Australia
Last update 05 April 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Australia
Address: 29 Pindary Crescent str., O’Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606
Postal Address: P.O. Box 6096 Mawson, ACT 2607 Canberra, Australia
Telephone: +612 62869711; +612 62869700
Fax: +612 62869600
Out-of-hours hotline:+614 07 414 825
Office hours: 09.00 - 17.30 h
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/australia
Accredited to Bulgaria is the Australian Embassy in Athens.
Embassy of Australia in Athens
Address: Level 6, Thon Building, Corner Kifisias and Alexandras Avenue, Ambelokipi, Athens 115 23, Greece
Postal Address: PO Box 14070, Ambelokipi, Athens 11510
Telephone: +30 210 870 4000
Fax: +30 210 870 4055
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.greece.embassy.gov.au
Honorary consul of Australia in Bulgaria
Mme Indiana TRIFONOVA
Chancellerie: 1504 Sofia, 37, rue Trakia
Tél.: +359 2 946 13 34
Fax: +359 2 946 17 04
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
General information
Local currency
Australian Dollar (AUD)
1 AUD = 0.75 EUR
1 AUD = 0.99 USD
Crime and security
In Australia the level of crime is relatively low.
The threats are mainly related to natural disasters such as fires and floods.
Legal specifics
Australian law system is based on common law applied in the United Kingdom. It differs from the civil law system applied in Europe mainly in that the judges in their decisions are based on precedents created by judicial decisions in similar cases.
Road traffic
Traffic in Australia operates on the left side of the road. Some traffic rules are different and visitors should be aware of that before their arrival in the country. Bulgarian driving license can be used for 3 months after arriving in Australia. Along with it, Bulgarian citizens should have an international driving license and passport. Permanent residents in the country should have an Australian driver's license.
Healthcare
The level of health care is very high. Hospitals recognize international insurances or payment is made in cash on the spot.
Climate
The climate differs in various regions of the country, and in most areas it is desert and semi-desert. The south-eastern and south-western regions are dominated by a temperate climate, and in the northern parts the climate is tropical and subtropical.
Travel papers and visas
When travelling to Australia visitors need a passport with minimum validity of six months after the date of entry, as well as entry visa.
There are several types of Australian visas issued to nationals of certain countries.
Bulgarian citizens can apply for visa when the purpose of visit is tourism (vacation, holidays, visiting relatives or friends) or business (attendance at conferences, negotiations or exploratory business trip) through the eVisitor system, i.e. electronically (visa subclass 651). This visa allows multiple entries and stay in Australia for up to 3 months on each entry within 12 months from the date of issue. The visa is free of charge. Applications shall be made through the website of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Australia (for more information check HERE) without having to send the passport to the Australian diplomatic or consular representation. Upon approval no visa is placed in the passport, in which case the Bulgarian citizen must only present his/her passport when entering Australia.
There is another type of tourist visa (subclass 676), the application for which is both electronic (e676) and by mail or by personal visit to the consular office. This visa entitles one or several entries in the country for a stay of up to 3, up to 6 or up to 12 months. The number of entries and authorised stay depend on the purpose of the visit and the personal circumstances of the applicant. The cost of issuance is 110 Australian dollars. Upon entry into Australia with this type of visa, extension of the authorised stay may be requested.
Both types of visas do not give the right to work in Australia.
Visas are not issued at the airport.
The visa issuing institution is the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Bulgarian citizens with ordinary, diplomatic or official passports are exempted from the requirement to hold transit visa for airport stay of up to eight hours without leaving the airport. For stay of up to 72 hours transit visa is required.
The visa issuance procedure (without eVisitor) for Bulgarian citizens is carried out by the Embassy of Australia in Athens.
New visa pricing for Australia is operative from 1 July 2013:
The following changes shall take effect:
- Fee for additional applicant – this fee will be charged for each additional applicant and added to the combined fee for visa. The amount will vary depending on the applicant’s age and the visa subcategory. The fee will be added to the main fee for visa.
- Fee for NOT submitting application electronically – 80 US dollars will be charged for particular visa categories, for which it is possible to apply electronically, but the applicant has submitted them on paper instead, including fax or e-mail. This fee shall be charged per application and not per person.
- Fee of 700 US dollars for subsequent application for temporary visa by applicants who:
o submit a second application for visa during their stay in Australia and who
o at the moment of submitting such application actually hold temporary visa, for which they have applied in Australia
This fee shall be paid by each applicant included in the application in addition to other visa fees and shall be based on their individual temporary visa history. This fee shall not be paid by applicants for permanent visas.
Practical advice
Remember that overseas you must comply with local laws. During your stay there you are subject to their jurisdiction. We recommend you to get informed about them in advance and follow them. Penalties for breaking the law can be much more stringent than those in Bulgaria for the same offenses.
Place all medications in their original packaging and check whether some of them are considered illegal drugs overseas. If you use any such substances, carry a copy of the medical prescription confirming this fact. More detailed information can be obtained HERE.
Avoid carrying third party belongings when crossing the border.
Make sure that your driving license is not expired. We recommend you to obtain an international driving license. Do your best to become familiar with local traffic rules. In Australia violation of traffic rules results in heavy fines regardless of whether you are local or a foreigner. Traffic operates on the left side of the road.
If you get detained, for any reason, by local authorities, require to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria. The consular officer will get in touch with you as soon as practicable.
We advise you to take out a health, tourism, travel or another insurance in advance.
In case of death of a Bulgarian citizen abroad, the nearest diplomatic or consular representation of the Republic of Bulgaria will provide assistance and support with all formalities.
Direct financial support may be provided by the diplomatic or consular representation only if your family members or relatives deposit the required amount in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Financial and Economic Activities Directorate.
In case of theft of your identity documents, money, travel tickets, etc. immediately notify the nearest police station in writing and in person, ask for a copy of the document establishing the event. Contact our diplomatic or consular representation in order to make arrangements for obtaining the necessary documents to continue your journey or return to your homeland.
It is not mandatory, but it is advisable, to register at the Bulgarian Embassy in Canberra upon your arrival in Australia. This would facilitate getting in touch with you in case of emergency or if needed.
Before leaving Bulgaria or immediately after your arrival, make a note of the addresses and telephone numbers of the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular representation in the country you visit.
It is appropriate this information to be provided to the administration of hotels you are staying at, the tour operators you travel with and the local police office. For your convenience, you can find the address, telephone and fax numbers of Consular Relations Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Competitive service
What can consular officers do for you:
- issue a travel document if you do not have one;
- inform your family in case of accident, serious illness or death and provide the required assistance;
- in case of an arrest - notify your family, assist them to visit you in prison, make sure you get the same treatment as the nationals of the host country;
- provide assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters and civil disorders;
- give you the latest travel information;
- verify and certify a signature;
- issue civil status acts, such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate;
- transfer the civil status acts already issued by the local authorities to the municipality of your permanent address in.
Certification and legalisation:
The Diplomatic Representation in Canberra carries out standard legalisation of copies of documents and signatures, as well as content of documents in Bulgarian language to serve before the respective authorities in Bulgaria. Legacy documents shall be drawn up with a pre-arranged appointment. The Embassy shall certify also the signatures of sworn translators registered with the Embassy.
All official documents issued in Bulgaria and intended for use in Australia should be legalized by an "Apostille". The same applies to documents issued in Australia and intended for use in Bulgaria, except for those issued by the Embassy in Canberra.
Issuance of ID documents:
On 6th January 2012 the Embassy in Canberra installed a biometric station.
The Embassy accepts applications for the issuance of passports, identity cards, driving licenses and temporary passports.
Upon acceptance of applications for issuance of temporary passport or identity card for minors and under-aged children, the signatures of both parents or the signature of one parent and power of attorney from the other, or court decision on parental rights is required.
Civil status:
In order to be recognised in Bulgaria, any document issued by Australian authorities, it should be legalised with an "Apostille" in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1961 abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. If the translation is made by a sworn translator registered with the Embassy, the Embassy shall also certify the translation. The document legalized by "Apostille" may be translated in Bulgaria by a translator who has an official contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for providing translation services.
Under the stringent requirements of the Australian Data Protection Act, the receipt of civil status documents from the local registers shall be done personally or by an explicitly authorized agent. In rare cases, the embassy may assist in the procurement of a death certificate without an heir’s certificate.