Bulgaria, a long-term favourite of South Africans looking for a cheap skiing holiday, is extending its COVID-related entry regulations until March 31. But vaccinated South Africans can enter with a negative pre-departure test.
While other European countries are starting to roll back their colour-code or traffic-light systems, Bulgaria now has a list of red countries (South Africa is on the list).
Arrivals from the red list are required to present proof of vaccination plus a recovery certificate or a negative PCR test certificate from a test taken in the three days before departure, in order to enter the country.
The other African countries on the red list are Mozambique, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Zambia, and Cape Verde.
Bulgaria has a green list – at present the only two countries on it are Romania and The Vatican. Its orange list comprises all countries that are not on the green or red lists. Green or orange-listers need to present only one of the above-mentioned certificates.
Bulgaria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the EU. Just over 28% of the seven million population are believed to be fully vaccinated, placing it more than 40% behind other EU states.
