tourist warnings bulgaria

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Consumer Commission Hotline:

Practical information for tourists – COVID-19

Updated information

(Updated on April 14, 2022)

Messages from the Ministry of Tourism:

Updated information for travelers on entry to Bulgaria

Recommendations of anti-epidemic measures in tourist sites & activities for winter season 2021/2022, covid-19 health travel protocol.

Guidelines for the functioning of accommodation establishments and food and entertainment establishments in the conditions of danger of COVID-19 infection in Bulgaria – (Version 17)

Useful links

Wearing a mask is not mandatory in open public places.

All persons, are obliged to wear a protective face mask for single or multiple use  in public settings such as public transport, pharmacies and medical establishments. The measures for disinfection and observance of physical distance are preserved.

All operating establishments can now receive visitors in compliance with the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tourism for the operation of accommodation establishments and food and entertainment establishments in the conditions of danger of COVID-19 infection in Bulgaria. The accommodation establishments are ready for normal functioning of and have taken the necessary anti-epidemic measures of the Ministry of Health to operate in the conditions of COVID-19. An individual plan for its operation is required for each establishment in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines of the national and regional public health authorities to limit the Coronavirus infection. All accommodation establishments operate in strict compliance with the requirements, which include specific measures to protect the health of tourists with high hygiene.

Yes, public transport operates normally, with no limit on the capacity of vehicles and/or trains, but it is mandatory to wear personal protective equipment.

The use of masks is mandatory when traveling by taxi, bus, train and other public transport.

There are no restrictions on travel within the country. The rules for social distancing and the use of a protective mask should be observed where indicated. Wearing protective masks is mandatory in closed public areas.

Yes. Restaurants and bars are open (indoor and outdoor areas), following several rules of hygiene and social distance. The tables are placed in such a way as to create a safe distance (1.5 m) between the customers. Personal protective equipment (masks, safety helmets and gloves) is mandatory for staff only.

Yes, tourist attractions such as cultural monuments, museums, zoos, aquariums and other tourist attractions are open to visitors as the rules of social distance should be observed and protective masks should be worn.

Yes, depending on the size of the space, different places, such as libraries, shops and supermarkets, allow only a small number of people to enter each time. In pharmacies, healthcare facilities and public transport protective masks should be worn.

The declared measures may be updated according to the development and the spread of COVID-19.

Concerts and cultural events should be held in open and/or indoor areas with reduced capacity to ensure a safe distance between spectators. The use of protective masks and disinfectants is recommended.

Parks are open; individual outdoor sports as well as swimming in the sea are allowed. It is recommended that people keep the distance and follow the safety rules. The distance between the umbrellas is a distance of required 2 m.

The use of balneological (medical SPA), SPA and wellness centers, as well as visits to swimming pools, including pools with mineral water, is allowed, but in strict compliance with hygiene requirements and distance between visitors.

When using fitness centers, physical distance between people doing sports should be guaranteed.

Shopping centers and retail establishments are open. It is recommended that visitors keep the distance and follow the safety rules.

Users and staff are advised to use protective masks and disinfectants.

When using elevators, in case there is no other alternative, the elevator is used with reduced capacity. Customers should keep a distance of 1.5 m between them.

As per a statement from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Bulgaria is part of the tourism destinations with safety and hygiene travel stamp.

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Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Bulgaria travel advice

Latest updates: Editorial change

Last updated: June 4, 2024 08:03 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, bulgaria - take normal security precautions.

Take normal security precautions in Bulgaria

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Petty crime

• Pay particular attention at train and bus stations, tourist sites and crowded areas
• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Avoid showing signs of affluence and carrying large sums of cash

Overcharging

Some tourists have been victims of overcharging in bars and clubs. Discussions about overcharging may lead to threats of violence by security guards, who may force you to pay.

• Be particularly vigilant at tourist resorts along the Black Sea, where this practice is most common

Vehicle theft

Vehicle thefts and break-ins occur frequently.

• Park in a guarded location whenever possible
• Store your valuables safely out of sight

Always be suspicious if someone offers to help you with a flat tire. These individuals may have punctured the tire themselves. They may seize the opportunity to steal your purse or other valuable objects while you’re distracted.

Organized crime

Organized criminal groups are active in casinos and nightclubs. Violent crime may occur, and includes bombings and shootouts between rival gangs.

Credit card and ATM fraud occurs. ATMs fitted with fraudulent card readers are common, particularly in Sofia, Burgas and Varna. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Overseas fraud

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities. There is a potential for other violent incidents.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Keep in mind, however, that even the most secure locations aren’t completely free of risk.

In response to terrorist attacks in other European cities, Bulgarian authorities have strengthened their security measures in all cities, particularly where large crowds gather.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety can vary greatly throughout the country. Driving conditions may be hazardous due to aggressive drivers, excessive speeds, poor lighting and a lack of traffic signs and lane markings. Potholes and wandering animals are common on rural roads.

• Avoid confronting aggressive drivers, as they may be armed
• Avoid driving after dark outside of major cities
• Be especially cautious when driving during winter, as roads may not be plowed or salted

Pedestrians

Be cautious when crossing streets. Drivers don’t always give pedestrians the right of way.

Police occasionally solicit bribes. They may delay you if you refuse to pay the bribe, but you’re unlikely to experience additional problems beyond inconvenience.

Public transportation

• Use only licensed taxis with meters
• Verify the tariffs on the taxi’s window before entering, as taxi drivers sometime overcharge
• At Sofia Airport, visit the taxi booth in the arrivals terminal to obtain a fair rate

Rail services

Rail services are generally poor. It’s preferable to travel via inter-city buses.

Public transportation systems

Most cities and larger towns have public transportation systems. Inter-city buses are frequent, comfortable and relatively fast. Regular bus service exists between most of Bulgaria’s major cities and towns.

Disruptions and delays to public transportation services, including at ferry ports, railway stations and border crossings, may occur.  

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Beware of stray dogs, especially those travelling in packs. They can be dangerous and could expose you to disease if they bite you.

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Bulgarian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

schengen_area

• Schengen area

Bulgaria entered the Schengen area on March 31, 2024. Air and maritime border controls are no longer in effect. Land border controls will remain in effect until further notice.

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave Bulgaria.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Health Insurance

You must present proof of medical insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage) that’s valid in the European Union (EU) and covers the costs of emergency medical care and evacuation.

Tourist visa: not required for stays of fewer than 90 days in any 180-day period Business visa: not required for stays of fewer than 90 days in any 180-day period Student visa: not required for stays of fewer than 90 days in any 180-day period

You must obtain a visa before travelling if you plan to stay in Bulgaria for more than 90 days. Bulgaria doesn’t grant extensions once you’re in the country, except in cases of emergency or marriage to a Bulgarian citizen.

Bulgaria is a Schengen area country. Canadian citizens do not need a visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area. However, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country.

If you plan to stay in the Schengen area for a longer period of time, you will need a visa. You must contact the high commission or embassy of the country or countries you are travelling to and obtain the appropriate visa(s) prior to travel.

• Foreign Representatives in Canada

Other entry requirements

Upon entry, you may have to show proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay, as well as documents verifying your return or onward travel plans.

• Children and travel

Bulgarian authorities may consider a child born to a Bulgarian parent to be a Bulgarian citizen, even if the child was born in Canada and has a Canadian passport.

Accordingly, children under 18 may only leave Bulgaria when accompanied by both parents or with the consent of both parents. The absentee parent(s) must provide a statement of parental consent to travel, notarized by Bulgarian authorities. You or your child must present this consent form to the authorities upon exiting Bulgaria.

Furthermore, if you’re a single parent or the parent of a child travelling alone, you should contact the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Canada before travelling, to ensure that your child meets current entry and exit requirements. These may change without notice.

• Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Bulgaria (some content in Bulgarian only)
• Travelling with children

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a risk in some areas of this destination. It is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is spread to humans by the bite of infected ticks or occasionally when unpasteurized milk products are consumed.

Travellers to areas where TBE is found may be at higher risk  during April to November, and the risk is highest for people who hike or camp in forested areas.

Protect yourself from tick bites . The vaccine is not available in Canada. It may be available in the destination you are travelling to.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

In this destination, rabies  may be present in some wildlife species, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. 

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who will be working directly with wildlife. 

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that can cause fever, pain and bleeding under the skin.  In some cases, it can be fatal.  It spreads to humans through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, or from the bite of an infected tick.  Risk is generally low for most travellers.  Protect yourself from tick bites and avoid animals, particularly livestock.  There is no vaccine available for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Health care is inadequate. Private hospitals and clinics located in cities are often better staffed and equipped than public or rural facilities. Cash payment is required at time of service.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Transfer to a Canadian prison

Canada and Bulgaria are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Bulgaria to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Bulgaria authorities.

This process can take a long time, and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Identification

• Always carry photo identification, such as a passport
• Keep a photocopy in a safe location in case of loss or seizure.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Bulgaria.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Bulgaria, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Bulgaria.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Bulgaria, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Bulgarian court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Bulgaria to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• The Hague Convention – Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Face covering

It’s illegal to wear clothing or masks that partially or completely cover the face in public places. Failure to comply can result in arrest and heavy fines.

Photography

It’s illegal to photograph military installations.

Drinking and driving

Penalties for drinking and driving are severe.

The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%. If a police officer suspects you of drinking and driving, they could confiscate your driver’s licence on the spot and detain you. If you’re convicted, you can expect heavy fines and a possible jail sentence.

Driver’s licence

You can drive with a Canadian driver’s licence for up to 90 days after your arrival. You must carry an international driving permit for longer stays.

More about the International Driving Permit

Driving laws in Bulgaria

• You must possess a vignette or highway permit to travel on Bulgarian roads. You can purchase this electronic vignette at ports, border points, post offices and large gas stations
• Always drive with your headlights on
• Winter tires are mandatory during winter months
• All vehicle occupants must wear a seatbelt
• Children under 10 may ride in the front passenger seat if they’re secured in a child car seat and the airbag has been disabled
• It’s illegal to use a cellular telephone while driving, unless the phone includes a hands-free device
• You must carry a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and warning triangle in your car, as well as a reflective vest. You must always wear this vest when leaving a vehicle that is stranded or involved in an accident
• Carry all related documents, such as ownership, registration and proof of Bulgarian car insurance, in your vehicle

Follow speed limits on all roads. Police conduct frequent checks and may collect fines on the spot. Depending on the offence, they may also confiscate your driver’s licence at the scene. 

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Although the laws of Bulgaria don’t prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex, homosexuality isn’t socially tolerated.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

The currency in Bulgaria is the lev (BGN).

Bulgaria’s economy is primarily cash-based. Most businesses also accept euros and major credit cards. ATMs are widely available. The United Bulgarian Bank in Sofia can process international money transfers.

If you are carrying €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies, you must make a declaration to customs when you enter or leave the European Union. It includes sums in:

• banknotes and coins
• bearer negotiable instruments such as cheques, travellers’ cheques, promissory notes and money orders
• bonds, shares
• gold coins with a gold content of at least 90 %
• gold bars, nuggets or clumps with a gold content of at least 99.5 %
• any other convertible asset

This does not apply if you are travelling within the European Union or in transit to a non-EU country.

EU cash controls - European Commission

Earthquakes

Bulgaria is located in an active seismic zone.

Bulgaria is prone to flooding after heavy rains. Flooding is often localized, but widespread flooding has occurred in the past. Consult Bulgaria’s National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology for information and flooding alerts.

In winter, there’s a risk of avalanches in mountainous regions. This risk increases when temperatures rise rapidly after a particularly harsh winter. Extreme weather can also cause landslides.

In the summer and early fall, there’s a risk of wildfires.

National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology - Bulgaria

Local services

For emergency assistance, dial 112.

Consular assistance

Bulgaria, Moldova

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Romania in Bucharest and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Bulgaria Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to Bulgaria

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Bulgaria entry details and exceptions

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Can I travel to Bulgaria from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Bulgaria.

Can I travel to Bulgaria if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Bulgaria without restrictions.

Can I travel to Bulgaria without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Bulgaria without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Bulgaria?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Bulgaria.

Can I travel to Bulgaria without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Bulgaria?

Mask usage in Bulgaria is not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Bulgaria?

Restaurants in Bulgaria are open. Bars in Bulgaria are .

Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Is Bulgaria Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

• Bulgaria : Safety by City

Bulgaria is a country located in the Balkans on the western side of the Black Sea.

It shares borders with Romania to the north, Serbia to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia to the southwest, Greece to the south, and Turkey to the southeast.

Even though it’s one of the most interesting destinations in Eastern Europe, it’s still not swamped with stampedes of tourists, which makes it even more appealing.

Bulgaria is one of the few exotic countries in Europe since it’s still unexplored, yet it boasts gorgeous beaches, antique churches, numerous opportunities for tourists that are fans of winter sports and great hiking alike, and larger cities that are open for everyone, yet not crawling with hordes of visitors.

And although it has not been commonly visited by Westerners in comparison to other European countries, or even other countries in this region, this is slowly beginning to change.

• Warnings & Dangers in Bulgaria

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Bulgaria is very safe, generally. Crime rates are low and the most common form of crime is car theft and break-ins. Areas to avoid are the red light district near Pliska Hotel and park areas near Lion's Bridge, or Lvov Most.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Transportation is relatively safe and reliable in Bulgaria, but it is still somewhat known for reckless drivers and the driving is very hectic.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

There is some risk of encountering a pickpocket, especially in larger cities such as Sofia. Apply the basic laws of precaution to avoid such a situation, and follow your common sense.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Bulgaria has experienced some earthquakes, fortunately with mild consequences. In the mountainous regions, avalanches are possible.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Bulgaria is mostly safe when it comes to mugging and kidnapping, but it is recommended that you avoid poorly lit and deserted streets and dangerous areas known for street crime like the park areas near Lion's Bridge, or Lvov Most.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Even though there haven't been any terrorist attacks in Bulgaria's recent history, they shouldn't be ruled out, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

As in any tourist destination, there is risk of getting scammed. Check your change twice, negotiate everything in advance, never pay upfront, and be wary of people trying to distract your offering you unsolicited help with your luggage or anything else, as it might be a trick to steal from you. The most common scam is taxi drivers overcharging for rides.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Single women shouldn't have any problems, although special vigilance is advised around Sofia. Be extremely cautious around poorly lit or deserted streets and areas filled with clubs and bars as drunken people may cause havoc.

• So... How Safe Is Bulgaria Really?

Bulgaria is generally a safe country to travel to, and its people, much like in other Balkan countries, are quite friendly even though Balkan people have a falsely bad reputation.

However, even though it is safe, and Bulgaria’s crime rates are not high, you should always use common sense when you are outside of the main tourist areas.

If in Sofia, try to avoid dark streets at night.

Always take care of your belongings and keep them close by your side or safely in your accommodation, and never leave them in a visible place of your car.

When it comes to organized crime, even though it is a serious issue throughout Bulgaria, it usually does not affect tourists.

Also, the presence of organized crime groups are in decline, and Bulgaria is either way much safer than most European countries in terms of violent crimes.

Pickpocketing and scams are common, especially in crowded places (such as bus and train stations, airports and areas near major tourist landmarks), so watch over your valuables, and if you find yourself surrounded by a loud group of people throwing tantrums and making scenes, you should immediately move away from them, as it may be a trick to divert your attention, while they pickpocket you.

However, the most serious problem that travelers can come across is car theft.

If you drive an expensive car, never leave it in unguarded parking lots or in secluded streets at night – your car in these locations is likely to attract criminals.

• How Does Bulgaria Compare?
• Useful Information

Most countries do not need a visa for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that, you might have to acquire a visa. Make sure your passport is valid at least six months past your planned date of return. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

The Bulgarian lev is the official currency in Bulgaria. It is still largely a cash economy, and due to the potential for fraud, it is advised to use credit cards sparingly and with caution - for example, in establishments such as large supermarket chains or reputable hotels.

Considering it's a relatively small country, Bulgaria has a variable and complex climate. Heavy snowfalls are common throughout the country from December to mid-March, and expected in the mountainous areas of Bulgaria. July is the hottest month in Bulgaria with an average temperature of about 23°C,

Sofia Airport is the busiest international airport of Bulgaria located 10 km from the centre of the capital city Sofia.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Bulgaria, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Bulgaria Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Bulgaria - Safety by City

Explore bulgaria.

• 14 Most Beautiful Castles in Bulgaria
• Where to Next?

9 Reviews on Bulgaria

Worst place in europe.

The dirtiest people on earth, they scam you on everything, the maffia runs everything in tourist places, taxis kidnapp you, hotel workers steal, in the market they threathen you to buy things they claim you ”broke”. I was at sunny beach and it was the worst week of my life

@David: “In every herd there is a dirt”. It’s a pity you had your vacation ruined, but it’s also not fair and right to generalize the opinion for a hole country based only on a week spent in the drunkards’ paradise Sunny Beach!!! Maffia also runs the world, taxi drivers may charge you high everywhere in the world as well… Believe me, Bulgarians who want a vacation on the seaside do not go to Sunny Beach. And guess why, not because the hotel workers steal their belongings nor they have to pay for something that some else broke. They do not go there because of the scum coming from all over of Europe just to drink cheap (for their pocket) alcohol beyond unconsciousness in the noisy night clubs, and then do balconing on… the pavement. If you want to see what is Bulgaria like, go to other places like Veliko Tarnovo, Rodopa and Rila mountains, and many others where you will be surprised to meet people from western EU countries who decided to make it their home. Because of the nature, because of the people.

Also avoid Sunny Beach

Just like people go to Amsterdam to get a crack, people (younger tourists) from all around Europe (and Russia) go to Sunny Beach to get wasted. As previous reviewer said, it is not fair stamping the whole country “bad” just because you landed consciously in the worst place. It is like going to Las Vegas and complaining there are slot machines everywhere. Sunny Beach is for alcohol, drinking and vomiting – in that regards, if that is what you wish, is a wonderful place.

As to the Bulgaria and safety, it is, indeed, relatively safe with pickpocketing and mugging being observed. Taxis, especially in Sofia, shall be carefully chosen around major transportation hubs (stations and airports) due to some lookalikes that charge way higher or go on longer routes to the destination.

And, of course, do not expect “safety” on places where drunkards are gathering (some “clubs” and, of course, Sunny Beach).

Sure thing!

If you are British and you went to Sunny Beach, I can understand why you broke things in shops and taxis kidnap you…Brits who visit Sunny Beach are normally such scum, they turn delusional the moment they see real beer!

Totally Agree with All the reviews, every country has its good & bad places, but anybody with any sense will do there homework , stay away from such areas, its not difficult!! However the same ethos applies to the last reviewer highlighting `British` ..Be balanced in your understanding, travelling will give you the best Experiences in life you will ever have.

A small jewel of Eastern Europe

Like it says in the article, Bulgaria is an interesting place to visit that is pretty safe and is not very crowded like other countries. The country has a lot of good things about it, from the low price, generally hospitable staff and people, fantastic beaches, great looking churches, etc. Yes, there are some pickpockets here and there, especially in Sofia and other bigger cities and in more crowded areas. Just be on the lookout for them and you will usually spot them and be able to avoid them with relative ease.

I’ve also heard of muggings so this is a possibility. Doesn’t happen too often and if you avoid badly lit areas and not travel alone at night, then you will be fine. Be careful about taxi drivers as they like to overcharge. Make sure to set the price in advance otherwise you will pay more. Also car theft is a thing here so be careful where you park it.

When I was here I particularly liked:

Krushuna Waterfalls. They are beautiful and easily accessible. You can even follow a pathway and find a cave which is the actual source of the waterfall.

Buzludzha Monument. A huge monument that reminds us of the Soviet era, this place is abandoned but still beautiful in its own way.

The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari. Well preserved and only discovered in 1982, this tomb is unique in it’s combination of paintings and architecture.

Tsarevets Fortress. A beautiful place, a reminder of past times and wars, this fortress will take you on a ride into the past of Bulgaria.

Pirin National Park. Rare species live here and this park is one of the most beautiful I have personally seen. There’s fishing, hiking or cycling available.

Considering everything I’ve mentioned I don’t see any reason why you wouldn’t give this place a try. It’s usually cheaper than any alternative while offering comparable services and the staff in most hotels and restaurants is helpful and friendly.

Great place if you know where to go

If you are a young traveler looking to get drunk for cheap and go clubbing 24/7 Sunny Beach is your place, it’s filled with degenerates from all around the world. It is nothing but shady hotels, super loud music, fast food, and drug abuse. There is no culture to be seen, and it’s definitely not family-friendly. If you are looking for a real vacation, great hotels, and an overall much better experience I would recommend places like Burgas, Varna, Pomorie, Kiten, Balchik, Nesebar, Golden Sands for beaches, and Pamporovo, Bansko for skiing and extreme sports. If you want to experience life as it is, Sofia/Plovdiv will be your best bet. Your safest way of transportation in the capital will be the Metro, it’s clean, well lit with a ton of security. There are a lot of places to visit within a walking distance, museums, art galleries, historical monuments, cozy bars, and restaurants, hotels are also affordable (4+ *). As with any other country, my best advice will be to use your common sense. Almost everyone from the young generation in Bulgaria speaks English.

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Article Contents

• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
• Share Your Experience

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Bulgaria Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for Bulgaria.

⇧ Top

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Bulgaria.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Bulgaria. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Bulgaria.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Dogs infected with rabies are not commonly found in Bulgaria.

If rabies exposures occur while in Bulgaria, rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country.

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination considerations include whether travelers 1) will be performing occupational or recreational activities that increase risk for exposure to potentially rabid animals and 2) might have difficulty getting prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis.

Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.

For more information, see country rabies status assessments .

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Tick-borne Encephalitis

For travelers moving or traveling to TBE-endemic areas

TBE vaccine is recommended for persons who will have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary.

TBE vaccine may be considered for persons who might engage in outdoor activities in areas ticks are likely to be found. 

Tick-borne Encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil
• Avoid floodwater

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

• Tick bite 
• Touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF
• Avoid Bug Bites

Leishmaniasis

• Sand fly bite

Airborne & droplet

Avian/bird flu.

• Being around, touching, or working with infected poultry, such as visiting poultry farms or live-animal markets
• Avoid domestic and wild poultry
• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Bulgaria, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Bulgaria. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Bulgaria include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Bulgaria’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Bulgaria may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Bulgaria, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Bulgaria for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

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Exercise normal safety precautions in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria (PDF 256.65 KB)

Europe (PDF 2.62 MB)

Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

Call 112 or go to a hospital.

Call 112 or go to the local police station.

Advice levels

• Bulgaria experiences extreme weather. Heatwaves and wildfires occur throughout the summer period. Heavy snowfall and storms can occur throughout the winter period. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities if you're in an area affected by extreme weather. 
• Beware of pickpocketing and bag snatching in crowded places and on public transport. Take care of your belongings.
• Protests occur regularly. They can disrupt public transport and turn violent without warning. 
• Watch out for drink spiking. Don't leave your food or drinks unattended.
• Bombings, shootouts and gang wars can occur. Always be aware of your surroundings. Monitor the media for risks.

Full travel advice:  Safety

• Rabies may be present in wild animals. Get medical help straight away if you get bitten.
• Avoid stray dogs. They can be vicious, and attacks are common.
• Tuberculosis, typhoid, measles and hepatitis are common. Avoid raw or undercooked food.
• Healthcare standards are well below those in Australia. Medical supplies can be limited. Major cities have good hospitals. You may need to be evacuated if you're seriously ill or injured. Make sure your insurance covers this.

Full travel advice:  Health

• Don't use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties include heavy fines and prison sentences.
• Always carry valid photo ID.
• It's illegal to cover your face in public. Don't wear a balaclava or full veil.
• Same-sex relationships are legal in Bulgaria but aren't widely accepted. Avoid public displays of affection.

Full travel advice:  Local laws

• You don't need a visa if you're visiting Bulgaria for tourism purposes. In other cases, you'll need a visa. 
• Bulgaria partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March. Border checks will cease between Bulgaria and other Schengen countries for air or sea travel. Checks continue to be undertaken at land borders between Bulgaria and other Schengen countries. 
• If you're travelling without a visa, ensure your entire visit to the Schengen area is within the 90-day limit.
• Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate for enquiries relating to your ability to enter Bulgaria from your departure country.

Full travel advice:  Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  details what we can and can't do to help you overseas.
• The Australian Consulate in Sofia provides limited services and doesn't issue passports or provide notarial services.
• You can get full consular help from the  Australian Embassy  in Greece.
• Follow the Embassy's social media accounts to stay up to date with local information.

Full travel advice:  Local contacts

Full advice

Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common. Be careful:

• at tourist sites
• in crowded markets
• on shopping streets
• on trams and buses and at major transport hubs

Car theft is common. Only some owners get their vehicles back.

Car break-ins are also common, especially when valuables are easily visible. Park in a secure car park wherever possible.

To protect yourself from crime:

• keep your belongings close, particularly in crowded areas
• carry a photocopy of your passport
• hold bags and backpacks in front of you
• when driving or parking your car, make sure any valuables are out of sight

Violent crime can happen, including:

• turf wars between rival gangs

Organised crime groups are active in casinos, nightclubs and the sex industry.

Watch out for drink spiking, especially at popular night spots. Never leave your food or drinks unattended. Don't accept food or drinks from strangers.

More information:

• Avoiding sexual assault overseas

Cyber Security 

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:  

• Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Scams and fraud

ATM skimming and credit card fraud are common. Internet fraud also happens.

To protect your credit and ATM cards:

• use ATMs within banks, shops and shopping centres, especially at night
• check ATMs for skimming devices before using them
• don't use ATMs that look like they've been tampered with
• be aware of any people who approach you at an ATM
• always keep your credit card in sight
• be aware of internet scams

While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Bulgaria, they can still happen.

In recent years, terrorists have attacked several European cities. Targets have included:

• public transport
• transport hubs
• public places that travellers visit.

European security forces have also disrupted several recent planned attacks.

Bulgarian cities and winter ski resorts all have heightened security measures.

To protect yourself against terrorism:

• look out for possible danger, especially in public places
• take care around potential terrorist targets
• report anything suspicious to the police
• monitor the media for emerging threats
• take official warnings seriously
• follow the advice of local authorities

If there's an attack, leave the affected area as soon as it's safe. Avoid the affected area in case of secondary attacks.

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

Civil unrest and political tension

Protests, rallies and other demonstrations can occur without warning. 

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent. Injuries sometimes occur.

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Climate and natural disasters

Bulgaria experiences  natural disasters  and  severe weather , such as:

• earthquakes
• heavy snowfall

Large earthquakes are rare, but earth tremors are common.

Extreme weather can cause landslides and flooding. During the winter months, storms and heavy snowfall are common. Avalanches may happen in mountain regions, including at popular ski resorts, especially when warm temperatures follow a harsh winter.

From June to October, there are regular alerts for  wildfires . Large-scale and fast-spreading fires in forests and fields are becoming more frequent. Heat waves and dry conditions contribute to the danger of fire.

Get updates from the  National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology .

Take official warnings seriously. Follow the advice from local authorities.

If there's a natural disaster or severe weather:

• secure your passport in a safe place
• keep in touch with family and friends
• monitor the media, other local sources and the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System
• Travel insurance

Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

You may need to show proof of travel insurance in Bulgaria at the port of entry.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Bulgaria. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medicine is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

Health risks

Stray dogs roam city streets, often in packs. Dogs can be vicious, and attacks are common. Don't approach stray dogs, and seek medical advice immediately if bitten.

Rabies  may be present in wild animals.

If an animal scratches or bites you, seek immediate medical help. If you're going to work with wildlife in Bulgaria, your doctor may recommend getting the rabies vaccine before you travel.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis  is a risk, especially if you travel through forested areas.

Ticks are common in country areas from April to October.

Other health risks

Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are common. 

They include:

• trichinellosis
• tuberculosis
• west nile virus

To protect yourself from illness:

• in rural areas, drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid uncooked and undercooked food, such as salads
• avoid wild game food
• practice good hygiene (washing hands, cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces)

Get medical help if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

Medical care

Healthcare standards are well below those in Australia. Medical supplies are limited, particularly outside major cities. Staff rarely speak English.

Several private medical clinics and hospitals in Sofia and other major cities are well-equipped and well-staffed. However, treatment can be expensive. You may also need to pay doctors up-front.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you may be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

It's a legal requirement to have a form of ID or a copy of the bio pages of your passport with you at all times.

Covering your face in public is illegal, including wearing a balaclava, full veil or anything else that hides your face. This doesn't apply to wearing a face mask to protect from airborne disease. 

It's also illegal to:

• drive with a blood alcohol reading of 0.05% or higher
• refuse to take a breathalyser test
• smoke in any enclosed public place
• take photos of military sites or other secure places
• have sex with a child (under 18 years of age)
• view or distribute child pornography

Penalties for possessing or trafficking drugs can be severe. They can include heavy fines and prison sentences.

• Carrying and using drugs

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

Bulgaria recognises dual nationality.

If you're a dual citizen, this limits the  consular services  we can provide if you're arrested or detained.

• Dual nationals

Local customs

Same-sex relationships are legal but aren't widely accepted. Outside the capital Sofia, attitudes are generally more conservative.

There have been incidents of discrimination, verbal abuse and vandalism targeting LGBT+ people.

• Advice for LGBTI people

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

You don't need a visa to enter as a tourist for up to 90 days. You'll need a visa for other types of travel.

Bulgaria partially joined the  Schengen area  on 31 March. Border checks will cease between Bulgaria and other Schengen countries for air or sea travel. 

Checks continue at land borders between Bulgaria and other Schengen countries. 

If you're travelling without a visa, ensure your entire visit to the Schengen area, including your stay in Bulgaria, is within the 90-day limit. This applies to all arrivals (air, land and sea).

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest  Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate  for details about visas, customs and quarantine rules.

• Official Tourism Portal of Bulgaria
• Visas and entry requirements in Europe and the Schengen Area

Other formalities

Children under 18 years of age, including dual nationals, may only leave Bulgaria:

• if both parents accompany them or
• if they have consent from both parents

A Bulgarian notary must certify any parental consent.

If you're a single parent, ensure your child meets entry and exit rules.

• Embassy of Bulgaria in Australia
• Advice for people travelling with children

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X' gender identifier 

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

• LGBTI travellers  

The currency of Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev (BGN).

Declare amounts over 10,000 euros, or equivalent, if you're travelling between Bulgaria and any non-EU country. You need to do this on both arrival and departure. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

If you don't declare or give incorrect information, you'll need to pay a fine.

You don't need to declare cash if travelling to or from another EU country.

Access to money

Bulgaria is mostly a cash economy, particularly outside of Sofia, although credit and debit card use is increasing.

Exchange money in banks, large hotels or exchange bureaus. Avoid unofficial or street sellers.

Local travel

Carry your passport when you cross borders, even within the  Schengen area .

Check with local authorities and transport providers for the latest information on entry and exit changes and delays.

Driving permit

You'll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) and your current Australian driver's licence to drive in Bulgaria.

Your travel and vehicle insurance might be void if you don't have an IDP.

Get your IDP before you leave Australia.

When hiring a car, keep a copy of the original contract from the car hire company with you. If you're travelling across a land border into Bulgaria with a hire car, the contract should make clear that the vehicle can travel into Bulgaria.

• Driving or riding

Road travel

Major city streets and intercity highways are generally in good condition.

Driving on rural and secondary roads is hazardous due to the following:

• poor maintenance and lighting
• narrow roads
• poor driving standards
• wandering livestock and horse-drawn carts
• rockslides and landslides on roads in the mountains

Police strictly enforce traffic laws and conduct frequent checks. These include radar speed checks.

Depending on the offence, they may collect on-the-spot fines or confiscate your licence.

If you drive in Bulgaria:

• keep your headlights on, even during the day
• use winter tyres from November to March
• carry a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and warning triangle in your vehicle

You'll get a fine if you don't have a valid vignette (a permit for using the road network in Bulgaria). You do not need to print the vignette. Authorities accept electronic evidence.

Motorcycles

Ask your travel insurer whether your policy covers using a motorcycle, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet.

Use only authorised taxi and limousine services. Try to arrange these through your hotel.

Don't hail taxis on the street. Use taxis with meters that display clear rates.

Taxi drivers may overcharge, particularly at airports and train stations.

You can find companies offering metered taxi services inside Sofia Airport.

Public transport

Keep your belongings close on public transport, as petty crime happens.

The train system is poor by European standards. There have been several fires on trains.

Accessible public transport is available in Sofia and other large cities. However, it's limited in some parts of Bulgaria.

• Transport and getting around safely

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check  Bulgaria's air safety profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

English-speaking operators are available.

Consular contacts

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

The Australian Consulate in Sofia provides limited services and doesn't issue passports.

Australian Consulate, Sofia

37 Trakia Street  Sofia, 1504  Bulgaria Phone: (+359) 2946 1334  Email:  [email protected]

You can get full consular help from the Australian Embassy in Greece.

Australian Embassy, Athens

Level 2 5 Hatziyianni Mexi Street Athens 11528  Greece Phone: +30 210 870 4000  Email:  [email protected]   Website:  greece.embassy.gov.au   Facebook:  Australia in Greece

X: AusAmbAthens

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

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Tips on Bulgaria Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

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Bulgaria Warnings and Dangers

Bulgaria is a beautiful country with plenty of history, gorgeous architecture and friendly, helpful people. You may have heard stories about crimes against tourists, but don’t let that stop you from visiting. Instead, exercise caution and common sense, and you’ll have a wonderful visit.

[viator_tour destination=”46″]

Staying Safe In Bulgaria — What To Look Out For

As a traveler in Bulgaria, your biggest safety issue is likely going to be pickpockets. This is incredibly common, especially in large cities like Sofia. Pickpockets target tourists and are very quick, savvy and sophisticated. They often work in teams and may concoct a variety of scams and situations to confuse and distract you. The best way to avoid falling prey to a pickpocket is not to attract their attention.

How To Not Be A Target

Pickpockets are drawn to tourists, not locals. While you may not be able to pass for a local, there are things you can do to avoid being an obvious tourist. First and foremost, don’t stand out. Don’t flash large amounts of money, don’t be weighed down with shopping bags or luggage, don’t wear flashy jewelry and don’t look lost.

Walk with purpose. If you have a purse or bag, be sure you keep it close to you and secured. You can buy travel purses and satchels that are theft-proof. Pockets are not as secure as you think they are. If you are approached by someone asking you for money or something else that requires you to get in your bag, such as a cigarette or a pen, etc. walk away. This may make you feel rude, but again, in the midst of busy cities, pickpockets will say or do anything to get you to open your bag, put it down or to confuse and distract you.

Aside from pickpockets, there is also the chance that you could be mugged. Again, this typically happens in cities.

Avoid Being Mugged

Muggings are another occurrence you should be aware of. Again, don’t let this stop you from visiting a country, but do be aware. Often, your best defense here is your own responsible behavior. You can stay safe by not making yourself a target, as illustrated above, and you can be careful when you are out and about at night. Muggings may take place outside bars and nightclubs. Individuals and couples may be targeted walking back to their hotels and hostels at night.

It’s always a good idea to stay with a crowd, avoid dark streets and take a cab or other public transportation when possible. Avoid being intoxicated in public as that makes you more vulnerable.

Other Hazards To Watch For

Always be mindful of traffic, stay alert for scams and keep valuables secured at all times — or leave them at home.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Bulgaria Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips
• Bulgaria – What To Pack – Clothing and Supplies Tips
• 6 Months Living in Bulgaria

Editor’s Note: The above advice is compiled from the reports, reviews and tips of travelers to the country of Bulgaria.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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Bulgaria Travel Advisory

• Eastern Europe
• Bulgaria Travel Advice

We advise caution when travelling to Bulgaria

Local situation: 2.8 / 5.

We advise caution when travelling to Bulgaria. We detected travel advisories from 6 sources for this specific country.

Regional Situation: 3.0 / 5

Bulgaria shares a land border with 5 neighbouring states. For this region of countries (including Bulgaria), the Advisory Index is 3 (average value over all countries). All countries have some reported advisories: Turkey (3.5), Serbia (3.4), Romania (3.2), Greece with 2.8 and Macedonia with 2.3 (of 5).

Current informationen on Covid-19 in Bulgaria

There are currently no officially reported cases of infections with SARS-CoV-2 (or Coronavirus) in Bulgaria. As reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control this morning (~8:30am CET).

There are currently no officially reported deaths related to this disease in Bulgaria.

Source: www.ecdc.europa.eu

Advice scoring history for Bulgaria

Chart of the risk level over that last 200 days. This is the daily calculated travel risk for Bulgaria.

Chart of the number of sources over that last 200 days. This is the daily number of advisory sources (of any rating) that have been active on that day.

Note: Changes happening on the 28th/29th of July 2019 are related to a change in the software and number of sources processed.

Rating Details (single travel warnings)

These are the individual advisories published by other countries about the destination Bulgaria from a travellers perspective. The scoring of all messages combined is the foundation for the current rating 2.8 out of 5.0 .

This is the general advisory usually covering the country as a whole.

Advisory issued by: Canada

Source: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/bulgaria

Advisory issued by: New Zealand

If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.

Source: https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/bulgaria

Advisory issued by: United States

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Exercise normal precautions in Bulgaria. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Bulgaria.  

Source: http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/bulgaria-travel-advisory.html

Advisory issued by: Finland

Iaktta normal försiktighet - Se upp för ficktjuvar, speciellt i större städer och vid Svartahavskustens semesterorter. Undvik att röra dig ensam i små gränder och i parker.

Source: https://um.fi/resemeddelande/-/c/BG

Individual rating changes for Bulgaria

This is the recent history of individual changes of travel advices that affected the total asessment of Bulgaria. Most recent events first.

Changes from May 30th 2021

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 3.9 to 3.7 . Here are the influencing details:

The Danish government decreased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 3.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 4.0 (by -1.0).

Changes from August 28th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 4.0 to 3.9 . Here are the influencing details:

Changes from August 7th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 3.6 to 4.0 . Here are the influencing details:

The United States government increased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 4.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 1.0 (by +3.0).

Changes from July 24th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 3.4 to 3.6 . Here are the influencing details:

The Danish government increased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 4.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 3.0 (by +1.0).

Changes from July 9th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 3.2 to 3.4 . Here are the influencing details:

The Austrian government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 5.0.

Changes from June 27th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 3.3 to 3.2 . Here are the influencing details:

Changes from March 22nd 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 3.2 to 3.3 . Here are the influencing details:

The Canadian government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 4.0.

Changes from March 18th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 2.8 to 3.2 . Here are the influencing details:

The Australian government increased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 5.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 4.0 (by +1.0).

The Irish government increased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 4.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 3.0 (by +1.0).

Changes from March 15th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 2.0 to 2.8 . Here are the influencing details:

The Irish government increased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 3.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 1.0 (by +2.0).

The Australian government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 4.0.

Changes from March 14th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 1.8 to 2.0 . Here are the influencing details:

Changes from March 8th 2020

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 1.5 to 1.8 . Here are the influencing details:

The Danish government increased their existing warning for Bulgaria to 3.0 (of 5.0) from the previous rating of 2.0 (by +1.0).

Changes from September 25th 2019

The total rating for Bulgaria changed from 0.0 to 0.0 . Here are the influencing details:

The Danish government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 2.0.

The United States government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 1.0.

The Irish government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 1.0.

The Finnish government issued a new warning for Bulgaria with a rating of 2.0.

About Bulgaria

Bulgaria with its capital Sofia is a country in Europe (Eastern Europe), slightly larger than Tennessee (110,910 km²). The country is located Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey. The climate can be described as temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers. The landscape is mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast. With a population of about 7.26 million citizens.

Bulgarian flag

Introduction Video

Basic Statistics and Facts

Environmental problems and natural hazzards.

These are problems Bulgaria is facing. Environmental issues refer to damages of the nature due to industry and society. Natural hazzards refer to potential dangers originating in nature.

Environmental problems

• air pollution from industrial emissions
• deforestation
• forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain
• heavy metals
• rivers polluted from raw sewage
• soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes

Natural hazzards

• earthquakes

Top Industries and Agricultural Products

These are the main product industries and agricultural products of Bulgaria. This list indicates what this country is good at producing.

• automotive parts
• base metals
• chemical products
• electricity

Agriculture products

• sugar beets

Bulgarian Imports and Exports

These are the main product categories of imports and exports to and from Bulgaria.

Export products

• agriculture
• IT components

Import products

• raw materials

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current travel advisory for bulgaria.

Bulgaria is currently rated at 2,8 out of a possible 5.0. Collected from 6 official sources. We advise caution when travelling to Bulgaria.

Is it safe to travel Bulgaria in 2024?

Visiting the country Bulgaria is usually fine. The score is at 2,8 Just keep an eye open, obey local rules and you'll most likely be fine.

How many travel advisories do you know for Bulgaria?

We currently evaluate 11 official sources each morning. Today, we know of active advisories from 6 individual sources for Bulgaria.

What is the current Corona virus situation in Bulgaria?

There are currently no officially reported cases of infections with SARS-CoV-2 (or Coronavirus) in Bulgaria. As reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control this morning (~8:30am CET). There are currently no officially reported deaths related to this disease in Bulgaria.

What is the size of Bulgaria?

Bulgaria has a size of 110,910 km² or 42,823 mi² which is slightly larger than Tennessee.

Common Frequently Asked Questions

For non-country specific questions, please check our global F.A.Q.

Travel safety map for Bulgaria and bordering countries.

If you want to embed Bulgaria travel warning information into your website or application, check out these tools.

• Is Bulgaria safe to travel?
• What's the safety situation in Bulgaria?
• Are there security warnings for Bulgaria?

2020-03-10: Integrated data from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (COVID-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ Coronavirus).

2019-09-01: Added timeline charts for risk level and number of advisories.

2019-07-29: Added two more sources (Finland and Denmark). Affects country ratings.

2019-07-15: South-Sudan was missing and was added today.

2019-05-18: Performance improvements for API users.

2019-03-23: Introduced professional API with more data.

2019-02-13: Added three more sources (Cyprus, Ireland and Malta). Affects country ratings.

• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
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Australia and Oceania

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North America

• Antigua and Barbuda
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South America

• French Guiana
• Trinidad and Tobago

Republic of Bulgaria

Ministry of foreign affairs

Situation Centre

A priority task in the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria is to render assistance to Bulgarian citizens abroad. The new risks related to political instability, terrorism, organised crime, natural disasters, epidemics, industrial disasters, etc., which affect a large number of Bulgarian citizens who have found themselves in an emergency abroad and which has consular consequences, require the rendering of specialised assistance.  For this purpose in March 2010 the MFA of the Republic of Bulgaria established an Situation Centre. Depending on the nature of the emergency the MFA coordinates the efforts to help Bulgarian citizens with the different ministries and departments as well as with our EU and NATO partners.

Measures against the Spread of COVID-19 in India

Measures against the spread of covid-19 in bhutan, advisory to bulgarians traveling to the maldives, advisory to travelers to indonesia, malaysia, and singapore, extraordinary measures adopted in romania to prevent the spread of covid-19, measures against the spread of covid-19 in croatia.

Situation center

Consular relations

Reception of citizens

Important Information before a trip

Security risks.

There is a security risk during any trip. Travellers decide whether to undertake a trip regardless of the potential risk. We recommend that you become familiar with the information for travellers which you can find in the media and other reliable sources as regards risks that could put your journey under threat. During your stay in the foreign state keep following the situation.

Warning for travellers

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria by default publishes warnings for refraining from travelling only to regions where there are military operations (wars or civil wars in a particular country), with actual general security threat.

Behaviour in crisis situations

In case of disasters or political turmoil, you shall immediately contact the closest Bulgarian foreign mission. In case there is none, you can contact an EU member state foreign mission which shall provide help and protection to the Bulgarian citizens as far as this is possible.

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Travel Advice for Bulgaria

Going to Bulgaria and need to know about the latest government travel advice for Bulgaria? Find the updated travel advice and travel warnings for Bulgaria from governments around the world, here.

General Travel Advice and Warnings for Bulgaria

The decision to travel to Bulgaria is your decision and you are responsible for your personal safety and security whilst in Bulgaria.

The content on this page is offered information only and collected from travel advice and warnings for Bulgaria by authorities around the world to their citizens.

While we make every effort to provide you accurate travel advice information, it is supplied on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied.

This operators of this website does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information supplied.

General Cautions You Need to Remember When Travelling in Bulgaria

Crime – Petty crimes such as pick pocketing in a jampacked surrounding to sexual assault and robberies do occur in bigger cities of Bulgaria. Make sure that all your personal belongings, such as passports and other travel documents, are safe at all times.

Terrorism – Constantly be aware of your surroundings when in public areas. Be particularly watchful if participating in sporting occasions and during religious holidays and various other public events, as terrorists often use such events to mount attacks.

Demonstrations and Protests – Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any moment. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. It is in your interest of safety and security to stay away from areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place and adhere to the guidelines of local authorities. Monitor local media in Bulgaria for information on on-going protests in Bulgaria.

Scams – Exercise care in crowded tourist areas in Bulgaria, where scammers target travellers. If you have actually been scammed in Bulgaria, reach a safe area right away; take note, as soon as possible of the name and address of the facility where you were held; inform the authorities in Bulgaria and acquire a record and if your credit card is used by the scammer call your credit card company to inform the scam; they will likely request a copy of the police report to cancel the transaction.

Spiked Food and Drinks – Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers when travelling in Bulgaria or anywhere else. Watch out for accepting snacks, drinks, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items might have drugs that might put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

What is the entry/exit requirements for Bulgaria?

Every nation or territory chooses who can enter or exit through its borders, likewise Bulgaria chooses exactly who enter its territories. The Government of your home country can not intervene on your behalf if you do not fulfill your Bulgaria’s entry or exit requirements.

To learn more regarding the entry/exit requirement for Bulgaria see visa requirements for Bulgaria or obtain the current details with the visa office at the Bulgarian consulate in your home country.

Travel insurance for Bulgaria

Travel health cover is one of the main reasons visitors obtain travel insurance policy. It will not stop you getting ill or seriously injured, though it can stop you suffering financially. Medical support overseas can be extremely expensive.

You must pay for all healthcare you obtain overseas. You can not expect to get free or subsidised treatment through your Bulgaria’s public health system, like you would in your home country.

If you can’t pay, local authorities can apprehend you. The government from your home country can’t pay you medical bill for you, loan you cash or get you out of jail.

You need travel insurance for travelling to Bulgaria . You also need to make certain you select a policy that is right for you.

Read through the fine print of your travel insurance policy.

Declare all pre-existing conditions to your travel insurance company upfront. If you do not, you may void your travel insurance plan.

Inform your travel insurer the activities you plan to do, before you go. Many popular activities like winter sports are left out in basic plans. You might need to pay extra.

Check if you have free credit card travel insurance coverage. Some cards include travel insurance coverage cover. However, they typically have various conditions than paid policies. Understand the differences.

If you’re travelling to Bulgaria from a country that has a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, you still need travel medical insurance. Agreements are restricted in what they’ll will cover.

If you have a terminal ailment, you might not be able to get basic travel insurance coverage. However you might have the ability to find a specialised insurer that covers you for health, accidents or property troubles unrelated to your health problem. Talk with your insurance provider to find out.

Discover more about getting international travel insurance coverage for Bulgaria before you go.

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Is it safe to go there? What State Department travel advisories mean for your vacation

If you're planning an international trip, you're probably researching the safety of your destination.

The U.S. Department of State offers guidance based on the most up-to-date information about potential hazards that can disrupt travel or threaten personal safety. The department issues advisories that classify how safe a place is to travel on a given moment.

Each country has an advisory level from 1 to 4, from lowest risk to highest risk. The most dangerous places to visit, including areas affected by war and unrest, are classified under Level 4, which means "do not travel." Some countries, including Mexico, have different advisory levels for different regions.

Here's what the State Department travel advisories mean.

What are the travel advisory levels in the US?

The State Department classifies how safe a place is to travel by assigning an advisory level, from Level 1 to Level 4. Here's what the advisory levels mean:

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions. This indicates the least risky places to travel to, but the State Department cautions that "there is some risk in any international travel."

Level 2: Exercise increased caution. Travelers should be aware of higher safety and security risks in their destination, and that conditions can change at any time.

Level 3: Reconsider travel. Serious safety and security risks exist and conditions can change at any time. The State Department provides more specific guidance for travelers in Level 3 areas.

Level 4: Do not travel. Level 4 countries represent the highest risk of life-threatening danger and little to no ability for the U.S. government to assist when an emergency occurs. The State Department advises travelers to avoid Level 4 countries, that Americans in those countries leave as soon as it's safe to do so, and to write a will and leave DNA samples before travel in case of worst-case scenarios.

Some countries have varying advisory levels with different guidance based on the region. This includes Mexico, where most states are under advisories ranging from Level 2 to Level 4.

Is there a worldwide travel alert?

Yes. The State Department issued a worldwide caution for international travel in October 2023, which was updated in May 2024, because of the "potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests."

The worldwide caution was first issued shortly after the Israel-Hamas war began, and was updated to warn travelers of "increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events."

What countries are on high alert for travel?

Any country classified with a Level 4 advisory is considered high risk for travel, according to the State Department. High risk means local conditions are very hazardous and/or the U.S. government has little to no ability to help travelers in trouble.

What countries have a Level 4 travel warning?

As of May 2024, these countries and regions are under a Level 4 advisory, meaning do not travel:

• The Gaza Strip
• Afghanistan
• South Sudan
• Central African Republic
• Burkina Faso
• North Korea

Six states in Mexico have a Level 4 travel warning: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

What countries have a Level 3 travel warning?

As of May 2024, these countries and regions are under a Level 3 advisory, meaning reconsider travel:

• Israel and the West Bank
• Mainland China and Macau
• Guinea-Bissau
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• El Salvador

What level of advisory is Mexico?

Mexico has 32 federal entities: 31 states and the capital, Mexico City. Six Mexican states have a Level 4 travel warning:

Seven states in Mexico have Level 3 advisories:

• Baja California

Travelers to Puerto Peñasco , the popular Sonora resort town also known as Rocky Point, should follow safety precautions that include only using Federal Highway 8 via the Lukeville Port of Entry and only driving during daylight hours .

Mexico City is under a Level 2 advisory.

Where should Americans not travel right now?

Travelers should be cautious if planning to travel anywhere with a Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisory from the State Department.

The department does not restrict people from traveling to Level 4 countries, except for North Korea. Americans can only visit North Korea for limited humanitarian purposes and must apply for a special passport that allows this travel.

Is it safe to travel to Europe right now? 

It depends where you're going. Destinations such as Greece, Hungary, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland are under Level 1 advisories, the State Department's lowest level. Exercise normal caution when you visit.

France , Germany and the United Kingdom, the three European countries with nonstop flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, are under Level 2 advisories because of the risk of terrorist attacks. The State Department advises travelers to be aware of their surroundings when in crowded public spaces and follow instructions from authorities.

Visitors to France should also be aware that pickpocketing and civil unrest are also possible in their travels, according to the State Department .

Is it safe for Americans to travel to China?

Most of China, which consists of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, is under a Level 3 advisory.

The State Department advises travelers to reconsider travel to mainland China because of arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans that ensnared travelers in recent years , and the risk of wrongful detentions. Travel to Macau should be reconsidered because of the U.S. government's limited ability to provide consular services there.

Hong Kong is under a Level 2 advisory because of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

How to check for travel advisory? 

Visit travel.state.gov for detailed advisories on the country or countries you plan to visit.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:  @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.

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A Disaster of the U.S. Military’s Own Making

Austin Valley’s death exposed the Army’s most urgent challenge: a suicide crisis among soldiers in peacetime.

The dress uniform of Austin Valley, a 21-year-old who became one of at least 158 active-duty Army soldiers to die by suicide in 2023. Credit... David Guttenfelder for The New York Times

Supported by

By Janet Reitman

Janet Reitman is a contributing writer for the magazine who has been reporting on the military and mental health since the mid-2000s.

• Published June 19, 2024 Updated June 20, 2024

Austin Valley had just arrived at his Army base in Poland, last March, when he knocked on his buddy Adrian Sly’s door to borrow a knife. The base plate of his helmet was loose and needed fixing, he told Sly. The soldiers had spent most of their day on a bus, traveling from their former base to this new outpost in Nowa Deba, near the border with Ukraine. It had been a monotonous 12-hour journey with no stops and nothing to eat but military rations. Sly thought his friend looked exhausted, but then so did everyone else. He handed Valley an old hunting knife, and Valley offered an earnest smile. “Really appreciate it, man,” he said. Then he disappeared.

Listen to this article, read by January LaVoy

A boyish-looking 21-year-old, Valley grew up in a military family in rural Wisconsin and declared his intention to join the Army at age 7. He enlisted on his 18th birthday, so intent on a military career that he tried to sign a six-year contract until his father, a Gulf War veteran, persuaded him to take it more slowly and commit to three. Stationed at Fort Riley, in Kansas, he made an immediate impression on his superiors. “He was one of the best workers that I’ve seen in the military,” a squadmate says, recalling how Valley, who drove an armored troop carrier, thought nothing of crawling into its guts to check for broken parts, emerging covered in grease, a flash of mischief in his deep brown eyes.

Valley left Sly’s door and walked into the forest. A fresh snow had fallen, and the larch trees towered above him, their branches bare and ghostly. Valley carried the borrowed knife and some nylon cord he’d probably procured from another fellow soldier. He texted his parents: Hey mom and dad I love you it was never your fault.

Thirty minutes passed before Erik Valley, Austin’s father, saw the text. He called Austin’s cellphone several times but got only his voice mail. He contacted Austin’s unit at Fort Riley and eventually reached a sergeant; Erik explained the situation and forwarded Austin’s note. “Could someone please check on him and let me know what’s going on, please,” he said.

Word of a soldier’s disappearance spread quickly across the Polish base. Sly recalled sergeants pounding on doors and shining their flashlights. “Where’s Valley?” one asked him. Sly and several others from Valley’s unit took off into the woods. Seeing fresh tracks in the snow, one soldier followed them until he heard a faint gurgling sound. Drawing closer, he saw Valley, hanging from a tree. He was alive, but barely conscious. The soldier cut Valley down, while another called for the medics, who sped off with him into the night. His friends would never see him again. The following morning, Valley was taken to the U.S. Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, and then returned to Fort Riley. Four weeks later, he was dead.

Valley was one of at least 158 active-duty Army soldiers to die by suicide in 2023. According to the investigative-journalism nonprofit Voice of San Diego, young men in the military are more likely to die by suicide than their civilian peers , reflecting a suicide rate that has risen steadily since the Army began tracking it 20 years ago. That these deaths are occurring within a peacetime military contradicts a common misperception that soldier suicide is closely linked to PTSD from combat. In fact, those at the highest risk for suicide are active-duty personnel who have never deployed . During the first half of 2023, 102 soldiers from Valley’s 4,000-person brigade were hospitalized for suicidal ideation. “Unfortunately, I think suicide has just become a normal part of Army culture,” one former officer at Fort Riley says. “It doesn’t even surprise anyone anymore when it happens.”

Since the end of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has maintained its global footprint, even as the force has shrunk. (Last year, the Army had to lower its recruiting goal after it fell short by 10,000 recruits in 2022.) But the Army’s “operational tempo” — the amount of time soldiers spend on deployments or training missions — is as high or higher in some units than it was at the peak of the war on terror. American soldiers are currently training foreign troops in Eastern Europe as part of a NATO mission to support Ukraine; conducting military exercises across the Far East and South Pacific as a counterweight to China; and also monitoring Africa and the Middle East for terrorism threats.

“Senior leadership, in my view, became habituated to the go-go tempo of the past 20 years — it’s all they ever knew, and now it’s seen as normal,” says Dr. Stephen Xenakis, a psychiatrist and retired Army brigadier general who has served as an adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on mental health. “It’s not normal. It’s a climate rooted in constant pressure, constant movement and constant trauma. And the legacy of that trauma and combat cascades down on the soldiers.”

The Army’s motto is “People First.” But a yearlong investigation into Austin Valley’s death — including more than three dozen interviews with family, friends, fellow soldiers, senior Army leaders and mental-health specialists, as well as a review of Valley’s medical records, social media posts and text messages — shows that the Army failed to live by it. The Army’s mental-health system, experts say, is focused more on ensuring that units meet their personnel goals than on the welfare of soldiers. A result is some of the highest suicide numbers the Army has ever seen — despite the millions of dollars in suicide-prevention research the Defense Department has invested over the past two decades.

In February 2023, the most recent of the department’s independent suicide-prevention committees published its findings in a 115-page report, one of several released since 2008 that have often repeated the same basic findings and recommendations. “My expectation is that this study will sit on a shelf just like all the others, unimplemented,” says M. David Rudd, a clinical psychologist and the director of an institute that studies military suicides at the University of Memphis. The committee cited high operational tempo, ineffective leadership and poor quality of life on many bases as areas of particular concern. “I would argue that the well-being of your troop force is central to having a ready military,” Rudd told me. “Unfortunately, the Department of Defense doesn’t see it that way.”

After Military.com published a story about Valley and I began reporting on his death, the soldiers in his unit were instructed by their leadership not to talk to me. Nearly 20 of those soldiers, as well as some officers and senior enlisted personnel, did so anyway. Many of them spoke on the condition of anonymity, as they are still on active duty and fear reprisal, but Adrian Sly, who left the Army late last year, disillusioned by its handling of Valley’s and other suicides, is one of several people who were eager to use their names. “We’ve had countless suicides and suicide attempts,” he says, “almost all of them swept under the rug. The Army failed Valley, time and time again, just like they’ve failed all of us.”

A senior officer in Valley’s brigade I spoke to says the military has created a mental-health crisis so acute that he regards it as the Army’s new war. “Every generation of soldiers is defined by the conflicts that killed them,” he says. “For the greatest generation, it was World War II; for baby boomers it was Vietnam; for Gen X it was Iraq and Afghanistan. This new generation, what’s killing them is suicide.”

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Go here for resources outside the United States.

Valley joined the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley in March 2021 as a gawky teenager. He had dreamed of becoming an elite Army Ranger, but after failing to make the cut for Ranger school, he quickly recalibrated and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps: Erik Valley was an infantryman who had commanded a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a hulking troop carrier that looks like a modified tank. Austin idealized the life of a soldier, says his mother, Diane, who is divorced from Erik. He was drawn to the infantry’s ethos of brotherhood and teamwork, which he absorbed over countless hours playing military-themed video games as well as in conversations with his recruiter.

Valley was assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion 70th Armored Regiment; he joined C Company, known as Carnage, a unit with a fleet of Bradleys. According to The Army Times, some armored units have been shown to have some of the highest operational tempos in the Army, with deployments roughly every 18 months. Since the early aughts, the Army has overhauled its training methodology at least twice, switching, in 2017, from one that allowed soldiers a year of low-intensity duties after a deployment, known as a reset period, to one that provides for no break in activity at all. Under this model, known as Sustainable Readiness, soldiers return from eight- or nine-month training missions and almost immediately get ready to deploy again. “It is not sustainable, what we are asking people to do,” one high-ranking sergeant says.

Valley had only recently arrived at Fort Riley when his unit, which had just returned from a nine-month deployment to South Korea, began to plan for its next long deployment, to Poland. “The op-tempo was like nothing I had ever seen in 16 years in the Army — and that was Iraq and Afghanistan,” the senior officer in Valley’s brigade says. Most of Carnage’s Bradleys dated back to Operation Desert Storm and had been rarely used during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now soldiers were tasked with fixing them to ensure as many vehicles as possible could deploy with the unit. Often, this required troops to cannibalize components from their most broken-down Bradleys. “We would spend all day fixing a vehicle that would just break the next day,” says one former soldier from Valley’s unit, Hector Velez. One brigade medic told me he spent most of his three years in the Army working on vehicles.

Senior leadership tried to rally their soldiers around the mission of deterrence. “Officially,” says one close friend of Valley’s stationed in Europe, “we’re ‘giving Russia the middle finger’ by ‘showing them we can deploy anywhere by any means with all our gear.’” Unofficially, he adds, “I have no idea what we’re doing here.” Low morale, or what soldiers called a sense of purposelessness, was palpable. “Sometimes we sat around and joked all day about killing ourselves,” says a platoonmate of Valley’s who recently left the Army. “I mean, we were all depressed. Everyone in the Army is depressed.”

Among themselves, soldiers in Carnage talked about feeling disposable — like broken parts on a Bradley. Valley cracked jokes or stuck cigarettes up his nose to lighten the mood among his friends, but with his superiors, he endeavored to do everything perfectly. He tried to memorize the thousands of parts to his Bradley and kept a running list on his phone of not only his own vehicle’s deficiencies but the others’ as well. “Austin worked his ass off,” the squadmate says. “He did everything they asked of him.” There was one evening, Erik Valley recalls, when Austin called him from work, “really pissed off” because no one had been sent to relieve him so he could get dinner before the cafeteria closed. He thought his leaders had forgotten about him. “That shocked me,” Erik said. “Forgot? Something like that would never have happened in the Army I joined in 1987.”

By the spring of 2022, Valley had dropped 8 pounds from his already lanky 150-pound frame. He had trouble sleeping, waking several times during the night. In the morning, he would wake up feeling sluggish and irritable and then drag himself through another 12-hour day. He seemed affectless; one of his supervisors said it was as if he were “moving and talking in slow motion.” When he went home to Wisconsin for a week’s leave that May, Diane immediately noticed the change in her son. “He was saying things like, ‘Mom, I’m so tired, I don’t care about anything anymore,’” she says. “That’s not Austin.” Worried, Diane urged Austin to get help.

That July, Valley walked into one of the clinics at Fort Riley for an intake appointment with a counselor. Though Army bases now offer a range of programs to improve mental health, from confidential stress-management sessions to yoga and meditation, the primary resource is clinical counseling through the Army’s Behavioral Health department, referred to colloquially as B.H., which both providers and military personnel describe as dysfunctional. “It’s like a cesspool,” the former officer at Fort Riley says. “They simply don’t have the resources to give soldiers the help they need.”

There are approximately 21 B.H. officers and civilian counselors in the clinics at Fort Riley serving over 12,000 soldiers. Tara Fields, a former provider at the base, told me its hospital has been running on roughly 40 percent staffing for years.

Valley explained how he was feeling to a counselor and was given an appointment for the following month. By then, his condition had worsened. His unit, the 2-70, was in the last months of preparing to deploy to Poland. He had recently been promoted to gunner, a position he coveted, but he worried about not being “good enough.” He was sleeping even less than he had before, plagued by nightmares and racing thoughts he called the “what ifs”: What if I jumped in front of that tank? At the clinic, he took a test to assess whether he had suicidal ideation, a six-question survey given to every soldier who receives mental-health counseling, at every visit. When asked if he’d wished he were dead or could “go to sleep and not wake up,” Valley answered yes.

After a single 60-minute appointment, the counselor suggested medication. Clinicians at Fort Riley have been instructed to assess and diagnose patients thoroughly before taking this step, but counselors I spoke to, citing their heavy caseload, said that the rule is not always followed. (Sly says he was offered medication before he even sat down for an official session.) Valley was prescribed an antidepressant called mirtazapine, the generic version of the drug Remeron. Because of that, he was given a special designation and issued what’s known in the Army as a profile, a health care form provided to a soldier’s command that details his condition and treatment plan. (Soldiers who have received one are commonly referred to as being “on profile.”) Valley’s profile noted that he should not handle heavy machinery while on the medication. Several days after it was issued, he was taken off the gunner position.

“They told me it wouldn’t really affect my job,” he texted Sly.

“They lied,” Sly replied. “B.H. always [expletive] lies.”

Valley’s profile stipulated a 90-day period of medication adjustment, during which he would be marked “nondeployable” unless given a special waiver. Granting medical waivers to troops so they can deploy is a longtime practice in the Army, provided a soldier is not in crisis. “I think being with their teammates in that deployed environment where they are surrounded by their buddies 24/7 is arguably a better environment for them to be in than to be left back in garrison,” one high-ranking official at Fort Riley told me. But it is also a product of the pressure put on units to maintain mandated troop levels for training missions like the one in Poland.

Several Army leaders I spoke with told me they believed the practice of granting waivers to soldiers on profiles for mental-health concerns had become more common over the past five or six years, as unit commanders struggled to meet personnel quotas. These quotas are set at the highest level of the Army and passed down to brigade leaders, who have no choice but to fill them. For the NATO mission in Europe, Valley’s brigade was required to deploy at least 80 percent of its soldiers within the first month of its deployment.

“No one wants to admit that it’s all a big numbers game, but that’s what it is,” one of Valley’s former sergeants says. “If your roster says you need 160 soldiers to make your quota, it doesn’t matter if 40 are broken, 10 are almost dead and the rest are on profiles — you’ll somehow find a way to count them.” I spoke to one soldier previously hospitalized for a suicide attempt, who said his unit commander overrode his profile just so he could deploy and come back a few weeks later — once the quota was met.

In October 2022, a month after starting medication, Valley was asked by his superiors if he would be amenable to telling his behavioral-health counselor that he wanted a waiver to deploy. Valley later told his friends that Carnage Company’s two seniormost leaders presented the scenario in stark terms. The whole unit would be in Europe, except for a small rear detachment of soldiers who were either too sick or had some other reason they couldn’t deploy. He didn’t want to be left behind, they said, especially since they would be training with Polish troops. It was the closest thing to a combat mission that he, as an infantry soldier, could have at this point — and given the war in Ukraine, who knew? Maybe they would see some action. “In his words, they told him that he would ‘probably feel like a shitbag’ if he didn’t come out,’” Sly recalls.

None of his friends thought a waiver for Valley was a good idea. “Those of us who worked with him every day knew he was struggling,” Sly says. “But the leaders guilted him into it, and being Valley, he didn’t want to let them down.”

Though the Army insists it is working to remove the stigma around seeking behavioral-health support, unit leadership often undermines some of its most basic safety protocols. In Carnage, soldiers I spoke to told me, everyone was aware of who was on a profile and who wasn’t — sergeants kept track of their soldiers’ mental-health appointments on a large whiteboard. “That profile really lowered his self-esteem,” Hector Velez, the former soldier in Valley’s unit, recalls.

Valley was still working long hours as the unit scrambled to ready its vehicles for deployment. Though the medication helped with his insomnia, it often left him so lethargic that he nodded off at work or slept through morning formation. Every time that happened, one of Valley’s platoonmates says, the platoon was “smoked” — made to repeat intense physical tasks like push-ups or laps, as a form of discipline. They would line up next to a log, hold it above their heads and move it from shoulder to shoulder, he said, “while Valley stood there and watched.”

At Valley’s next appointment with a counselor, in late October, he said he would like to deploy with his unit, insisting he was feeling much better. His medical records were riddled with red flags. He was still reporting suicidal ideation at least once or twice a month. A provider who knew Valley might have scrutinized his records more carefully, but according to many soldiers at Fort Riley, there is little continuity of care within the mental-health clinics. Valley had never seen this provider before, and he insisted that in spite of his reported suicidal ideation, he couldn’t even remember the last time he had a suicidal thought. The provider took Valley at his word, noting that he was stable on his medication and that therefore she had “no imminent concerns” about suicide.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to request a waiver for Valley fell to his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Michael Kim. As the date of its deployment neared, the 2-70 was having trouble making its quota. They were hovering around 75 percent, according to one officer who recalls meetings where his colleagues agonized over how to increase the numbers. Carnage, with about 150 soldiers, had by some accounts a particularly high number of soldiers designated “nondeployable.” Commanders were scrambling, numerous sources told me. “Instead of saying, ‘OK, who is nondeployable,’” one former platoonmate says, “it was more like, ‘Who is the least nondeployable we can still deploy?’”

The Army’s procedure for sorting through that question is a meeting known as a profile scrub that happens on every base before deployment. According to the former officer at Fort Riley, battalion leaders and medical and B.H. personnel discuss every soldier on profile, writing their names on a whiteboard. The meeting takes place in front of all the staff or company commanders, many of whom do not need to know about soldiers’ medical status, she notes. Then the doctor goes through the list and tells the battalion commander if each person is waiverable or not. One of Valley’s former sergeants told me that there was robust discussion within the company about whether to move forward with a waiver request for Valley. “As I recall, the initial consensus was ‘no,’” he says. “And then battalion called, and it became ‘yes.’”

Since 2008, military command has tried to exert more control by making mental-health units answerable to brigade leaders, who write their annual evaluations and control their career prospects. Commanders can exert pressure to adjust treatment plans or request waivers to allow soldiers to deploy, and providers, many of whom are themselves young, inexperienced and overworked, feel they are unable to push back. “You have to make a choice,” one B.H. officer told me. “Your career or the lives of your soldiers.”

In 2021, a counselor at Fort Riley who refused to sign off on returning a severely depressed pilot to duty was removed and threatened with investigation, according to multiple sources. The counselor’s caseload of patients was given to other clinicians. Soon after the counselor was removed, one of those patients, a lieutenant being treated for suicidal ideation, committed suicide.

When I spoke to the B.H. officer about this, she blamed the system for this tragedy. “Putting unit readiness above a soldier’s welfare is unethical and negligent, but there is no accountability for the higher chain of command to do the right thing for these individual soldiers,” she says. “The accountability is: Meet these training timelines, meet these deployment schedules, meet these personnel quotas.”

In mid-November 2022, as the first wave of soldiers from the 2-70 deployed to Poland, the battalion’s B.H. officer, Capt. Melissa Samio, filled out a waiver request form citing Valley’s “symptom improvement” and his stability on medication, writing that he was now “good” with “no required follow-up.” Based on his medical records, it is unclear whether Samio, at least the fourth B.H. provider Valley had seen since his first appointment in July, had met Valley before this date. Two days later, a memo using the same language was submitted by the 2-70’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Kim.

Now that his deployment was becoming real, Valley began to have second thoughts. He told his family that his medication wasn’t working anymore, though he continued to feel the side effects. “We all thought he was overmedicated,” his father says. Valley told his parents that one of his rotating cast of counselors didn’t think his deployment was a good idea. They never learned which one, because this information was not reflected in the records they obtained. Valley’s latest counselor, a civilian social worker at the hospital, diagnosed his increasing anxiety over deploying as “undue concern.”

“No one is listening to me,” Valley said to his mother. He had told the platoon medic that his medication was no longer effective and reported that he was having “active” thoughts of suicide. There is no mention of this in the social worker’s notes. “What I’ve observed,” the former officer at Fort Riley says, “is that a lot of the providers are just so burned out and so detached and overwhelmed, you could tell them just about anything, and it doesn’t get in.”

By Thanksgiving, with most of his buddies already gone to Poland, Valley was resigned. “The Army’s gonna do what it’s gonna do,” his father recalls him saying. On Dec. 5, Valley’s waiver was approved. On Dec. 7, in a last attempt to stave off deployment, he scheduled an emergency session with the social worker and reported that he was now having active thoughts of suicide, “with method.” She made a few important notes — stating that Valley’s depressive symptoms had worsened, and recommending a follow-up appointment — but as Valley didn’t say he had an active suicide plan, he was again reported as not under “imminent threat.” The social worker marked Valley as “psychologically fit for duty.”

Four days later, he left Kansas for Poland.

“Today is my birthday, but it doesn’t really feel like it,” Valley wrote in his journal on Dec. 17, 2022. He was 21. He had arrived a week earlier at L.S.A. South, his unit’s base in the Polish woods near the border with Germany. It was a raw facility, with little more than a dining hall and a recreation tent where soldiers could play video games or watch TV. The soldiers were housed in 50-person tents arranged around a two-mile track, with a helicopter landing pad in the center. The winter was bleak and desolate, with temperatures in the single digits; it was dark for half the day. A few of the soldiers who had deployed to Afghanistan told their friends they’d had better conditions in Helmand.

The unit had come to Poland as part of the joint U.S.-NATO mission to support Ukraine and prevent further Russian aggression. For the members of Valley’s company, they might as well have been back in Kansas, remaining mostly on base, doing the same sort of vehicle maintenance they did at Fort Riley. They had deployed with more than 80 percent of their equipment, meeting their readiness quota, but according to several soldiers, most of their vehicles barely worked. “If we had an enemy who had functional weapons and knew how to use them, we’d stand no chance,” Sly says. (The Army said in a statement that its vehicles were in a “high state of readiness.”)

Valley spent his birthday thinking about suicide. He went out to smoke a cigarette in the hopes of easing his mind, but he wrote in his journal that it didn’t help. He had envisioned how he would do it: He would go to the base’s shooting range, gun holstered, and then, just when the ready-to-fire order was given, he would put his pistol to his head. He told no one about this vision. Instead, he told Brandon Uttaro, the friend he confided in the most, that he probably shouldn’t be trusted with a weapon.

Senior Army officials told me that any soldier who is deployed after receiving a waiver for a health condition must be sent to a location where they can receive a similar level of care. This was not possible for Valley. There were only two B.H. officers embedded with the 3,000-odd soldiers of 2nd Brigade, split among bases in Poland, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania and Germany. Half a dozen or so counselors with the Army’s confidential counseling service also deployed with the brigade but could usually be reached only by phone, as they, too, were spread across the region. Valley asked about the availability of therapy almost as soon as he got to Poland, but was told it could take weeks to get an appointment. Providers were booked solid for telemedicine sessions and rarely made it out to remote bases like L.S.A. South, where the only reliable resource was the chaplain.

Valley spoke to the chaplain but told friends it didn’t help. “I don’t know what I can do anymore,” he told Uttaro in a text message. “I’ve tried everything.” Uttaro had recently been sent to Kosovo, and he urged Valley to talk to his leadership. “Please?” he said.

“I don’t want to get kicked out,” Valley said.

“It’s better than being dead,” Uttaro said.

In late December, Valley was transferred out of Carnage to serve as the driver for the battalion’s sergeant major. He now lived and worked in a different part of the base from his former squadmates, whom he rarely saw. “I feel like a big piece of me was stolen,” he texted Uttaro.

One of Valley’s sergeants, Howard Fritch, told me that shortly after Valley arrived in his company, he pulled Fritch aside and told him that he didn’t think he should be in Poland. Fritch, who had not been advised of Valley’s mental-health history, was “confused about how he got sent out,” he says, and approached one of his superiors. No one in company leadership had been made aware that Valley had been struggling. “We were not advised of anything,” Fritch says.

By early February, according to a note in Valley’s medical records, his company leadership was informed that he was exhibiting depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, but Valley still received no formal behavioral-health counseling. Instead, Fritch and another soldier told me, some of Valley’s squadmates were instructed to keep an eye on him. They did the best they could, making sure Valley ate his meals with them and went with them if they left the base to go out in town.

One weekend, one of Valley’s buddies managed to get them weekend leave, and they went to Berlin. During that trip, he seemed like his old self, his friend says. They went clubbing, got drunk and visited Checkpoint Charlie, the famous Cold War border crossing between East and West Berlin. When they got back, he seemed better, his friend says. He even talked about enrolling in college so he could become an officer. But after a few weeks, he was down again.

In early March, Valley’s girlfriend broke up with him. Valley, according to many of his friends, had a hard time accepting it. Around this same time, he was taken off mirtazapine and put on the antidepressant Celexa. Valley had been complaining that the mirtazapine no longer worked for him, but there are no notes in Valley’s medical records that explain why this switch was made or if the prescriber was aware of Valley’s psychiatric history.

Either way, several Army behavioral health care specialists I spoke with found the choice of Celexa troubling, as it is part of the class of antidepressants that comes with a black-box warning, because it can increase suicidal thinking in some young patients. “I’d argue that a 21-year-old soldier who has a history of suicidal ideation and is still adjusting to a new environment warrants a closer look before putting them on that drug,” says one B.H. officer informed of the details of the case.

“I’m losing my mind,” Valley texted one of his sergeants about a week after starting the Celexa. He begged for help: “I need an actual B.H. person.” On March 9, after three months of asking for therapy, Valley was finally given an appointment with Melissa Samio, one of the two B.H. providers embedded with the unit, who was now stationed in Bulgaria. Samio hadn’t seen Valley since she requested his waiver at Fort Riley in November. Now, during a video session, Samio asked Valley how he was feeling. “Really, really shitty, ma’am,” he said, according to her notes. He told her about his breakup and said that he had thought about suicide that morning. “Everything’s falling apart,” he told Samio. Concluding that he was an “intermediate risk” for suicide, Samio issued a new 30-day profile that barred him from carrying or firing a weapon. After the session, she reached out to the battalion primary care officer to arrange for Valley to be evaluated in person. The officer, Samio later noted, never called her back.

Under Samio’s orders, Sergeant Fritch was assigned to administer Valley’s medication, and a small group of fellow soldiers, designated as “battle buddies,” was instructed to watch him around the clock, even when he went to the bathroom or shower. Most of them, Fritch told me, were in their early 20s. Fritch himself was 24. David Rudd, the University of Memphis psychologist, sees the assignment of suicide watch to nonclinicians as dangerous. “It’s a myth that somehow a unit can effectively do a suicide watch,” given their lack of specialized training, he says.

For all of its stated commitment to suicide prevention, the Army only recently released its suicide-prevention policy, three years after promising it. The policy does not provide additional guidance for how soldiers or officers are supposed to respond if someone in their ranks is contemplating suicide beyond what’s offered in the annual 60-minute module that has been in place for years — a program called “Ask, Care, Escort.” The soldiers in the 2-70 said this mainly consists of asking someone if they feel suicidal, “and if they’re honest and said yes,” Sly explains, escorting them to someone higher up.

“I’m so sorry you have to do this,” Valley apologized to his friends. He texted his father to tell him. “I just want to feel normal,” he said. But the next day, he felt worse. During an emergency session with Samio that evening, Valley said that he was suffering dramatic mood swings he described as “happy, sad, insane” and had spent most of the afternoon ruminating about suicide. Samio changed her assessment of Valley to “high risk.” Still, she agreed to allow him to travel to Nowa Deba the next morning with a small group of soldiers selected to help set up the 2-70’s new base. After the session, Samio made another call to the battalion primary care officer to request that Valley be seen by the medical team before his departure, but it is unclear if she reached him, and Valley left the base without being checked out.

As the bus wound its way along the snowy highways, Valley stared at his phone. A friend in Kansas had sent him his ex-girlfriend’s Tinder profile. He texted his friend Brandon Uttaro in Kosovo. “I’m serious about killing myself now,” he said.

“Don’t,” Uttaro urged him helplessly from 900 miles away.

Valley texted one of his sergeants. “I need to talk to you later.” The sergeant didn’t respond. Valley texted a few others.

Yo, I really need to talk later.

Hey man I’m really sorry I’m going nuts.

He called a buddy at Fort Riley, twice. His friend didn’t call back.

Many hours later, after Valley vanished into the woods, Fritch blamed himself. He had been assigned to room with Valley and went with him to dinner, then back to their quarters to unpack. But then Fritch got a phone call to check on some vehicles, and Valley said he was tired and wanted to sleep. “I left him alone for five minutes,” he told me. This gave Valley the opportunity to leave his room and gather the supplies he needed from friends like Sly, who, as they were now in different companies, had not been told about the suicide watch. Sly was angry not to have been informed, and he was even more angry about what happened after Valley was cut down from the tree and saved. “The Army was given a miraculous second chance to help him,” he says. “Despite that chance, they changed nothing.”

At the hospital in Germany, Valley was diagnosed with acute adjustment disorder and borderline personality disorder. “A diagnosis of borderline personality disorder during a three-day hospitalization is highly questionable, especially in a 21-year-old male who was considered a good, strong soldier,” says Dr. Stephen Xenakis, the retired general, who is trained in child and adolescent psychiatry and reviewed Valley’s records this year with his parents’ consent.

He found nothing in Valley’s behavioral-health history to support a diagnosis of B.P.D. His symptoms — suicidality and feelings of emptiness or low self-esteem — can be present in many other more common psychological illnesses, like depression. Young adults with personality disorders generally do not perform well in the military, Xenakis points out, and have frequent conflicts with superiors and other interpersonal issues. But Valley’s superiors, and his counseling records, consistently describe him as “polite,” “forward-thinking,” high-functioning and eager to improve.

Borderline personality disorder can qualify a soldier for rapid discharge from the Army. Because it is considered a pre-existing condition, soldiers who receive the diagnosis can be denied disability benefits and may even receive less-than-honorable discharges, effectively blocking their access to any military benefits, including those granted by the G.I. Bill.

Valley was adamant that he did not want to be discharged. The inpatient-care team in Germany noted that he had responded well to treatment, including a new prescription for Prozac. They recommended that, before a decision was made about his status, Valley be “afforded a greater opportunity to engage in more extensive care.” But instead of creating a plan for that treatment, they sent Valley back to Kansas only with the recommendation that he attend therapy sessions once or twice a week. It would prove to be a crucial misstep.

Valley was released from the hospital on Friday, March 17, with papers indicating that he was no longer suicidal, but his next B.H. appointment wasn’t until the following Monday. Escorted by his company commander, Capt. Alex Savusa, he flew back to Kansas. His mother says she had spoken to Savusa on the phone and was assured that Austin would be hospitalized, and she was shocked when her son called her to say he was back at his barracks. “He told me he was on duty,” she says. “My reaction was, Whoa, whoa, whoa — what’s going on here?” Accompanied by a friend, Austin was going off-base to eat, shop and visit his storage unit. Like his ex-wife, his father was horrified. “He’d just hung himself and now he was free-ranging,” Erik says.

At the brigade’s headquarters at Fort Riley, a handful of officers and senior enlisted soldiers had been tasked with managing the roughly 1,000 troops who had not deployed. There was no plan in place for what to do with Valley over the weekend, and Savusa and the brigade’s senior enlisted officer for the 2-70’s rear unit once again relied on the ad hoc battle-buddy system they had in Poland. Valley’s friends checked in and spent time with him, but no one followed him to the bathroom or did anything else that might have felt intrusive. “He wasn’t, like, physically watched, because anybody who goes through that stuff doesn’t want to be, like, in prison,” one of his battle buddies said. I asked this soldier how you watch someone without physically watching them. “You can’t,” he admitted. “It’s a messed-up system.”

The following Monday, Valley was escorted by a sergeant to the hospital, where he had a behavioral-health intake appointment and was once again assessed as a “high risk” patient. Fort Riley has an intensive outpatient program that would have required Valley to visit the hospital for counseling three or more times a week; he expressed interest in this program, but according to one officer apprised of the situation, the head of behavioral health at the hospital said he didn’t think it was necessary. Instead, Valley was put on the schedule for weekly therapy sessions. “I’d never seen anything like that — this soldier hung himself,” he told me. “I was just speechless.”

Valley went back to his room and texted his mother. “I will never get out of this hole,” he said. “It’s dug too deep.” He added that he wanted to go to sleep and maybe not wake up. Diane forwarded the message to Erik and his wife, Stephanie, an Army Reserve officer and registered nurse. Erik called the behavioral-health department at the hospital but was told that privacy laws prevented them from sharing information about a patient. “We weren’t asking for information,” Stephanie says. “We were trying to provide them with information so they had a clearer picture.”

By the middle of Valley’s first week back at Fort Riley, Stephanie called Savusa and tried to appeal to him as a fellow officer as well as a parent. “I really had to ask him, as a peer, if he understood the seriousness of this, and the implications,” she recalls. As a critical-care nurse, she had worked with suicidal patients. Without regular monitoring, a person would probably try suicide again, she told the captain. Savusa, she recalls, was sympathetic but said they simply didn’t have the manpower for a sustained watch. “He told me, ‘It’s not the Army’s job to babysit these children,’” she says. (Savusa declined to comment.)

Valley’s family believed he was being denied access to appropriate care. “He kept saying he needed help, and no one was helping him,” Diane says. “For two weeks straight, he would call me every night and vent, and every night I’d have to talk him down.” Austin’s conversations with his family took on an erratic and desperate tone. He told Diane that he thought he had a parasite growing in his head. He accused Erik, who had been managing his money while he was deployed, of trying to steal from him, and told a friend that his dad had insulted him after his failed suicide attempt. He accused his sister, who texted him regularly, of abandoning him. One night he called his mother, sobbing that he needed help and saying that he wanted to take all his pills. The next day he texted to apologize, writing, “I’ve been having weird mood swings.” A bit later, he added: “I’m not going to get better mom. This is with me forever now.”

Valley’s superiors, one of whom told me they met every week to discuss his situation, saw a much different Austin. Shortly after arriving at Fort Riley, Captain Savusa tried to impress upon Valley the need to demonstrate his commitment to staying in the Army. Fearing an early discharge, Valley took this warning seriously. He accepted whatever responsibility he could, serving as a battle buddy for a fellow soldier who had been sent back from Poland for surgery. He struck his leaders as a soldier who was trying his best to get better — and, as they saw it, was gradually improving.

In a few weeks, he had gone from having a regular escort to his appointments to being able to roam around the base relatively freely, with regular text and phone check-ins with his sergeants. (According to Valley’s phone records, these generally took the form of brief text exchanges between Valley and his squad leader, Sgt. Armando Cazarez. “Up?” Cazarez texted. “Up,” Valley wrote back.) He started working out at the gym and bought a car. “The situation as I understood it was: ‘He’s saying he’s fine, he looks fine, he’s acting fine. There’s no major red flags,’” one of Valley’s former sergeants says. “If you knew Valley, that is exactly how he would try to seem to his leaders.”

Valley’s discharge papers from the hospital in Germany stated “No alcohol.” Alcohol use can worsen behavioral-health conditions and can also interact negatively with psychiatric medication. Despite this warning, by the start of April, Valley was drinking heavily. As with other behavioral-health recommendations, it is the soldier’s command that has the final decision, and one officer from Valley’s unit told me that prohibitions against alcohol use are almost never enforced. Valley was also left to administer his own meds, and he told one buddy that he had stopped taking them. The friend, unaware of Valley’s medication protocols, told no one. “What I want to know is,” Diane says, “where were the people with a mature mind-set to stop any of this?”

That same week, Valley asked for a four-day pass to leave the base over Easter weekend. The medical team had approved Valley for Fort Riley’s intensive-care program, which he was scheduled to begin on April 11. An official agonized over whether to give Valley the pass. But the behavioral-health officials, loath to impose too many restrictions on Valley, encouraged it. The official gave in.

On April 6, in the evening, Valley left the base with some friends and headed to Manhattan, Kan., where they spent the night barhopping. At some point that evening, Valley saw his ex-girlfriend walk into a bar with another guy. He proceeded to drink himself into a stupor.

“It [expletive] me up,” he told a friend the next morning. He sounded as if he were still drunk.

That afternoon, he walked into a pawnshop to buy a gun. Federal law prohibits people who have been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward or institution from purchasing a firearm, but Valley had voluntarily checked into the psych ward at the Army hospital in Germany after his suicide attempt. Army records show that Valley was marked as “high risk” and was prohibited from handling weapons on base, but federal law dictates that the policy can’t extend beyond the installation’s gates. It also does not apply to personally owned firearms. Without any red flags appearing on his federal background check, Valley was able to buy a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol, which he brought back with him to Fort Riley later that day. He texted Uttaro to tell him. “How the [expletive] you have a pistol on high risk?” Uttaro asked.

“America,” Austin replied.

On the night of April 10, Valley spent several hours drinking heavily in his barracks and then drove to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in Topeka. He arrived just before midnight, and called her, but she didn’t answer. “Can I just get one last kiss,” he texted. “It’s an emergency.”

“Go to the emergency room then,” she replied.

“I don’t think you understand,” he wrote.

Valley vomited in the parking lot and texted her a few more times. Then, carrying the pistol, he entered the building and pounded on her door. She called the police and locked herself in the bathroom. Valley forced his way into the apartment; a police unit, sirens wailing, grew closer. By the time officers arrived, he was bleeding from a gunshot to the head.

Valley was taken to a hospital in Topeka, where he was admitted to the I.C.U. and put on life support. The Valleys received a call from a nurse and immediately drove 12 hours to Kansas. No one from Fort Riley had reached out to them, Stephanie told me, and for most of the night, Valley lay in the I.C.U. alone. “The abandonment,” Stephanie says. She held Austin’s hand, thinking of something she had said to Savusa. She warned him in their phone conversation that following a suicide attempt, the most dangerous time for a second attempt is in the following month. Austin shot himself on April 11, 2023, exactly a month after he hanged himself in Poland. The next morning, he was declared brain-dead.

Word reached Poland immediately that a soldier from the unit had died by suicide. The chaplain gathered the soldiers who had gone to Nowa Deba with Valley back in March and told them who it was. He encouraged them to talk to their buddies if they needed support, and reminded them that they had good leaders. The squadmate who had found Valley in the woods told me he stood there in disbelief. For a month, he had suffered nightmares about the experience. There had been no real discussion within the unit after Valley’s suicide attempt, no real acknowledgment that it had happened. A B.H. counselor had visited Nowa Deba, but offered little meaningful support. “He advised me to drink water,” the squadmate says. After hearing about Valley’s death, he told me, “I went back to my room and sat there for a long time and didn’t leave until the next day.”

The soldiers of the 2-70 were told to go back to work and instructed not to post about Valley on social media. A few days later, at Nowa Deba, Valley was given a cursory memorial service. For many, it felt to them as if their grief was brushed aside, along with the gravity of what had happened. Their leaders advised the soldiers not to feel guilty, as there was nothing they could have done, Sly told me. He disagreed: “There were plenty of things that plenty of people could have done.”

A thick layer of humidity hung over the Valleys’ five-acre property in Kewaskum, Wis., when I visited last summer. Sitting at his kitchen table, Erik, a burly, bearded man in his mid-50s, was hunched over his laptop, scrolling through photos on Austin’s Facebook page. “Like here,” Erik said. “See how happy he looked? He was doing good here.” Taken during a training exercise in the Mojave Desert in March 2022, the photo showed Austin in a flak vest, wraparound shades and a green watch cap, posing with his buddies on a rocky hillside. “I miss my son every minute of every day,” he said.

For months, Erik Valley spent his days going through the boxes of papers Austin left behind, combing through Austin’s phone and text messages, as well as his medical records, which Erik notes are incomplete, to try to piece together an explanation of how his son was allowed to try to kill himself — twice. There have been four investigations into Valley’s suicide, one conducted by the Topeka Police and three by the Army. Erik has filed several Freedom of Information Act requests for more of Austin’s medical and other records and has enlisted the help of Wisconsin’s junior senator, Tammy Baldwin, who wrote to the Army on the Valleys’ behalf, but they have not received the Army’s final investigative report.

Of the 20 or more soldiers interviewed for this article, most now say they’re leaving the Army. Sly finished his contract in November. “I couldn’t do it anymore,” he says. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to have faith in this Army if it’s so willing to just abandon the individual for the sake of the collective and still manage to fail the collective.”

Last June, Diane received a text from one of Austin’s battle buddies saying that a supervisor had asked him to make a statement that Erik was “a reason that everything happened” because of the harsh comments Austin claimed he’d made about the first suicide attempt. That soldier told me that the supervisor who’d approached him about it was Staff Sergeant Cazarez, who was tasked with checking in on Valley at Fort Riley and who seemed worried that The Times was reporting on the suicide. “I really wasn’t supposed to talk to you,” the soldier says. (Cazarez, who has left the Army, denied that he asked soldiers to implicate Erik; the Army said in a statement that “no member of the command asked soldiers to lie.”)

Erik was outraged when he heard what Cazarez had reportedly asked the soldier to do; he denied that he ever stole from Austin or ridiculed him after his suicide attempt. “People want to shift blame from themselves to me,” Erik says. “That’s just dereliction of duty, plain and simple.” Erik told me that he’s been “pro-military” all his life. “The Army I joined was all about honor and courage, and doing the right thing, telling the truth,” he said. “So show me your integrity by holding those responsible accountable. Otherwise, soldiers will continue to die, and during peacetime, not combat, for no good reason.”

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.

Additional research by Amber Von Schassen.

Janet Reitman is a contributing writer for the magazine. Her upcoming book from Random House traces three decades of political and economic upheaval that have broken people’s faith in the promise of America. David Guttenfelder has documented the U.S. military at war for more than a decade as a photographer, including years spent in Afghanistan and Iraq. His coverage also includes the struggles of service members who return home and are at a high risk for suicide.

Read by January LaVoy

Narration produced by Tanya Pérez and Krish Seenivasan

Engineered by Devin Murphy

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