Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria bans travel from UK until end of January

| updated on 12/21/20 2:05 PM
Photo: library

As of today, Bulgaria has introduced a ban on all arrivals from Great Britain and Northern Ireland through all entry points and with all modes of transportation. The ban will be in force from December 21 to January 31, 2021, an order of Bulgaria's Minister of Health issued late last night reads. All flights arriving from the UK have been suspended until January 31.

The ban does not apply to Bulgarian citizens and persons with a status of permanent, long-term or continuous residence in Bulgaria and their family members. Upon entry in Bulgaria, they will be subject to a 10-day quarantine in their homes or in another place of accommodation indicated by them. 

The measure is due to a new coronavirus strain which has been reported to have spread in the UK.

The decision for the new travel restrictions was taken at an emergency meeting last night of PM Boyko Borissov with Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, Transport Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Health Minister Kostadin Angelov.

The passengers who arrived in Bulgaria with the last three flights from Great Britain have been quarantined. As an exception, they were allowed to land on December 21. The passengers are mostly Bulgarian citizens returning the Bulgaria.

Speaking to the Horizon program, BNR correspondent in London Veselin Paunov said that most Bulgarians managed to leave the UK before the new restrictions, but they are expected to have problems returning after the holidays.


The full text of the order of the Bulgarian Health Minister regarding the new restrictions can be read at the website of the Bulgarian Health Ministry HERE (only in Bulgarian).


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria to receive two F-16 Block 70 aircraft “very soon”, says Bulgarian Air Force commander

Two more F-16 Block 70 aircraft are expected to arrive in Bulgaria very soon. This was announced by the commander of the Air Force, Major General Nikolay Rusev, in front of journalists. So far, Bulgaria has received four F-16 Block 70 aircraft..

published on 10/16/25 3:00 PM

Bulgarian President Radev will no longer use National Guard Service transport

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has announced that as of October 20 this year he will travel to work in his personal car. “When a law is being adopted that forces people to do state work in their personal cars, I will stand in solidarity with them,” he..

published on 10/16/25 2:53 PM
General Major Nikolay Rusev

Bulgaria will seek a system for maximum protection against drones

We want to buy a system that has maximum protection against drones. This does not mean that it has a mechanical effect on the drone, but at least that it has some electromagnetic or blocking control of the device. This was explained to BNT by Maj. Gen...

published on 10/16/25 1:22 PM