France
Last update 07 April 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased attention (please be informed in detail about the current situation in the country)
2
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Diplomatic representations of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of France
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco
Address: Ambassade de Bulgarie, 1, avenue Rapp, 75007 Paris
Telephone: +33 1 45 51 85 90
Fax: +33 1 45 56 97 50
Out-of-hours hotline: 0033 /0/ 6 21 84 95 15
Office hours: Mon to Fri, 9.00 am - 5.30 pm
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/france
Permanent Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria in Strasbourg, France
Address: 22, rue Fischart, 67000, Strasbourg, France
Telephone:: +33388619529
Fax: +33388619238
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/francepr
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to UNESCO, Paris
Address: 1, rue Miollis, Paris 75015, France
Tel: +33 1 45 68 34 02
Tel/Fax: +33 1 47 83 34 52
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/francepr2
Embassy of the Republic of France in the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: Sofia 1504, 27-29 “Oboriste” str.
Telephone: +359 2 965 11 00
Fax: +359 2 965 11 20
Consulate
Address: Sofia 1504, 21-A “Oborishte” str.
Telephone: +359 2 965 11 00
Fax: +359 2 965 11 71
Office for Cooperation and Cultural Activities
Address: Sofia 1000, 2 “Djakon Ignatii” str.
Telephone: +359 2 937 79 22
Regional Economic Office
Address: 1504, 21-A “Oborishte” str.
Telephone: +359 2 960 79 79
Office hours: 9.00 - 17.00h
Email: [email protected]
Honorary Consuls of France in Bulgaria
Nedyalko Nedeltchev
9000 Varna, 54, blvd Osmi Primorski polk, ét. 2
Tél.: +359 52 693 693
Fax: +359 52 693 694
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
General information
Franceis among the countries that tolerate the receipt of EU and third states citizens on its territory. Foreigners' rights are respected to a very large extent but in the same time, foreign visitors and residents are required to comply with French laws and regulations. Because of the high rate of immigrants and tourists, domestic and street crimes are not isolated. Serious problems are street thefts and pickpocketing. French police and judicial authorities lead a systematic struggle against this kind of lawn offenses.
Local currency
Being a member of the Eurozone, France uses the euro as a national currency.
Customs requirements
Upon entering France, Bulgarian natural and legal persons must strictly comply with the country’s customs requirements. When transferring or transporting goods for which special permission is required - arms, ammunition, drugs, etc., it is required to get the international license documents in advance.
Undeclared currency may be up to EUR 10,000. It is not allowed to bring more than one litre of alcohol of over 22 degrees per person and up to 3 litre s of wine. The quantity of cigarettes per person that may be imported free of duty and needs no reporting is 200 pieces. French legislation is particularly strict on the importation of goods under false trademarks - clothes, shoes, music CDs, equipment, etc. Penalties for such violations are particularly stringent.
Road traffic
Road traffic, both vehicles and pedestrians, are subject to common international rules. Control is strict and effective, and fines and penalties are appropriate to the size and seriousness of offenses.
Healthcare
The level of healthcare in France is one of the highest worldwide. In order to benefit from its services, Bulgarian citizens must obtain the necessary health insurance documents, insurance and/or financial resources in advance. Possession of a European Health Insurance Card or a certificate for its replacement does not entirely relieve Bulgarian citizens from payment of fees for medical services used in France. For this purpose, they must have additional funds or the appropriate insurance. If in need of emergency, Bulgarian citizens should call the European emergency number 112.
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens can enter into France only through the border check points. The country borders only with members of the Schengen agreement, and therefore has no border control. This is also true for the Principalities of Monaco and Andorra. At air and sea borders, however, Bulgarian citizens are subject to passport control.
Bulgarian citizens can enter and leave the territory of France and Monaco with a valid ID card, passport or temporary passport. The validity of the above personal documents must exceed the date of entry by at least three months. Visa is not required.
Bulgarian nationals cannot enter and leave the territory of France only with a driver’s license as an ID document.
No immunisations are required for citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria when entering France.
Practical advice
Where available, people should travel with two valid identity documents – an identity card and a passport and keep them in different places, in order to minimise the negative consequences of any theft or loss.
In case of loss or theft of a Bulgarian identity document in France and Monaco, contact the nearest Commissioner of Police or the territorial brigade of the gendarmerie, in order to declare the theft or loss of a Bulgarian identity document. After receiving a protocol of the event, the Bulgarian citizen or his/her legal representative should contact the Consular Section at the Embassy in Paris, or the Bulgarian honorary consuls in Lille, Marseille or Monaco, in order to report the loss or theft of their personal ID document. If in need of a temporary passport, Bulgarian citizens must contact the Consular Section at the Embassy in Paris directly.
Bulgarian citizens must have sufficient funds for their intended stay in France. It is strongly recommended that these funds are kept in different forms - in cash and in bank cards, as travellers checks, and they should be transported and stored in such a manner, as to minimise any negative effects if they’re lost or stolen.
Competitive service
Certification and Legalisation
At the Consular Section of the Embassy, you can perform verification of date, content and signature of private documents (letters of attorney, declarations, applications, etc.).
Certification of the contents of a document - a letter of attorney or a declaration, in cases of transfers of ownership of real estate or other property rights, only when they are composed by Bulgarian nationals holding valid identity documents. Foreign nationals can certify documents with foreign identity documents, if the document authenticated by them is designed to produce effect in the Republic of Bulgaria and is in the Bulgarian language. Besides their signature, they also put on the document the phrase “lu et approuvé” - read and confirmed.
Certification of the accuracy of a transcript or a copy of the document.
Certification of the signature of a translator who is on the list of the Embassy. If official translations from Bulgarian to French or vice-versa are necessary, interested persons may contact the sworn translators at the courts of appeal in France who are registered at the Embassy and whose translations are authenticated by the Consular Office. A current list of these translators can be found at the site of the embassy in Paris: www.amb-bulgarie.fr
The Consulate Office at the Embassy cannot authenticate or compile documents or deeds which are to be recorded in Bulgarian registries (e.g., claims or contracts for the transfer of vehicles).
Legalisation of public documents issued abroad
Interested people may make an official translation into French of a Bulgarian document in a translation company contracted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for official translations. The signature of the translator must be necessarily endorsed by the Directorate "Consular Relations" at the MFA. Before doing so, interested persons should consult the relevant institution in France where the translated document will be presented, whether it would accept a translation prepared and certified in Bulgaria. As for translations of French documents in Bulgarian, they must bear either the endorsement of the Embassy in Paris, if made by translators registered there, or the endorsement of “Consular Relations” Directorate of the MFA, if made by a translation company in Bulgaria.
Pursuant to Art. 23 of the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters between France and Bulgaria, official documents issued by Bulgaria and France do not need further legalisation, in order to produce action in the other country. Official documents are: documents issued by the court, prosecution, bailiff and court secretary; documents issued by administrative authorities; deeds; official certifications, as noted in the records, certification of specific dates and certification of signatures on private documents. These, however, must be provided with an official translation in Bulgarian or French, respectively.
The requirements of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents done at The Hague on 5 October 1961 under which both Bulgaria and France are signatories does not apply to official documents originating from both countries, i.e. legalisation with an “Apostille” of Bulgarian and French documents when presented respectively in France and Bulgaria is not necessary.
A certificate of compliance with Bulgarian law (Certificat de coutume) is required for marriage or a civil pact of solidarity (Pacte Civile de Solidarité) in France
Bulgarian citizens can marry each other or French citizens or nationals of third countries in French municipalities at their place of residence in France. To enter into such marriages, apart from the other documents required by the French civil service status, Bulgarian citizens also need a certificate of conformity with Bulgarian law (Certificat de coutume), issued by the Consular Office of the Embassy of Bulgaria in France.
For the issuance of a certificate of conformity with Bulgarian law (Certificat de coutume) for marriage or for a civil pact of solidarity (Pacte Civile de Solidarité), the Bulgarian citizen/s must provide the following documents:
- Application, free form, for the issue of the certificate;
- Photocopy of a valid Bulgarian identity document - passport or identity card;
- Original birth certificate issued by the Office of Civil Status of the Municipality at the permanent address of the Bulgarian citizen (permanent address in Bulgaria is generally written on the back of the ID card);
- Original certificate of current marital status and family members issued by the Office of Civil Status of the municipality t the permanent address of the Bulgarian citizen. The certificate must be issued no earlier than 6 months from the planned date of marriage in France. It must certify that the person is not married and is to serve for marriage in France. It is advisable that it also indicates the name and nationality of the person you will be married to in France.
- A fee of EUR 10 payable in cash, postal order or check, to the benefit of the Embassy of Bulgaria in France;
- In the event that the person/s wishes to receive in France the certified for compatibility with Bulgarian law (Certificat de coutume), necessary for marriage or a civil pact of solidarity (Pacte Civile de Solidarité), they must provide an envelope with the correct address of destination in France and enough stamps. In addition to the certificate, the birth and current marital status certificates, together with a receipt for fees paid will be returned with this envelope.
Important!
Interested people should be aware that the form of legalised cohabitation - civil pact of solidarity (Pacte Civile de Solidarité) has no legal force and value in Bulgaria. According to the Bulgarian Family Code, only civil marriage creates legal consequences from such marriage.
The marital status of Bulgarian citizens who have entered into civil pacts of solidarity (Pacte Civile de Solidarité) in France remains unchanged in Bulgaria.