The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of implementing a large-scale project, coordinated in advance with all responsible institutions in Bulgaria and the EU, including the implementation and launch of a new version of the National Visa Information System (NVIS).
The technological implementation of the works requires the temporary suspension of the current system from 9—18 August this current year. Therefore, during the above mentioned period the consular offices of the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions will suspend accepting visa applications and applications for Bulgarian identity documents — passports and ID cards.
Compensatory measures will be introduced which allow temporary passports to be issued from the 9th to the 18th of August and powers of attorney and declarations in emergency and humanitarian cases to be validated, e.g. force majeure, natural disasters, urgent travel related to illness or death of a close family member, cases of travel of minor children.
While apologising for any inconvenience caused, we kindly ask citizens who have already scheduled appointments for passport and identity card applications or for endorsements and legalisations during the above period to contact the relevant consular office to re-schedule their appointment.
All consular services have been given prior instructions by the Consular Relations Directorate to assist citizens, if necessary.