Compulsory 14-day quarantine for arrivals from the UK Bulgaria Lifts

The Bulgarian authorities have agreed to lift the mandatory two-week quarantine for arrivals from the United Kingdom, the government of Bulgaria has declared.

Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev urged the Directors of Regional Health Inspectorates to repeal the Quarantine Rules for persons arriving in Bulgaria from the United Kingdom between 2 July and 15 July, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.

As of 16 July, Bulgaria has also abolished the 14-day compulsory quarantine and PCR examination provision for individuals arriving from some third countries, such as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican City State.

For arrivals from Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and the Ukraine, the current exemptions may also apply.

Individuals arriving in Bulgaria from the Member States of the European Union (with the exception of Sweden and Portugal), the United Kingdom and the countries of the Schengen Zone are not expected to be screened for coronavirus, nor are they required to go through quarantine.

Arrivals from Sweden and Portugal, as well as from countries not mentioned above, are required to send a document confirming a negative PCR test result not exceeding 72 hours after their arrival in Bulgaria.

Citizens of Northern Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro will be able to pass through Bulgaria in order to return to their countries, according to the latest Bulgarian government announcement.

The rule also extends to third-country nationals and their family members who have a long-term residency permit in any Member State of the European Union, in the United Kingdom or in the Schengen Country.

Earlier this week, Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgaria's foreign minister, stated that the EU must fight together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, but must not allow its internal borders to be closed again during an official visit to Prague/Prague.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Health agreed last month to put an end to the compulsory quarantine for all persons coming from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco and the Vatican City State in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian government lifted the entry ban on citizens of the countries of the European Union and the Schengen Region, including Andorra, San Marino and the Vatican City, on 22 May. As part of the country's attempts to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus epidemic, the entry ban was enforced.