What options do you have if your asylum application has been rejected by the State Agency for Refugees?
If the State Agency for Refugees refuses to grant you international protection, you have two options – either to appeal the decision or leave Bulgaria.
Precept to leave
The State Agency for Refugees can refuse, revoke or terminate the international protection or revoke temporary protection. When the decision is final the State Agency for Refugees will inform the police because the finally rejected asylum-seekers have no longer the right to remain in Bulgaria as part of the EU. In these cases the police can issue an order for the return of the finally rejected asylum-seeker to his country of origin, transit or third country, or to start the implementation of such order, if it was issued before the submission of the asylum application.
Entry ban
Asylum-seekers who failed to obtain protection will be considered irregular migrants. If they fail to fulfil the precept to leave Bulgaria within the indicated deadline they can be returned by the police against their will. In such cases a ban to enter Bulgaria and EU will be also issued. If, however, the finally rejected asylum-seekers return to their country of origin voluntarily they will not be imposed an entry ban.
Voluntary return
The return order will give you a period between 7 and 30 days to leave Bulgaria. Within this period, you can voluntarily leave the country, or you can file a request to the police to prolong the voluntary return deadline and to explain why it is necessary. This period cannot be prolonged for more than 1 year.
If you have not left within the term for voluntary compliance with the order to leave, you will receive an EU wide entry ban for a period of up to 5 years.
Appeal
You can appeal the order to leave before the Administrative Court. Read more about the appeal procedure.
Deportation
Bulgaria, your return order will be enforced, and you will be deported. In this case, you will not be detained as an asylum-seeker, but as an irregular migrant, as your status changes after the asylum refusal becomes final. Read more about detention in the immigration context.