Bulgaria - UNHCR Participatory Assessment Report May 2025

Countries: Bulgaria, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. As an external border of the European Union (EU), Bulgaria serves as a critical entry and transit point at its southeastern frontier. Its strategic position makes it a key country for mixed and onward movements of forcibly displaced and stateless people into Europe. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, more than 224,000 refugees from Ukraine were granted Temporary Protection (TP), of which 82,432 are valid as of the end of 2025. TP registrations continue to rise, increasing from 72,000 in February 2024 to over 82,000 in the same period. As of December 2025, the Ukrainian refugee population in Bulgaria is predominantly composed of women and children, who together account for 61% of the 82,432 valid temporary protection registrations. Adult women represent the largest demographic at 42%, with the 35–60 age bracket being the most significant, while children under the age of 18 make up an additional 20% of the total. In contrast, adult men and older persons (60+) constitute a much smaller portion of the population. Due to ongoing safety concerns and the fragility of potential ends to the war, UNHCR maintains that conditions in Ukraine do not yet support safe returns. Most refugees are unlikely to return soon; therefore, legal protection must remain in place until a thorough security assessment and progress toward a lasting peace settlement are achieved. Individuals from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, and others continue to seek asylum in Bulgaria. However, as of the end of December 2025, only 3,895 applications have been registered, according to the State Agency for Refugees (SAR). This marks a sharp decline compared to 12,250 applications in 2024 and a more significant drop from approximately 22,500 registrations in 2023, highlighting a downward trend in arrivals in Bulgaria and lodging of new asylum claims. Syrian nationals remain a consistent presence among asylum-seekers, a trend that has persisted since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011. As of the end of 2025, 42 Syrians have been recognized as refugees and 851 have been granted humanitarian status. However, many Syrians, including unaccompanied children, do not remain in Bulgaria due to family reunification concerns, limited integration opportunities, socio-economic barriers, and a lack of prospects to reestablish their lives in Bulgaria. Additionally, the granting of international protection for Syrians, and Afghans has decreased. For unaccompanied children, their claims for international protection have been more likely to be rejected, and family reunification has become increasingly difficult, further driving onward movement. In 2025, UNHCR maintains its advice to the states to suspend the issuance of negative decisions for Syrian asylum-seekers until the security and human rights situation under the new administration is more clearly understood. It maintains a moratorium on forced returns, urging states to uphold the principle of nonrefoulement and to ensure access to territory for those still fleeing.
2026-05-11 09:03:18