Bulgaria joins Schengen zone from March 31, says Dimitrov

H.E. Dimitar Dimitrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Kuwait, revealed that his country’s accession to the Schengen area will enter into force as of March 31. He pointed out that “as of this date, applicants for a visa, if they meet the required conditions, will be granted a Schengen visa instead of the Bulgarian national visa that was previously granted by the embassy.”

During his visit to the “Diwaniya of the Bulgarian Embassy,” Dimitar Dimitrov delivered a speech in the presence of Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Mishal Mubarak Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, and a large number of ambassadors including the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador Zubaidullah Zubaidov of Tajikistan. He mentioned that the new visa permits a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period, allowing travel to other Schengen countries after visiting Bulgaria while the visa remains valid.

Dimitrov explained, “This transformation places great responsibility on us and the officials in the competent authorities in our country. The decision to grant a visa reflects the interests, security, and safety of all countries affiliated with the Schengen area. We are aware of the extent of this responsibility, considering that Bulgaria represents an external border of the European Union.”

He stressed that “the embassy will strictly adhere to the conditions and requirements of the visa, although they will not differ from the conditions and requirements applied by other countries affiliated with the Schengen area, such as supporting documents and papers for the visa application.”

“The period for issuing them will be within 15 days from the date of receipt of the application in accordance with what is determined by the visa law or what is known, and it may take a longer period to make the necessary coordination with the rest of the Schengen countries in some cases. Therefore, we hope that applicants for a visa to our embassy will submit their applications sufficiently before the desired travel date, with at least 15 days in advance, noting that the maximum period for submitting a visa application is six months,” he added.

The Bulgarian ambassador continued, “The Bulgarian embassy does not utilize the services of any external office for visa processing. Visa applicants’ applications are received in the consular section at the embassy’s headquarters in Jabriya.”

Kuwaitis to get five-year multi-entry Schengen visa

Dimitrov said, “Kuwaitis will be granted a multi-entry Schengen visa valid for five years, allowing for short stays (not exceeding 90 days during each period of six months). It should be noted that the passport’s validity must exceed five years.”

In response to a question about holders of Article 17 passports (Bidoon) and domestic workers, Dimitrov explained that “they can apply for a visa, and each application will be considered individually, with a decision made based on meeting the conditions.”

Bulgaria to operate direct flights from Kuwait

The Bulgarian ambassador mentioned the summer tourism season in his country, explaining that Bulgarian Airlines will operate direct flights from Kuwait to the cities of Burgas and Varna on the shores of the Black Sea. He also pointed out that many Kuwaitis own real estate in his country.

Dimitrov also provided an explanation about dozens of physical therapy centers and investment opportunities in various economic sectors, stating that “Bulgaria is characterized by financial stability and a low and stable tax rate.”

Diwaniyah tradition reflects Kuwait’s social life

Dimitrov pointed out that “the idea of establishing this modest diwaniyah is an expression of admiration for the Kuwaitis’ preservation of their heritage and their respect for the customs of their fathers and their popular traditions.” He considered that “the diwaniyah is a unique example of those traditions that represent social life in Kuwait, and there is no doubt that the diwaniyah has a special place during the month of Ramadan in Kuwait.”