Updated on 05/10/2026
Regardless of how you entered Bulgaria, by law you have a right to stay in the country as soon as you apply for asylum.
Important! Persons who have been granted temporary protection in Bulgaria are also entitled to apply for international protection. Find out more here.
Important! As of 12 June 2026, new rules on the international protection procedure apply in the European Union. They form part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. For applications lodged on or after this date, the main rules governing the procedure are set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1348. Applications lodged before 12 June 2026 continue to be examined under the previous rules laid down in Directive 2013/32/EU.
How do I apply for international protection?
You can apply for international protection by personally informing a competent state authority that you wish to seek international protection.
If the official is unsure whether what you have said means that you wish to seek international protection, they must explicitly ask you whether you wish to receive such protection.
You do not need to use the exact words “application for international protection”. What matters is that you clearly express your wish to seek protection.
Where can I express my wish to seek international protection?
In Bulgaria, the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers (SAR) is the authority responsible for examining applications for international protection and making decisions on them.
However, you may also express your wish to seek international protection to other competent state authorities, such as the Border Police and staff at immigration detention centres.
These authorities must accept your declaration and inform you where and how to lodge your application.
What happens after I say that I want protection?
The new rules distinguish between three stages:
- Making an application – you personally express your wish to seek international protection.
- Registration of the application.
- Lodging the application in accordance with the established procedure.
In some cases, the state may arrange for these three steps to take place simultaneously.
When must my application be registered?
Your application must be registered without delay and no later than 5 days after you have expressed your wish to seek international protection.
In certain exceptional circumstances, for example when a very large number of applications are made within a short period, special rules may apply to the organisation of registration and lodging.
Do I have to submit a written application?
As a general rule, the application must be lodged in person with the competent authority.
Once your application has been registered, you should be informed when and where you need to lodge it.
As a general rule, the application must be lodged as soon as possible and no later than 21 days after registration. The authorities must give you a genuine opportunity to do so.
What should my application contain?
When lodging your application, you should provide all available documents and information that may help establish your identity and enable the authorities to examine your application.
Tell the authorities why you are afraid to return to your country and what might happen to you there.
If you have any documents, photographs, messages, medical records, court documents or other evidence that supports your account, submit them.
If you do not have any documents, this does not prevent you from seeking international protection.
Will I receive a document confirming that I have lodged an application?
Yes. After registration, the competent authorities must provide you with a document issued in your name confirming that you have made and registered an application for international protection.
The document must also state the date of registration.
Keep this document safe. You may need it to prove that you are an applicant for international protection and to exercise your rights.
Will I receive a registration card?
Once you have been registered, you will receive a registration card explicitly stating your right to remain in the country. It contains your photograph and your personal identification number as a foreign national in Bulgaria.
Carry your registration card with you at all times.
Your rights as an asylum seeker
Once you are registered as an asylum seeker, you have:
- The right to free accommodation
Read more:
- The right to an attorney and legal aid
Learn more:
- The right to work in Bulgaria
Find out more:
- The right to medical care
Under the law, the SAR has the obligation to cover your health insurance until you are granted international protection.
- The right to enroll your children in Bulgarian state or municipal schools
SAR also offers Bulgarian language courses.
Issues with the application process
In practice, the law is not always implemented smoothly.
If you have entered the country without official permission, you might be treated as an irregular immigrant (detained for forced return) until your application is registered by SAR. For proof of your application, request a reference number when you submit your application.
What if I am not registered within the statutory time limit?
If your application was submitted to SAR and you haven’t been registered within the statutory time limit, you have the right to file a lawsuit. You can file a lawsuit against the head of SAR.
If your application was submitted through another body (such as a detention officer) and you haven’t been registered within the statutory time limit, you can file a lawsuit.
You will need legal assistance to file the lawsuit.
If criminal charges are brought against you
According to Article 279(5) of the Bulgarian Criminal Code, border crossing is not a criminal offence if you are crossing to seek asylum (protection).
If criminal charges are brought against you for an illegal border crossing, you can refer to Article 279(5) when standing trial before a judge and refuse to plead guilty.