Communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
12 August 2024 News
With regard to publications in some media about the Schengen visas issued by Bulgaria to foreign citizens and possible difficulties or refusals of holders to be admitted to Europe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes the opportunity to clarify the following:
In accordance with Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS Regulation), and in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2017/1908 of 12 October 2017 on the putting into effect of certain provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Visa Information System in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/995 of 18 June 2021 determining the date on which Council Decision (EU) 2017/1908 shall start to apply, the linking of Bulgaria’s national visa system with the Schengen Visa System has been implemented in the provision of the so called ‘passive access’. About 15 different tests have been successfully performed for the coupling.
By virtue of Council Decision (EU) 2024/210 of 30 December 2023, from 31 March 2024. Bulgaria only issues Schengen visas for short stays, with over 35 000 visas issued by the end of July this year. Since the same date, the Republic of Bulgaria has been granted active access to the EU's Central Visa Information System (CVIS) and the information from Bulgaria's national visa system on all visa applications submitted and the decisions on them is recorded in CVIS. Bulgaria has no problems with its connectivity to the Schengen visa system.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs draws attention to the fact that, according to European legislation, the possession of a visa is not the only ground for a third-country national to be admitted to the Schengen area. The competent authorities have powers under which, if they establish that a third-country national does not fulfil the conditions for entry laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the regime governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) and does not fall within the categories of persons referred to in that EU act, they shall refuse entry to the territories of the Member States.