New, less strict, visa regimes between the European Union and Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have gone into force on January 2, Bulgarian National Radion (BNR) said. Croatia does not have a via regime with the EU.

The agreements would be valid for all EU member states, with the exception of Denmark, UK and Ireland, as well as the nine new Schengen countries.

Citizens of the five countries under the new visa regime, would need a Bulgarian visa to enter Bulgaria. Prices for Bulgarian visas have been recently changed, MIA news agency said. With a Schengen visa they would be allowed transit for up to five days.

It was expected that Bulgaria and Macedonia would start negotiations to establish a local arrangement for cross-border movement between the two countries, MIA news agency said.