Yemen
Last update 07 April 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 5: Warning of ending all trips and immediate leaving the country
5
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Republic of Yemen
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Yemen
Address: Area “Asr”, 4 th Str., Residence No5, Sana'a, Yemen; POBox 1518
Telephone: +967 1 208469
Fax: +967 1 207924
Out-of-hours hotlines: + 967 733255591;+ 967 737700114
Office hours: Sat - Wed, 9.00 - 13.30 h.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.mfa.bg/embassies/yemen
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen in Sofia
Address: 1784 Sofia, “Mladost” 1, 50 “Andrei Sakharov” Blvd.
Telephone: +359 2 870 41 19; +359 2 974 55 46; +359 2 974 56 39
Fax: +2974 34 63; +359 2 974 56 28
Office hours: 09.00 - 15.00 h
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
general information
Local currency
Yemeni Rial (YER)
The country has a free exchange regime. Foreign currency can be exchanged freely in banks and at bureaux de change. With the start of the political and economic crisis, it is more difficult to exchanged local currency for convertible currency.
Interesting facts
Yemen has tourist areas along the Red and Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Most famous are the islands of Kamaran, Hanish Al-Kubra, Zekeriya in the Red Sea, Socotra with its unique flora in the Arabian Sea, Meyun the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, resorts Hodeyda, Al-Hoha, Al-Maha, Aden.
There are numerous archaeological ruins and monuments of culture, among which the most famous are the ruins of the capital of the Queen of Sheba, ancient cities in Mareb, Shibam, Damar, Juff, clay skyscrapers in Shabua and Hadramaut, terraced gardens in Ibb and Taiz.
Rocky plateaus and ranges from 2500 to 4000 m of altitude offer excellent conditions for paragliding.
Crime and security
In remote mountain and desert regions of Yemen, socio-political life is dictated by tribal structures and the central government has little influence, which makes them dangerous for staying and passing without taking special precautions.
After stringent measures that have been taken recently, abductions of foreigners typical for these areas a few years ago have been somewhat reduced. Prior to that, in most cases the release of the hostages has been linked to the satisfaction of financial demands. In the same areas operate extremist and terrorist groups and formations similar to the structures of “Al Qaeda”.
From February 2011 onwards, the security situation in the Republic of Yemen is very poor after the eruption of civil unrest demanding the resignation of the president, change of the political system in the country, reforms in electoral law and the social sphere.
In the capital Sana’a and other cities, demonstrations are held almost daily, which often grow into armed clashes between security forces and Republican Guard on the one hand and the breakaway military units, paramilitary groups and tribal militias of the opposition parties and political movements on the other.
The country is in severe economic collapse, electricity is supplied for only 3-4 hours a day, there is an acute shortage of petrol, diesel fuel, water for household needs, etc.
Foreign nationals located in Yemen are recommended to leave the country until the situation is stabilised.
Legislation specifics
Pay special attention and obey local rules on possession and consumption of alcohol and psychotropic substances. In Yemen, the sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited. It is not considered acceptable to consume food, water and drinks and to smoke in public places during the holy month of Ramadan.
Customs requirements
Foreign currency of up to 5,000 USD needs not to be declared.
Importation of weapons, pornographic materials and drugs is strictly prohibited.
The importation, sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages is not allowed officially. Foreign nationals entering the country are authorised to bring up to 2 bottles liquor.
The importation of up to 3 cartons of cigarettes is permitted.
The importation of medical drugs for personal use is permitted.
There is no limit or registration regime for imports of electronics, clothing, and items for personal use in non-commercial quantities.
The export of items of archaeological, historical and numismatic value is prohibited.
Healthcare
The level of healthcare in big cities is satisfactory, but medical services even in emergency cases both in public and private medical institutions are only performed when they are paid for in cash. Medical insurance are not common for treatment.
Climate
Climatic conditions in Yemen are extremely diverse - from a constant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius in the capital Sana’a (2300 m above sea level) and the north-western part of the country, to humid tropical climate in Aden and the south coast and extremely high temperatures in desert areas bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Travel papers and visas
Valid passport with an Yemeni entry visa, which can be obtained at the Embassy of Yemen in Sofia.
Warning: You may be refused entry or transit through the country if the passport contains a valid or expired visa for Israel, or entry and exit stamps from an Israeli border checkpoint.
Yemeni embassies require a medical certificate for an AIDS test of the visa applicant.
The reasons for the visit are to be declared in the visa application - tourism, private visit, business visit, work.
- For private visits, an invitation certified by the “Immigration Issues and Passports” Directorate of the Yemeni Ministry of Interior is required.
- For business visits - a document certifying that the person is registered in the Trade Centre and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the respective country.
- For work visits - preliminary labour contract, certified by the employer in the Yemeni Ministry of Labour.
- For tourist visa - only a declaration that the person has the necessary funds to cover costs of stay in the country.
- For long-term visa – the respective national identity document should be valid for at least 12 months.
All types of visas are issued with validity period of 1 month and may be extended by the immigration authorities for a period from 3 months to up to 1 year.
If the person is staying for less than a month, no registration is required upon arrival in the country.
Upon leaving the country, foreign nationals with a residence visa need to take out an exit visa.
No guarantee deposits are required.
As of February 5, 2010 pursuant to a decision of the Government of the Republic of Yemen, the issuance of visas at border crossings for EU citizens and nationals of the eight major industrialised countries, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea was suspended. Bulgarian nationals wishing to obtain a visa to Yemen should apply before the Republic of Yemen Embassy in Sofia.
An entry visa costs USD 50.00 (paid in the currency of the country where Yemeni Embassy is located)
Practical advice
At present, travelling to Yemen is not recommended. If you still have to travel to the country, ask in advance for Telephone numbers and address of the Bulgarian Embassy in Sana'a.
It is not strictly necessary but is recommended for you to register at the Bulgarian Embassy. This would facilitate contact with you in an emergency or if necessary.
It is recommendable for tourist groups visiting archaeological and tourist sites in Mareb, Juff, Atak, Shibam, Seyun, Mukala to be escorted by troops.
If for any reason you are detained by local authorities, you should require contact with the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in Sana'a. The consular officer will contact you as soon as possible.
In case your personal documents, money, travel tickets, etc. are stolen, immediately notify the nearest police station both personally and in writing and ask for a copy of the protocol establishing the event.
We advise that you obtain a contract for health, tourism, travel and other insurance in advance.
Direct financial assistance may be obtained from the diplomatic or consular representation if your relatives or close peopledeposit the required amount at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate “Financial and Economic Activities”.
Competitive service
Certification and Legalisation
The Embassy of Bulgaria in Sana'a carries out certification and legalisation of both private and official documents - powers of attorney, declarations, certificates, civil status documents, diplomas, translations, etc.
If the document to be certified or legalised is issued by a Bulgarian or a Yemeni official body, it must have the appropriate certification by authorised employees of the Bulgarian or the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For certification of a private document – power of attorney, declaration, translation, etc., an original identity document is required and the person should sign the document before the consular officer.
Issuance of Bulgarian identity documents
Passport, identity card and driving license applications are not accepted!
At present (October 2011), the diplomatic representation of Bulgaria in Sana'a has no technical capability to take digital photographs of signatures, face and fingerprints of the applicant.
The Embassy in Sanaa accepts applications for temporary passports to Bulgarian citizens. When submitting applications for minors, the presence and written consent of both parents is required, and in the case of new-born children - preliminary steps to obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the child in the municipality of domicile of the parents.
Civil Status
Diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad, including the Embassy in Sanaa, Republic of Yemen carry out a number of activities on civil status: recording births, marriages and deaths of the Bulgarian citizens that have occurred abroad in Bulgarian registers.
Diplomatic missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad, including the embassy in Sanaa, can carry out not only registration of birth, marriage or death issued on the basis of local papers, but can also issue Bulgarian documents - birth, marriage or death certificates.
In these cases, documents confirming event as required by local law should be submitted at the Embassy - local certificate of birth, death certificate issued by the Yemeni court, a document confirming that the local law allows the act of marriage in the Bulgarian diplomatic representation of prospective spouses, medical certificates, and civil status documents of spouse or a foreigner.
All the above documents should be legalised and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Yemen.