International protection in Bulgaria

Last Updated on November 2, 2026 by Immigration Team

At a glance

Forms of protection	Asylum, refugee status, humanitarian status, and temporary protection
Authority	State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers; asylum is granted by the President
Where to apply	Police or State Agency for Refugees centers
Right to work	Yes, once protection is granted; for applicants, 3 months after applying if no decision has been made
Bulgarian citizenship	After 3 years for refugees and asylum, 5 years for humanitarian status, without giving up your citizenship
Ukrainians	Temporary protection, currently until 4 March 2027; renewable annually

What protection means

Protection is the right to stay in Bulgaria because it is not safe for you to return to your country. It is not an immigration route you choose. It depends on what happened to you, or what would happen to you, at home.

Bulgaria grants four forms of protection. Refugee status and humanitarian status together are called international protection.

Form	Who it is for	Granted by
Refugee status	A well-founded fear of persecution because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group	State Agency for Refugees
Humanitarian status	A real risk of serious harm at home, such as the death penalty, torture, or indiscriminate violence in an armed conflict	State Agency for Refugees
Asylum	Persecution for defending rights and freedoms recognised internationally	The President (Art. 27(2) of the Constitution)
Temporary protection	A mass influx of displaced people, declared by the EU; currently people fleeing the war in Ukraine	Council of the EU decision, applied by the State Agency for Refugees

How to apply for international protection

1. Application. You apply at police or the State Agency for Refugees centers.
2. Registration. The Agency registers you, takes your fingerprints and issues you a registration card. It then checks whether Bulgaria or another EU country is responsible for your application under the Dublin rules. Please
3. Interview. You explain in an interview, with an interpreter, why you cannot return home. Bring every document and piece of evidence you have. This interview usually decides the case. Practice
4. Decision. The Agency grants refugee status, grants humanitarian status, or refuses. You can appeal a refusal to the administrative court.

Your rights once protection is granted

Refugees have the same rights as Bulgarian citizens, with the exceptions set by law, such as the right to vote. People with humanitarian status have the rights of foreigners with permanent residence. Both can work, study, use public healthcare and social support, and receive a Bulgarian identity document.

Your spouse and children under 18 can join you through family reunification. Law Read: Family reunification

From protection to long-term residence and citizenship

Protection is a strong starting point. Three routes open up from it. Law

Route	What protection gives you
Bulgarian citizenship	3 years after refugee status or asylum, 5 years after humanitarian status. No permanent residence needed first, and no need to give up your citizenship (Art. 13a, Citizenship Act)
Long-term residence	Available to protection holders. Half of the time your application was pending counts towards the 5 years, or all of it if it took more than 18 months (Art. 24d, Foreigners Act)
EU Blue Card	Protection holders can apply for a Blue Card with a qualifying job offer (Art. 33j(1), item 2, Foreigners Act)

For citizenship you still need to be an adult, have no criminal conviction, have an income or occupation, and pass the Bulgarian language exam. Law Read: Do you have to renounce your citizenship?

Temporary protection for people from Ukraine

People who fled the war in Ukraine receive temporary protection under the EU decision of March 2022. You register with the State Agency for Refugees, without an individual procedure, and receive a registration card. You can live and work in Bulgaria, and use healthcare and education. Law

Temporary protection currently runs until 4 March 2027. It is temporary by design. If you plan to stay in Bulgaria, look at the longer routes now: a work permit, the EU Blue Card, or temporary residence on another ground.

Questions

Can I apply for protection from abroad?

No. You apply once you are in Bulgaria or at its border.

Can I work while my application is pending?

Yes, if no decision has been made within 3 months of your application.

I already applied in another EU country. Can I apply in Bulgaria?

Under the Dublin rules, usually only one EU country examines your application. If another country is responsible, you may be transferred there.

Can I travel to my home country after I get protection?

Be very careful. Returning voluntarily, or taking a passport from your home country, can be treated as a sign that you no longer need protection, and your status can be withdrawn.

Related routes

• Citizenship by naturalisationAfter 3 or 5 years with protection
• Long-term residenceA permanent status after 5 years
• Family reunificationBringing your spouse and children
• EU Blue CardOpen to protection holders with a qualifying job