Additional measures to deal with the coronavirus emergency were announced on 16 March in a Bill of Measures during the State of Emergency (the ‘Act’). They include measures to assist residence permit holders who are unable to renew their documentation, or who are absent from Bulgaria as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The term of validity of the following types of residence permit IDs or certificates which expire between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2020 shall be extended for six more months:

• prolonged residence certificates issued to EU or EEA nationals, Swiss nationals or third-country nationals granted free movement under international treaties;
• permanent residence certificates issued to issued to EU or EEA nationals, Swiss nationals or third-country nationals granted free movement under international treaties;
• long-term residence permit IDs issued to a third-country national;
• permanent residence permit ID issued to a third-country national;
• permanent residence permit IDs issued to a family member of a Bulgarian national;
• prolonged residence permit IDs issued to a family member of an EU national who has not exercised the right to free movement;
• permanent residence permit IDs issued to a family member of an EU national who has not exercised the right to free movement;
• prolonged residence permit IDs issued to the partner or family members supported by or part of the household of an EU national;
• permanent residence permit IDs issued to the partner or family members supported by or part of the household of a family member of an EU national;
• prolonged residence ID cards issued to the family member of an EU or EEA national or Swiss national or third-country national granted free movement under international treaties;
• permanent residence ID cards issued to a family member of an EU or EEA national or Swiss national or third-country national granted free movement under international treaties.

In addition, pursuant to the Act, if a third-country national fails to submit an application for the renewal of their prolonged residence permit within the statutory 14 days prior to the permit’s expiry date, their residence will not be deemed interrupted for the duration of the state of emergency. If their current prolonged residence permit expires during the state of emergency, the foreign national will be permitted to enter Bulgaria without a visa.

Lastly, any absence of a long-term or permanent residence permit holder from the territory of the EU member states for the duration of the state of emergency will not count towards the 12 months of permitted absence (which, if exceeded could lead to permit annulment).

At the time of writing the Bill has not yet become law but it is anticipated this will happen imminently.