Some non-Bulgarians will no longer be considered foreigners in Bulgaria if a proposal by the Cabinet becomes law.

The proposed change to the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (LFRB) would introduce a new definition of the term “foreigner” into national legislation. The change was proposed at a Cabinet meeting on November 30.

According to current law, anyone who does not hold Bulgarian citizenship is a foreigner.

According to the changes, citizens of Switzerland, EU member states and countries that are party to the European Economic Area agreement would no longer be designated as foreigners.

The Cabinet adopted the amendment, among others, to the new LFRB as part of the Protocol for Bulgaria’s accession to the EU. The changes aim to synchronise national legislation concerning foreigners’ status with EU law and other requirements.

Visas for affected non-Bulgarian citizens will be issued as a visa sticker, following the example of other EU member states. Biometric information will also be included in the visa sticker, as well as a digital photograph and fingerprints.

The draft bill regulates the collecting of biometric data and bans the use of the data for purposes other than the visa.

Category D visa for long-term stays for foreigners who are making scientific surveys will be introduced within these changes. The procedure to apply for the visa will be streamlined.

Students, trainees or foreigners commissioned by foreign employers for assignments connected to tourist services will also be issued a D visa that will allow for repeated entries within a period and will be cancelled after the foreigners administrative control body issues a residence permit to the foreigner.

Non-Bulgarian citizens refused entry to the country by border control will receive a standard EU form explaining why they were refused.

The draft bill introduces legal grounds for the Interior Ministry to render assistance to EU member state agencies if they need to transport a foreigner via air over Bulgarian territory.

The draft LFRB bill creates a new category for foreigners staying in Bulgaria after they have received permits to stay in another EU member state for a long period of time.

The new category regulates the rights of foreigners who have already received a permit to stay in another EU member state. Those rights may include staying longer than three months in Bulgaria, as well as the right of family members to accompany people who have long-stay permits in other EU member states.

Foreigners will also have the right to appeal against extradition orders and will have the right in law to appeal to independent institutions, according to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Also in the proposed changes is an anti-polygamy provision barring foreigners from marrying in Bulgaria if the foreign citizen already has a marriage partner living together with him or her in another member state.