Reception & Accommodation
If the refugees cannot meet their basic living and household needs through their own funds, they can contact the Border Authorities at the border checkpoint – they will be directed and transported to a hotel designated by the authorities, which will provide them with accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for a period which is currently determined to be up to 3 months (until 31.05.2022).
List of places for temporary accommodation (both free of charge and paid options): https://ukraine.gov.bg/properties-list/
Hotline: 02 905–5555; +380 322-465-075
Right to Stay
Temporary protection is granted for a period of one year (as from 24.02.2022) with the option of extension twice by 6 months each time.
Allowance for Refugees
No allowances are paid directly to the refugees. However, hotels and other places of accommodation (such as dormitories, state and municipal bases, rest stations, etc.) which accommodate refugees with temporary protection status and which are registered either in the National Tourist Register or in the Register of Accommodation Places receive allowances of BGN 40 per day (for sleeping, accommodation and food – breakfast, lunch, dinner). The measure is in force for 3 months after entering the country.
Refugees who have requested access to the Labour Market will also be able to take advantage of free hotel accommodation and other accommodation places entered in the National Tourist Register, for which hotel owners will receive BGN 40 per day (for sleeping, accommodation, and food – breakfast, lunch, dinner). The measure is in force for 1 month after the request for access to the labour market.
No toll/vignette is charged for a motor vehicle with an Ukrainian registration number.
Social Protection
Emergency medical help is granted to all refugees. In the case of an emergency, people can call 112. List of hospitals and doctors offering free medical care to Ukrainian refugees: https://ukraine.gov.bg/bg/get-medical-help/
Refugees from vulnerable groups – children under 18, unaccompanied children, pregnant women, single parents with minors, the elderly, and people with disabilities, serious health problems, mental disorders, victims of trafficking or torture, rape, or other severe forms of violence – have the right to full medical care as that of Bulgarian citizens. Children with incomplete immunization status have to be fully vaccinated according to the Bulgarian immunization calendar in order to be able to attend school, kindergarten and nursery.
Opportunity to receive:
- one-time social assistance up to BGN 375;
- one-time social assistance for issuing an ID card;
- monthly social assistance – compulsory 4 hours of community service for a period of 14 days monthly;
- special-purpose heating aid (from 1 July to 31 October)
Schooling
Children under the age of 6 have the right to be admitted to kindergarten, and above that age – to school. Depending on the age, the completed class / group, the location, and the desire of the parents, the refugee children and students are redirected to a specific educational institution. Parents must fill in and submit to the Regional Institutions an application stating the child’s mother tongue, whether s/he speaks to some extent Bulgarian or any other European languages, and where and which class s/he has graduated from in the home country. Depending on the age of the children, a certain number of classes on the Bulgarian language is provided. Hotline: 0800 16 111.
Access to Employment Market & Self-Employment
Once the temporary protection has been granted (meaning that a refugee card has been issued), a refugee covered by temporary protection can work in Bulgaria without obtaining a work permit. Persons with temporary protection status can register as jobseekers with the Labour Office Directorate at their permanent or current address.
Job offers: https://ukraine.gov.bg/bg/job-dashboard/
Family Reunification
Family members are the following persons:
- spouses and registered partners
- minor unmarried children of a refugee or of the spouse or registered partner
- other close relatives, for example relatives who were living in the same household at the time of the expulsion and who are wholly or mostly dependent on the refugee