Bulgaria’s Cabinet has approved new simplified visa procedures for various categories of applicants.

A Government information service statement said that the new ordinance setting out terms and procedures for deciding visa requirements and issuing visas was adopted by the Cabinet because of the approval of a new Foreigners Act and a new Act on the entry into, residence in and departure from Bulgaria of European Union citizens and their families.

The statement said that the new ordinance would provide for a simplified visa procedure for non-residents who are the relatives of EU citizens. To qualify, such applicants would have to prove that they were family members of EU citizens or a member of the household of an EU citizen.

There will be a simplified procedure for one-year visas for applicants who are postgraduates, students in one-year courses or people coming to Bulgaria on assignment from a foreign employer to implement a contract for tourist services. Also eligible will be employees who are residents of third (non-EU) countries sent to Bulgaria by a foreign employer to oversee the implementation of an investment project in line with Bulgaria’s Investment Promotion Act.