Security level:

The Israeli state maintains strict security measures in relation to its residents. Low crime rate. The most frequently committed crimes are related to car thefts in certain areas of the country.
In the current situation, the Embassy recommends Bulgarian citizens not to travel to the areas located near the borders with the Gaza Strip, Syria and Lebanon, due to the danger of sporadic rocket fire. It should be borne in mind that parts of the Golan Heights have been mined.
In connection with the possibility of incidents of violence and terrorism, Bulgarian citizens should be especially vigilant when traveling to the city of Sofia. Jerusalem, especially in the area of the Old City and the Temple Mount. At this stage, other risky destinations in the country and on the territories of the West Bank, as well as visits to public places where a large number of people gather, should also be avoided.

Due to security measures, movement and assistance by consular officials in the West Bank territories may be restricted.

Crisis response:

Bulgarian citizens who are on the territory of Israel should familiarize themselves in advance and strictly follow the recommendations of the Israeli authorities in crisis situations:

https://www.oref.org.il/en

Healthcare:

Israel is among the most developed countries in the field of medicine. Persons traveling to Israel are not subject to mandatory vaccinations. It is highly recommended to take out international health insurance.

Specifics of the local legislation:

Israel is a parliamentary republic with a separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial. The state does not have a codified constitution, but basic laws. The President has protocol functions. The Parliament (Knesset) is the legislative body. Military service is compulsory for all Israeli citizens (men and women). Every person of Jewish origin has the right to obtain Israeli citizenship, in accordance with the requirements of the Israeli Citizenship Law.
Marriage in the country can only be religious.

Customs requirements:

The current customs requirements of the country can be found here:

https://www.gov.il/en/pages/guide-tourist-customs

Road traffic:

The traffic on the roads in Israel is analogous to the traffic in Bulgaria. The maximum speed allowed on highways is 110 km/h, and in populated areas - 50 km/h.
Due to the geographical location of the State of Israel and the security measures in the country, the entry and travel of Bulgarian tourists by private car is unlikely. However, it could take place through some border crossings between Israel and Jordan, as well as through the port cities of Haifa and Eilat.
Vignettes and other mandatory fees can be paid at border crossings within their working hours.
In addition to complying with the requirements for entering the country, the driver of the vehicle must have a valid driver's license. The vehicle should not be attached and not under seizure. In case the driver of the car is different from the owner, it is required to present a duly certified notarized power of attorney translated into English. The same requirement applies to the registration card of the car.

Taking out travel insurance for the duration of your stay in Israel is mandatory, and the insurance policy is directly linked to possible future penalties for traffic violations.

Practical advice:

Due to the geographical location of the State of Israel and the security measures in the country, it is unlikely that Bulgarian tourists will enter and travel by private car. Entry by private car into Israel could be through some checkpoints along the borders with Egypt and Jordan. Tourist entry by private car can also be accomplished by water through the port cities of Haifa and Eilat. Vignette and other mandatory fees can be purchased at border crossing points during working hours. In addition to meeting the basic requirements for entering the country, it is necessary that the driver of the vehicle has a valid driving licence, the vehicle is not towed and is not under distraint. In case the driver of the car is different from the owner, a power of attorney from the owner is required — certified and translated into English, the same condition applies to the car registration certificate. Taking out insurance at the border for the duration of your stay in Israel is compulsory, and the insurance policy is directly linked to any possible future penalties for violation of traffic regulations.

Local currency:

Travel papers and visa requirements

Requirements for admission of foreign citizens to the territory of Israel:

A visa-free regime has been established between the Republic of Bulgaria and the State of Israel, according to which holders of valid Bulgarian passports have the opportunity to transit, enter and reside on the territory of Israel for up to 90 days within a total of 6 months. Entry into the country for the purpose of long-term residence or employment may be permitted through the issuance of a visa.
The main requirements for admission to the territory of Israel are:
- From 1 August 2024: availability of prior electronic authorisation
- The passport must be valid min. 6 months from the planned date of Israel's departure
- Availability of a valid reservation for a hotel or other place to stay for the entire period of stay
- Availability of a valid reservation for a return flight
- Availability of sufficient financial means (credit/debit cards or cash)

- In some cases: the presence of other documents proving the purpose of the trip (e. g. invitation from a friend, business invitation, business trip, etc. )
Please note that invitations from persons residing in Israel who do not possess Israeli citizenship are not considered valid grounds for visiting the country.

Persons residing in other countries in the Middle East region could be subject to a more thorough check by border authorities.

Mandatory obtaining of prior electronic permission:

From July 1, 2024, Israel introduces a system for obtaining a preliminary electronic permit to enter the country (ETA-IL), which is issued to citizens of all countries with which Israel has an established visa-free regime (including Bulgaria). In the period July 1-31, 2024, travelers could request and receive the electronic permit free of charge.
From August 1, 2024, obtaining a preliminary electronic permit is mandatory and the fee for its issuance is 25 NIS (approx. BGN 12.50). The need for an electronic permit to enter the country is not related to the age of the applicant.
The issued electronic permit has a validity period of up to 2 years or until the date of validity of the person's passport. In the event of a change in the applicant's data relating to name or nationality, the person should submit a new application.

The permitted period of visa-free stay in Israel based on the electronic permit is up to 90 days.
The electronic authorisation can be requested on the following webpage:

https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il

In case of technical problems, applicants can contact the Support Center at the following email address: [email protected] 

An electronic permit is not provided for:
- persons who travel to Israel for official or official purposes and use diplomatic or service passports]
- persons holding a valid seafarer's book/seafarer's passport and crossing a non-maritime border for official purposes (joining a ship);
- aircraft crew members requested by the relevant airline operating flights to Israel.

Preliminary check for access to the territory of Israel:

Bulgarian citizens who have resided legally in Israel and have worked in agriculture, industry, construction, elderly care and other services can visit Israel only after making sure they meet the requirements set out by the local authorities in the Foreign Workers’ Rights Handbook, which can be found at:
https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/generalpage/foreign_workers_rights_booklets/he/foreign_workers_handbook_2022_bul.pdf
In cases where the above categories of persons do not meet the requirements of local labour migration legislation, the persons are not admitted to the territory of the State of Israel.
Several groups of Bulgarian citizens are required to carry out a preliminary check through the Embassy of Israel in Sofia whether they will be admitted to the territory of Israel before undertaking the trip:
• persons who have resided illegally in Israel;
• persons who have been expelled from Israel;
• persons who have been denied entry to Israel in the past;
• persons who are travelling to visit a foreign worker in Israel or are relatives of foreign workers in Israel;
•persons who have already worked in Israel.

A refusal of access to the territory of Israel:

Refusal of access to the territory of Israel can be issued both through the system for obtaining a preliminary electronic authorization and by the Israeli border crossing authorities after assessing all the circumstances of the particular case (e. g. establishing a contradiction in the requested data, circumstances or purpose of travel).
In case of detention of a person at the border checkpoint, the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria has the opportunity to provide assistance by providing additional information and establishing contact with relatives of the person. The embassy does not have the authority to cancel a refusal by the Israeli authorities to access the territory of the country.
If the Israeli border crossing authorities refuse access to the territory of Israel, the person is returned with the first possible flight to the country of his permanent residence.In the absence of such a flight for a period longer than 24 hours, the person is accommodated in a temporary detention center with food and accommodation provided until the time of the next possible flight.

The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria has no power to change the refusal issued by the Israeli border authorities:

After being denied access to the territory of Israel, the persons are returned on the first flight to their country of permanent residence. In the absence of such a flight for a period of more than 24 hours, the persons shall be accommodated in a temporary detention centre with food and accommodation until the time of their departure on the next available flight to their country of permanent residence.
Information on the rights of illegal residents in Israel can be found here: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/units/repatriation_unit

Requirements for citizens visiting the territories under the administration of the Palestinian Authority:

The current regime for access to territories under mixed or exclusive administrative administration of the Palestinian Authority includes the following rules:
- Citizens wishing to visit Israel and the territories can enter through Ben Gurion Airport in accordance with the general requirements;
- Citizens wishing to visit only the territories should use the King Hussein/Allenby border crossing (border crossing between Jordan and Israel). Access to the territories along this route requires a specific permit, which should be requested between 48 hours and 45 days in advance, depending on its type. More information about this procedure can be found here:

https://www.gov.il/en/pages/judeaentry2022

If there are any questions related to gaining access to the territories, we advise Bulgarian citizens to contact the Embassy of Israel in Sofia.

All Bulgarian citizens present on the territory of the Gaza Strip can voluntarily register their passport details and contact telephone numbers, which will be used in case of humanitarian emergency.
For registration our compatriots can contact the Diplomatic Mission of Bulgaria in Ramallah:

Address: Al Kawtar st. VIP Center 2 floor, Al Bireh - Ramallah, Palestine National Authority
Telephone: +970 2 24 13 143
Fax: +970 2 241 3144
Out-of-hours hotline: +972 56 941 52 60
Working hours: 08:00 – 15:00
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Website: http://www.mfa.bg/embassies/palestina
 
Registration can also be made at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tel Aviv at the following e-mail address: [email protected] and by phone from 9:00 to 17:30: + 972 3 696 13 78 from 9:00 to 9:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30: + 972 3 696 13 61.

Travelling of children under 18 years of age:

Persons under 18 years of age traveling without their parents should present a notarial declaration of consent of both parents and a birth certificate with an apostille stamp.
If there is a declaration from only one parent, an additional supporting document (e. g. a court decision) is required.
More information can be obtained from the Embassy of Israel in Sofia.

Certifications and legalizations:

The Consular Office with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria provides limited services related to certifications and legalizations, such as certification of signatures on declarations and powers of attorney, etc., certification of the contents of powers of attorney authorising sale or purchase of immovable property, certification of the copy of documents issued by Bulgarian institutions, ‘true copy’ certification of documents legalized and translated into Bulgarian issued by local institutions. The Consular Office may certify documents submitted by foreign citizens only if the document is intended to have its effect on the territory of Bulgaria.
Documents issued by the Israeli state authorities may be used in Bulgaria after obtaining an Apostille stamp from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a notarized translation into Bulgarian.
Translation into Bulgarian can be done by translation companies in the Republic of Bulgaria offering legalized translations from Hebrew.
The Bulgarian Embassy in Israel does not provide translation of documents.

Request and receipt of Bulgarian identity documents:

Bulgarian citizens who wish to obtain Bulgarian identity documents should apply in person to the Consular Office.
The application form is available at the Consular Office. It must be completed legibly in Bulgarian. Applications for Bulgarian identity documents for children under 18 years of age must be signed in person by both parents in front of the Consul.
For the issuance of Bulgarian identity documents the following must be presented:
• application form;
• birth certificate;
• previous Bulgarian passport and Bulgarian identity card;
• certificate or court decision certifying changes in the name due to marriage, divorce — only when there is a change in the name of the person;
• police report — in cases of stolen or lost identity document.

When applying for Bulgarian identity documents for the first time, the person must also submit the following additional documents:
• a certificate of Bulgarian citizenship;
• an application for a permanent address in Bulgaria.
 
The procedure for issuance of Bulgarian identity documents takes two to three months.
Obligation to return Bulgarian identity documents which validity has expired and to declare stolen, lost or damaged documents
Bulgarian citizens whose identity documents have been stolen, lost or damaged are obliged to immediately notify the Consular Office of the Embassy. In the event of theft, a police report must be submitted. Bulgarian passports must be handed in to the Consular Office within three months of expiry, and identity cards within one month of expiry. Failure to do so will result in a fine.

Civil status:

Birth of a Child of a Bulgarian Citizen in Israel
In case of birth in Israel of a child of which both or at least one parent is a Bulgarian citizen, the parents must notify the Consular Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Israel.
Within one year from the birth of the child, the birth certificate issued by the Israeli Ministry of Interior, bearing an Apostille stamp and certified translation into Bulgarian, should be sent to the municipality of the permanent address of the mother or of the parent who is a Bulgarian citizen.

Fees:

Certifications and legalizations:
Certification of signature — 63 shekels (documents are processed within one working day)
Certification of signature and content of the document — 63 + 126 shekels and an additional fee of 63 shekels for each subsequent page (two originals are required)
All fees are payable at the Consular Office by credit card only /no AMERICAN EXPRESS/.