validity of expiring Bulgarian identity documents, including residency cards for foreigners.  Identity documents expiring before January 21, 2021, will remain valid for a period of six months past their expiration ... Read More»

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia – Join Ambassador Mustafa for a Town Hall Meeting

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria (March 29, 2020) Location:  Bulgaria Event:  Join Ambassador Mustafa on Facebook live Monday, March 30, for a Town Hall Meeting Ambassador Mustafa will hold a virtual town hall meeting for American citizens in Bulgaria on Monday at 3 pm on Facebook.  She will discuss the current situation regarding COVID-19 ... Read More»

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria

Restriction of Movement in Public Spaces and on Travel to Larger Cities in Bulgaria   On March 20, 2020, the Government of Bulgaria issued additional counter-epidemic measures throughout the Republic Bulgaria effective from 00:00 hours on 03/21/2020 (midnight 3/20/2020): Prohibition of visits to any parks, city gardens, sports and city playgrounds and establishments located in ... Read More»

Protest Activity in Sofia: September 11th -13th

Location: Protests are expected to occur in downtown Sofia throughout the remainder of the week at the following locations: · On Wednesday, September 11, beginning at 5pm, demonstrations are expected in the city center, near the Council of Ministers (Independence Square), by protestors supporting the election of the new Chief Prosecutor. · On Wednesday, September ... Read More»

Demonstration Alert

March 21, 2019 Location: Beginning at the 7th kilometer of Tsarigradsko Shose, along Tsarigradsko Shose to Eagles’ Bridge and onward to the area of St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral and Square. Event: A demonstration, specifically a motorcade protest, is expected to take place on Thursday, March 21, 2019, beginning at 3 P.M. The Sofia Drivers Initiative Committee ... Read More»

Security Alert

Location:  Bulgaria, countrywide Event:  During the holiday season, there are ongoing threats posed by transnational terrorist organizations and individuals inspired by extremist ideology throughout Europe, including in Bulgaria. Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations such as Christmas holiday markets, shopping malls, airports, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, transportation hubs, and other soft targets frequented ... Read More»

Anti-Corruption Protest Downtown

June 14, 2017 U.S. Embassy Sofia informs U.S. citizens that on Wednesday, June 14, organizers from “Justice for Everyone” and “For the Nature” will be staging a protest downtown at the Palace of Justice.  The protest organizers have petitioned Sofia Municipality and will be allowed to gather between the hours of 18:30 to 20:00.  Traffic ... Read More»
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