Bulgaria
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
Restrictions on entry to Bulgaria
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Bulgaria based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Bulgaria does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
The 2007 Bulgaria Country Report For International Organization for Migration states that: ‘Article 10 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act states that a foreigner shall be denied a visa and entry into this country in the event that he might be presumed to spread an acute communicable disease; or is afflicted with a disease which according to the criteria of the Ministry of Health or of the WHO poses a threat to public health; or is not in possession of a vaccination certificate; or is coming from an area with a complicated epidemic or epizootic situation. This article does not affect persons with HIV/AIDS or TB.’
Antiretroviral medication can be imported for personal use.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Bulgaria
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Bulgaria based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS, Bulgaria does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Bulgaria
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Bulgaria based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS, Bulgaria does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
Historic regulations in Bulgaria
In 2010, Bulgaria revised its legislation on entry and residence for people with HIV. Under the old rule, mandatory HIV tests were possible on entry for non-nationals suspected of being a danger to public health. New rules on HIV testing are effective from March 2010 onwards. Mandatory HIV tests are now only possible for certain groups, like people who need blood dialysis.
Treatment access in Bulgaria
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Bulgaria. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Information provided by Single Step NGO states that antiretroviral therapy available in Bulgaria is the same as in other European countries. It is provided free of charge to patients and is paid for by the Ministry of Health. For non-nationals who do not have Bulgarian citizenship, procedures are slightly different and vary depending on the citizenship. If you are a non-national in Bulgaria and need HIV treatment, contact [email protected].
There are five specialized units for HIV treatment in Bulgaria located at university hospitals in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Pleven:
Sofia: Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases “Prof. Ivan Kirov” – 1606 Sofia, 17 “Akad. Ivan Geshov” blvd., tel.: (02) 9023 732 (doctors); (02) 9023 733 (nurses)
Plovdiv: University Hospital for Active Treatment “St. Georgi”, Clinic of Infectious Diseases – 66 “Peshtersko shose” blvd, tel.: (032) 602 746; (032)602 989
Varna: University Hospital for Active Treatment “St. Marina”, Clinic of Infectious Diseases – 100 “Tsar Osvoboditel” St. – Specialized Sector for Treatment of HIV/AIDS, located on the territory of St. Anna hospital (district hospital), Specialised HIV treatment unit within First infectious diseases clinic, tel: (052) 978 703
Pleven: University Hospital for Active Treatment “Dr. Georgi Stranski”, Clinic of Infectious Diseases – 8А “Georgi Kochev” blvd., tel.: (064) 886 439; (064) 886 415
Zagora: University Hospital for Active Treatment “Prof. Dr. Stoyan Kirkovich”, Clinic for Infectious Diseases – 2 “General Stoletov” St., tel.: (042) 698 420 .
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Bulgaria page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
