Consular help in an emergency abroad

In an emergency abroad, first call the local emergency services (in the EU — 112), then the nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate. The Foreign Ministry’s Situation Centre takes reports of disasters and crises 24/7: +359 2 948 24 04, +359 2 971 38 56, +359 893 339 616, [email protected].

Situation Centre

24/7

+359 2 948 24 04

temporary passport

€50

fast €75, express €100

if no Bulgarian one

any EU mission

in non-EU countries

What the mission can and cannot do

Arrest

Ask straight away for the Bulgarian embassy to be informed. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations local authorities notify the mission only if you ask them to; say clearly whether your family should be told. The consul has the right to visit you and write to you.

The mission takes no part in the case, but can help you find a reliable local lawyer — at your family’s expense. It checks that human rights and minimum international standards are respected. Under certain conditions a sentenced person can be transferred to serve the sentence in Bulgaria.

Illness and accidents

Medical care is provided by local services. Before travelling, get a European Health Insurance Card and travel medical insurance. After a road accident, ask the police for a report and take the details of everyone involved. The mission can help with evidence for legal claims but does not cover costs.

Theft, lost documents and money

• Report it to the local police and get a document confirming the report.
• Block your bank cards by calling the issuing bank.
• If you have no other travel document, the mission issues a temporary passport: €50, fast service within 8 working hours — €75, express within 4 working hours — €100. You apply in person; for a child, both parents attend or give notarised consent.
• If a bank or postal transfer is not possible, relatives can pay money into the Foreign Ministry in Sofia and the mission pays it out to you. The ministry does this only in extremely urgent cases, not to extend a holiday or for shopping.

Death of a relative

The mission informs the family and helps with contacts for funeral agencies. Repatriation is done only by licensed agencies and entirely at the family’s expense. If the family cannot pay directly, they can pay the money into the Foreign Ministry and the embassy transfers it. Some countries allow a public burial — for this, relatives in the direct line sign a notarised declaration and send the original to the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Relations Directorate.

Disasters, conflicts and evacuation

Register your trip with the mission or on the Foreign Ministry’s website and give a contact person in Bulgaria. Follow the instructions of local authorities and the mission; prepare water, food, medicines and documents. Evacuation is voluntary. If you cannot pay the costs at once, you can ask for money for repatriation on condition that you repay it.

If there is no Bulgarian embassy in the country

Outside the EU, any EU citizen whose country is not represented there can turn to the embassy or consulate of any other EU country. Help is given on the same terms as to its own citizens — after an arrest, accident, crime, death or for evacuation. It can also issue an EU Emergency Travel Document with the Bulgarian authorities’ approval; the fee is set by the issuing country.