Updated 16/03/2025

Country overview

There are no restrictions for people living with HIV on entry and residence in Bulgaria. Antiretroviral medicines can be brought into the Bulgaria for personal use in an amount which corresponds with the duration of stay or the amount in a prescription. It is advisable to take a letter from your doctor if you have a supply of treatment for more than 6 months and a copy of your latest prescription.

For refugees there are specific rules, i.e. they could be asked for information about health and chronic diseases. HIV is not a reason for refusal to stay and submit documents.

Labor migrants

Documents required for registration to gain access to free ART:

Confirmatory testing, performed at the National HIV reference laboratory in Sofia.
Citizens of the EU and EEA qualify for free HIV treatment and care. Proof of nationality (ID or passport) is required.
It is recommended that the person brings previous medical records with them.
Non-EU-EEA citizens will have to pay for treatment and care after confirmatory testing.

Refugees

There is a mechanism in place in Bulgaria for refugees to receive ART. It is necessary to provide a passport and a document confirming refugee status, issued by the Ministry of Interior upon entry into the country.

Refugees from Ukraine are entitled to a temporary protection status which allows the same access to healthcare for 3 months as for any Bulgarian citizen. After that a person would have to start paying for their health insurance every month.

HIV treatment and care is provided free for refugees from Ukraine. It is also advisable to bring medical records and prescriptions from a doctor. You can bring empty packages of your treatment to the appointment with a doctor if you don’t have prescriptions.

Access to treatment

After confirmatory testing is performed, a person must set up an appointment with one of five HIV clinics in the country. List of clinics in Bulgaria
During the first appointment blood work is performed to determine health status, CD4 count and viral load.
Second appointment is scheduled when the person can also pick up their medication which is dispensed at the same clinic.

A list of clinics providing HIV-related services can be found here

Treatment for people who live with HIV is entirely managed and controlled by the Ministry of Health, so it is not possible to buy ART in a pharmacy. The only way to access it is through one of five HIV clinics where patients are registered and monitored. However, by contacting a doctor you can get prescriptions for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV and buy the prescribed drugs.

You should seek advice and help from local NGOs if you are left without ART, have difficulties with your insurance, or do not have the proper documents. You can find contacts and addresses in the section NGOs.