Unaccompanied children

Entry is allowed to all children from Ukraine, whether accompanied by one of the parents or an official guardian or whether they are traveling with other adults.

 

If the child is accompanied by an adult relative who is not a parent or guardian/guardian, or another person close to the family to whom the child is entrusted by one of the parents or guardian/guardian, that adult must prove to the Bulgarian authorities that the child has been entrusted by his or her parents through a power of attorney from the parents.. The signature of one of the parents of the power of attorney must be notarized – in Ukraine or in the country where the parents are and where they signed the power of attorney.

 

If the accompanying person does not have a power of attorney from the child’s parents, it is possible for the border police or police officers in the country to register for temporary protection, may ask the accompanying person to submit a declaration of childcare.

 

Admission to the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is allowed to minors arriving from Ukraine in the presence of an identity document – passport, passport, identity card or birth certificate and any other available identity document of the child, regardless of whether the child is accompanied by one of the parents, guardian or guardian within the meaning of the Bulgarian legislation.

 

The access of unaccompanied children to the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is ensured in view of their best interests and their right to request and receive temporary protection in the Bulgarian state.

 

Border guards must inform the child and the accompanying adult of the possibility to register for temporary protection in Bulgaria at the border without delay. If the child and the accompanying person declare their willingness to register, it must be registered immediately and the child is issued a separate document – a registration card of an unaccompanied minor/underage foreigner who has been granted temporary protection.

 

If  the accompanying child has a power of attorney from the parents, border guards or other police officers must instruct him or her that once he or she enters and settles at the destination address, he or she must go to the local Child Protection Department of the Social Welfare Agency as soon as possible to provide an exemplary statement that he or she wants to take care of the child.  while in Bulgaria.

 

If the  accompanying child does not have a power of attorney from the parents and cannot prove, border officials or the police are obliged to immediately notify the Child Protection Department of the Social Assistance Agency that the child is unaccompanied.

 

Actions of the Child Protection Department of the Social Assistance Directorate

 

In case of submission of a declaration by the child’s companion or receipt of a message from the police to the Social Assistance Directorate about the unaccompanied, a check, study and assessment of the situation is carried out.

 

When the Social Assistance Directorate determines that it is in the best interests of the child to stay with the accompanying adult, an order shall be issued for the placement of the child at the address of the accompanying adult. This judgment must be affirmed by the local district court. After issuing the order and serving a copy on the accompanying person, he has the right and obligation to represent the child and, if necessary, so that the child can enjoy the rights guaranteed by law to attend kindergarten or school, receive free medical care, etc.

 

It is possible that the child is in Bulgaria unaccompanied. This situation also occurs when there is an accompanying person, but he does not agree to take care of the child, as he considers it impossible to care, due to illness, old age, lack of finances and other similar reasons. Another possible case is when the attendant agrees to take care of the child, but the Social Assistance Directorate considers that he or she cannot take care of the child (for reasons such as illness, old age, etc.), and therefore cannot be appointed as an attendant if the child lives with him at a common address. In this case, another type of accommodation outside the family is sought. Such accommodation may be in the foster family or in family-type accommodation centres, transitional housing and other similar accommodation for children deprived of parental care.

 

If the child has unknown or deceased parents, after its temporary protection, the Social Assistance Directorate may recommend the formal appointment of foster parents as guardians of the child (for children under 14) or custodians (for children aged 14 to 18) by a mayor of the municipality where the child is located. This does not mean that accompanying, foster parents, heads of institutions or appointed guardians or custodians acquire custody of the unaccompanied child.

 

In Bulgaria, deprivation of parental rights is possible only through a special court case in which parents whose rights have been deprived must be present. In addition, Bulgarian legislation allows the adoption of children only with the consent of the parents or without a valid reason the child continues to be in boarding school for more than 6 months.

 

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