Bulgaria, with its capital Sofia, is a parliamentary republic. The state is located in the eastern Balkans and shares borders with Romania, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Greece and Turkey. An important river is the Danube, which partly forms the border to the other states. Bulgaria has 6.5 million inhabitants living on an area of 110994 square kilometres.
A brief history of Bulgaria
There were people in Bulgaria as early as the Pleistocene, and the oldest finds of human settlement in Europe to date were discovered in the Batscho Kiro Cave. Later, Bulgaria was ruled by the Thracians, then the Greeks and finally the Romans.
A Bulgarian state emerged in 632 with the founding of the Great Bulgarian Empire, which disintegrated as early as 632. Later, Slavs invaded the Balkans and, together with the Bulgarians, the remaining Greeks and Romans, founded the First Bulgarian Empire with its capital in Pliska.
In 864 Boris I converted to Christianity, his son Simeon I enlarged the empire and called himself Tsar. After a chequered history, the brothers John and Theodore Peter founded the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 12th century.
From the end of the 14th century, the Ottomans ruled Bulgaria for around 500 years. It was not until around 1700 that the first resistance to rule began to form. In 1876, there was the April Uprising, which was bloodily put down by the Ottomans. This led to the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 to 1878. The Peace of San Stefano was the foundation of modern Bulgaria.
Initially, there were two Bulgarias until they were united by Prince Alexander I. After his overthrow by Russia, Prince Ferdinand of Coburg-Gotha completed the complete separation from the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War Bulgaria fought alongside the German Empire and Austria, and during the Second World War on the side of Germany.
In September 1944, the Red Army occupied Bulgaria. The country was under Soviet influence and a member of the Warsaw Pact. Unlike other countries, there was little resistance to the communist leadership in Bulgaria.
After 9 November 1989, the Communist Party in Bulgaria did not decide on any fundamental changes. This led to nationwide demonstrations from November 1989. The first free elections took place in 1990. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.
The Bulgarian political system
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president, who has no political function and only represents the country. The parliament in Bulgaria is called the National Assembly (Narodno Sabranie) and consists of 240 deputies who are elected according to proportional representation. Only parties that get at least four per cent of the votes enter parliament. Despite this hurdle, governments in Bulgaria are unstable, as parties often fail to form viable coalitions. Overall, democratisation is not yet very advanced compared to other European countries.
Entering Bulgaria with ETIAS
Before travelling to Bulgaria, the ETIAS application must be filled out. As far as we know, this is only possible via the internet. Travellers who do not have this facility can also have the application filled out by a relative, acquaintance or an agency. Since the passport probably does not have to be uploaded, no mistakes should be made when filling it out. If the data on the passport does not match the data on the ETIAS form, the latter is invalid and must be renewed. This is not only associated with further costs, it can also lead to the traveller not being able to depart on time. Often this only becomes apparent at the airport and then it is too late for a new application.
One critical piece of information that is often incorrect is the passport number. Please check this several times and preferably have a friend check it again. There should also be no mistakes in the name and date of birth.
The security questions are also important. With the related ESTA system, an answer of yes to many questions leads to immediate rejection. With ETIAS, this does not necessarily have to be the case, because the applications are checked again by a staff member in such a case. If the application is still rejected, an appeal is possible. However, this takes time, so the application should be submitted as early as possible.
ETIAS is valid for three years. The first destination is binding, for the others the tourist or business traveller has free choice.
An important note on entry. The border official can refuse entry if he feels that the traveller poses a danger. Exemplary behaviour is therefore important when crossing the border.
ETIAS makes entry to Bulgaria safer
ETIAS means a change for some travellers who have so far simply flown into the Schengen area. In fact, however, it is only very minor. The application is filled out within a short time and in most cases approved within a few hours.
ETIAS is linked to several databases that make it possible to screen out travellers with a terrorist background and refuse them entry. The citizens in Bulgaria and the tourists visiting the beautiful country can enjoy their stay.
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Bulgaria, with its capital Sofia, is a parliamentary republic. The state is located in the eastern Balkans and shares borders with Romania, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Greece and Turkey. An important river is the Danube, which partly forms the border to the other states. Bulgaria has 6.5 million inhabitants living on an area of 110994 square kilometres.
A brief history of Bulgaria
There were people in Bulgaria as early as the Pleistocene, and the oldest finds of human settlement in Europe to date were discovered in the Batscho Kiro Cave. Later, Bulgaria was ruled by the Thracians, then the Greeks and finally the Romans.
A Bulgarian state emerged in 632 with the founding of the Great Bulgarian Empire, which disintegrated as early as 632. Later, Slavs invaded the Balkans and, together with the Bulgarians, the remaining Greeks and Romans, founded the First Bulgarian Empire with its capital in Pliska.
In 864 Boris I converted to Christianity, his son Simeon I enlarged the empire and called himself Tsar. After a chequered history, the brothers John and Theodore Peter founded the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 12th century.
From the end of the 14th century, the Ottomans ruled Bulgaria for around 500 years. It was not until around 1700 that the first resistance to rule began to form. In 1876, there was the April Uprising, which was bloodily put down by the Ottomans. This led to the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 to 1878. The Peace of San Stefano was the foundation of modern Bulgaria.
Initially, there were two Bulgarias until they were united by Prince Alexander I. After his overthrow by Russia, Prince Ferdinand of Coburg-Gotha completed the complete separation from the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War Bulgaria fought alongside the German Empire and Austria, and during the Second World War on the side of Germany.
In September 1944, the Red Army occupied Bulgaria. The country was under Soviet influence and a member of the Warsaw Pact. Unlike other countries, there was little resistance to the communist leadership in Bulgaria.
After 9 November 1989, the Communist Party in Bulgaria did not decide on any fundamental changes. This led to nationwide demonstrations from November 1989. The first free elections took place in 1990. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.
The Bulgarian political system
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president, who has no political function and only represents the country. The parliament in Bulgaria is called the National Assembly (Narodno Sabranie) and consists of 240 deputies who are elected according to proportional representation. Only parties that get at least four per cent of the votes enter parliament. Despite this hurdle, governments in Bulgaria are unstable, as parties often fail to form viable coalitions. Overall, democratisation is not yet very advanced compared to other European countries.
Entering Bulgaria with ETIAS
Before travelling to Bulgaria, the ETIAS application must be filled out. As far as we know, this is only possible via the internet. Travellers who do not have this facility can also have the application filled out by a relative, acquaintance or an agency. Since the passport probably does not have to be uploaded, no mistakes should be made when filling it out. If the data on the passport does not match the data on the ETIAS form, the latter is invalid and must be renewed. This is not only associated with further costs, it can also lead to the traveller not being able to depart on time. Often this only becomes apparent at the airport and then it is too late for a new application.
One critical piece of information that is often incorrect is the passport number. Please check this several times and preferably have a friend check it again. There should also be no mistakes in the name and date of birth.
The security questions are also important. With the related ESTA system, an answer of yes to many questions leads to immediate rejection. With ETIAS, this does not necessarily have to be the case, because the applications are checked again by a staff member in such a case. If the application is still rejected, an appeal is possible. However, this takes time, so the application should be submitted as early as possible.
ETIAS is valid for three years. The first destination is binding, for the others the tourist or business traveller has free choice.
An important note on entry. The border official can refuse entry if he feels that the traveller poses a danger. Exemplary behaviour is therefore important when crossing the border.
ETIAS makes entry to Bulgaria safer
ETIAS means a change for some travellers who have so far simply flown into the Schengen area. In fact, however, it is only very minor. The application is filled out within a short time and in most cases approved within a few hours.
ETIAS is linked to several databases that make it possible to screen out travellers with a terrorist background and refuse them entry. The citizens in Bulgaria and the tourists visiting the beautiful country can enjoy their stay.