Bulgaria simplifies transit regime

A simplified regime for crossing Bulgaria came into force on July 18, 2008, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration issued on July 22. According to the communiqué, the Embassy of Bulgaria in Moldova informed that to be allowed to cross Bulgaria visa free, a foreigner must hold a common Schengen visa, a long stay visa or a stay permit for the Schengen states. The persons that have a valid national short stay visa, a long stay visa or a stay permit issued by Romania or Cyprus and those that have a valid stay permit issued by Switzerland or Liechtenstein will also not need a transit visa. Bulgaria can be crossed within 36 hours. The release says that the right to cross the territory visa free is given only for transit purposes. It is not permitted to enter and go out through border crossing points of the same state and to cross the territory if the declared itinerary has no connection with the obtained staying permits or visas. A simplified regime for crossing Romania took effect on July 11. It stipulates the same conditions as the simplified transit regime of Bulgaria.