Security level:
The State of Israel maintains strict security measures concerning the safety of its residents. Low level of crime. The most common crimes are related to car thefts in certain areas of the country.
The Embassy advises the Bulgarian citizens to avoid travelling to the areas near the borders with the Gaza Strip, Syria and Lebanon. There is a potential danger of sporadic shelling of these areas. It should be borne in mind that parts of the Golan Heights have been mined. Israel has peace treaties with two of its neighbours: Egypt and Jordan.
In connection with sporadic incidents of violence and terrorism, the Embassy recommends to Bulgarian citizens to be particularly vigilant when travelling to the city of Jerusalem, especially in the Old City and the Temple Mount. Other high-risk tourist destinations in the country and in the West Bank territories should be avoided, as should travel by public transport and visits to public places where large crowds gather, due to the potential danger of conflicts and terrorist attacks.
Due to security, movement and cooperation conditions, assistance from consular officials in the West Bank territories may be very limited.
Recommendations of Israel for responding to rocket fire in the territories can be found at: Home Front Command Preparedness Information.pdf

Healthcare:
Israel is among the most advanced countries in the field of medicine. Israel does not currently have vaccination requirements for visitors, but it is highly recommended that travellers to Israel have international medical insurance.

Specifics of the local legislation:
Israel is a parliamentary republic with division of powers into legislative, executive and judicial branches. Israel does not have a written constitution — only a set of roughly defined Basic Laws. The president has protocol functions, and the parliament (Knesset) is the legislative body of the state. Military service is mandatory for all citizens of Israel (men and women). Any Jew who wishes to live in the State of Israel is entitled to obtain Israeli citizenship as required by the Israeli Citizenship Act.
Under Israeli law, the only recognised form of marriage is the religious one, not the civil marriage.

Customs requirements:
Customs requirements for Israel can  be downloaded from HERE.

Road traffic:
The traffic regulations in Israel are similar to those in Bulgaria: the maximum allowed speed on the highways is 110 km, and in urban areas — 50 km.

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:
New Israeli shekel (ILS).
BGN 1 = ILS 1,90983 (according to the BNB fixed rate for 2023).

Travel papers and visa requirements

Requirements for admission of foreign citizens to the territory of Israel:
According to the signed agreement, a bilateral visa-free regime has been introduced since 2007, under which Bulgarian and Israeli citizens holding valid regular passports may enter, transit and stay in the territory of the State of Israel and the Republic of Bulgaria without visas for up to 90 days within every 6 months. A visa is required for long-term residence or for paid employment.
The check carried out by the Israeli authorities upon entry into the country is aimed at eliminating the possibility of illegal migration or endangering internal security. It is therefore recommended that Bulgarian citizens travelling to Israel:
- have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the planned date of departure from Israel — the requirement is mandatory
- have a valid hotel or other accommodation reservation for the entire period of their stay
- have a valid return flight reservation
- have sufficient funds (credit/debit cards or cash)
- have other documents proving the purpose of the trip, where necessary (e.g. invitation from a friend, business invitation, travel document, etc.); the documents should be in English or Hebrew.
Citizens who have recently resided in countries with which Israel has not signed bilateral treaties to establish or normalise relations could be subject to closer check by the Israeli border crossing authorities.
The text of the Entry into Israel Law can be found here: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b4ec0.html

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:
A refusal of access to Israel may be issued by the Israeli border crossing authorities, upon consideration of all the circumstances of a particular case, e.g. the data and circumstances indicated by the traveller concerning the purpose and manner of stay in Israel may be considered contradictory or false.

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:
At the end of 2022, a new regime was established for access to the territories under joint administration or exclusive administration of the Palestinian Authority. Under these rules:
- citizens wishing to visit Israel and the Territories may enter through Ben Gurion Airport in accordance with the general requirements for residency in Israel, and access to the Territories does not require an additional permit;
- citizens wishing to visit only the Territories should enter through the King Hussein-Allenby Border crossing point (the crossing point between Jordan and Israel), access to the Territories via this route requires a special permit, which should be requested between 48 hours and 45 days in advance, depending on the type of permit requested. More information on the permit regime, as well as the necessary forms, can be found at: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/policies/judeaentry2022
In case of any questions regarding the conditions for access to the territories, Bulgarian citizens are advised 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:
Children under 18 years of age travelling with an accompanying person must provide a declaration of consent from both parents, certified with an Apostille, and a birth certificate. In the case of a declaration by only one parent in favour of an accompanying person who is not the child’s parent, an additional supporting document (e.g. a court order) is also required.
Declarations can also be certified at the Embassy of Israel in Sofia.

The Consular Office with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tel Aviv is open to citizens from Monday to Friday, from 09:30 to 13:00. The admission of citizens is carried out by a preliminary scheduled appointment on the Embassy’s website: https://www.bgembassytelaviv.com/

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.

Marriage:
You cannot get married in the Bulgarian embassy in Israel. Pursuant to Article 6, paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Code of Private International Law, a marriage between two Bulgarian citizens abroad or between a Bulgarian citizen and a foreign citizen may be contracted before a Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission if the law of the host country and the domestic law of the foreign citizen so permit. The form of marriage under Bulgarian law is civil marriage. In Israel, the only recognised form of marriage is the religious one, not the civil marriage.

Death of a Bulgarian citizen on the territory of Israel:
In the event of the death of a Bulgarian citizen on the territory of Israel, the Consular Office must be notified in a timely manner.
The death certificate must be legalized with an Apostille by the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the city of Jerusalem and with an officially certified translation into Bulgarian.
The document is sent or filed in Bulgaria to the municipality of the person's permanent address. Translation into Bulgarian is done in Bulgaria by translation companies offering legalized translations from Hebrew. The Consular Office is ready to render assistance on matters related to the death of Bulgarian citizens abroad.
The Bulgarian Embassy in Israel does not provide translation of documents.

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/.