Bulgarians will only travel with an ID card in Turkey – Society – Bulgaria – NOVA News
Bulgarian citizens will enter Turkey without foreign passports, but only with identity cards. This is clear from the decree of President Recep Erdogan, published in today’s issue of the Turkish state newspaper. According to the decision of our southern neighbor, Bulgarians will be able to enter the country with an identity card in cases of transit or tourist visits. Thus, according to the decree, for a period of 6 months, the permit is a stay of up to 90 days. This has been the case until now, but with the obligation to enter the country with a foreign passport.
Until today, Turkey was our only neighbor that is not in the low union and that you cannot enter with an ID card. People who travel to our neighbor to the south welcome the relief.
“More documents – more problems. I approve of all good neighborly relations”, commented Kostadin Vassilev.
Adriana Panayotova has a travel agency in Haskovo. She often has to organize trips to Turkey. Expect to see an increase in its customers with the changes.
“We have had cases where people crossing with international passports see that they have expired at this point. And a return is necessary”, explains Adriana Panayotova.
There is concern that even with an ID card, the problem of waiting in lines at the border will remain.
“Regardless of the type of document, whether it’s a passport or an identity card, if the employee is busy, especially during the morning and evening shifts, it doesn’t matter,” explains Panayotova.
According to the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Milen Keremedchiev, the entry of Bulgarian citizens into Turkey and border checks will be facilitated.
“The ball is in Bulgaria’s court. Why has she not proposed this in the past as our proposal to be accepted by Turkey. But in the end, everything is well when it ends well”, comments Keremedchiev.
According to him, with the decree of President Recep Erdogan, Turkey sets 2 important goals for the economy.
“There is a very fierce competition in the field of attracting tourists between Greece and Turkey, and at the moment Turkey is harmonizing the entry regime for Bulgarian citizens,” said the diplomat.
“The huge interest of many compatriots who visit Turkey with all trade, household needs, this is an adequate measure. This fully serves the interests of the Turkish economy, that’s why the entrepreneur and this measure are unilateral, as you can see”, stated Keremedchiev.
Turkey is expected to send a note to our country with the specified data – from when the decree came into force.
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