Bulgaria Visa Application, Visa types, Requirements & How to Apply

Filed in Visa by Careersngr Staff on December 20, 2021 • 0 Comments

Welcome to the Information about Bulgaria Visa – Requirements & How to Apply page. If you are here to learn more about Bulgaria Visa? Then you’re at the right place.

People Travel to Bulgaria for its folklore and opera singers and musicians and especially for its rich folklore traditions.

Other Related Visas

Do I Needs a Bulgaria Visa?

Citizens of several countries can enter Bulgaria for short-term stays without a visa, including Schengen countries, the USA, Australia, and Canada.

All foreign nationals that are not visa-exempt must apply for a visa for Bulgaria to be allowed into the country. However, all children under the age of six (even those from visa-required countries) are exempt from holding a visa when entering Bulgaria.

You need a visa for Bulgaria if you are from one of the following countries:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
The People’s Republic of (PRC) China
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo-Brazzaville
Cote d’Ivoire
Cuba
Democratic Republic of Korea
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Republic of Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Authority
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Swaziland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

What Countries are Exempt from Bulgaria Visas?

The following countries are exempt from holding a visa when traveling to Bulgaria for a period of less than 90 days.

Albania*
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina*
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
China, Hong Kong
China, Macao
Columbia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
El Salvador
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia*
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxemburg
Macedonia*
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova*
Monaco
Montenegro*
Netherland
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Palau
Panamas
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Republic of Korea
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Serbia*
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Ukraine*
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
The United States of America
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Venezuela

Bulgaria’s visa-exemption only applies to holders of biometric passports.

Added: Since Bulgaria is part of the European Union, all other EU member countries along with Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland are also exempt from Bulgaria long-term visas (over 90 days) as well as from Bulgaria work permit requirements due to the EU Right of Free Movement.

Bulgaria Visa Requirements

When submitting a Bulgaria visa application, you must have several required documents, such as:

Bulgaria visa application form, completed in typed letters and signed.
Your passport/travel document, which must have at least two blank pages in order to affix the visa.
Photocopies of the personal information page on your passport as well as any previous visas
- Photocopies of any other permission to stay in a foreign country (visa, residence permit), even if it’s not affixed to your passport (if applicable)
A recent passport-size picture of yourself, in line with Bulgaria visa picture requirements:
- Dimensions: 3,5 cm х 4,5 cm
- Recent
- Professionally taken
- Set against a light-colored background
- You must be facing forward, with a neutral facial expression
- Your face must cover 70-80% of the picture
- You may not wear tinted eyeglasses or decorative headgear
Travel itinerary/flight ticket.
Proof of travel insurance of at least €30,000 for the duration of your stay covering any repatriation or medical emergency expenses.
Hotel reservation, or proof of another form of accommodation.
Proof regarding the purpose of travel.
Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay, such as bank statements. You must have a minimum of €50 per day, but no less than €500 – or the equivalent of that in your country’s currency.
- You may also submit proof you’ve pre-paid accommodation or that someone in Bulgaria will undertake the cost of sustaining you there, such as a person or company/institution.
Certificate of police clearance (if necessary).

The documents have to be legalized (through an Apostille stamp or otherwise).

Additional Requirements for Bulgaria Tourist Visa

The additional required documents for a regular Bulgaria tourist visa include:

Letter of invitation from your host in Bulgaria. If you are travelling for business purposes or for a private stay, you must have an invitation letter from the relevant person/legal body. The letter must be legalised by a notary judge and the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior in Bulgaria.
Hotel reservation, or proof of another form of accommodation.
Proof of return/onward flight ticket reservation or proof you have enough money to purchase such a ticket.
If you are travelling as part of an organized group/with a travel agency: Tourist voucher from the travel agent.

Additional documents required for a:

Bulgaria Medical Treatment Visa
- A discharge declaration by the hospital in your country
- A certificate from the Bulgarian medical institution receiving you along with a treatment plan
Cultural exchange: A letter of invitation from the Ministry of Culture or from the mayor of the municipality receiving you.
Bulgaria Sports Visa: A letter of invitation, issued from the Bulgaria Ministry of Youth and Sport or from the relevant athletic club.

Bulgaria short-stay visas (also referred to as C Visas or tourist visas) are issued mainly for tourism, business, recreational, medical purposes or for a private stay.

However, Bulgaria also issues a type of C Visa for transit purposes, issued for foreigners travelling through the territory of Bulgaria (ie. entering through the border with one country and exiting through the border with another country).

Additional Documents Required for a Bulgaria Transit C Visa

The additional documents you must submit when applying for a Type C transit visa for Bulgaria are:

Photocopies of any other permission to stay in a country, even if not affixed to the passport (if applicable).
If you are driving a car, you need an additional €200, or their equivalent in your country’s currency.

Bulgaria Visa Requirements for Airport Transit Visas

When applying for a Bulgaria airport transit visa, you need the following additional documents:

Photocopies of any other permission to stay in a country, even if not affixed to the passport (if applicable)
Flight booking for onward travel along with the original and a photocopy of the flight ticket.

Bulgaria Student Visa Requirements

In addition to the requirements mentioned above, when applying for a Bulgaria student visa, you must also have the following documents:

Certificate of Acceptance issued by Ministry of Education Bulgaria (original).
Original copies of your academic transcripts/certificates.
Travel insurance from your country of residence.
Proof of private health insurance in Bulgaria.
Proof of payment of the educational institution’s tuition fee.
Police clearance or previous convictions certificate from your country of residence.
Proof of financial means for a student: You must prove you have access to at least €4000 or the equivalent, either in your own bank account or that of your parents.

Bulgaria Work Visa Requirements

If you want to apply for a Bulgaria work visa, your Bulgarian employer must first obtain a work permit for you. Your employer has to request a work permit to the Bulgarian Employment Agency by submitting the following documents:

A work permit application form.
Proof of private health insurance in Bulgaria.
Travel insurance from your country of residence.
Police clearance or previous convictions certificate from your country of residence.
A letter explaining the reason for the request.
The employment contract.
Copy of your passport/travel document which is valid for at least 7 more months.
Three passport-size pictures of you.
A certified copy of your employer’s registration document or ID code.
Documents related to your educational background, skills and qualifications, previous work experience, etc.
A report regarding the number of employees your employer has had under employment contracts for the preceding 12 months.
Any additional documents which are related to your job.

Bulgaria Family Reunification Visa Requirements

You may apply to bring your non-EU family members in Bulgaria if:

You are a Bulgarian citizen
EU national
Holder of a Bulgaria long-term residence permit

You may bring your spouse or partner (with whom you have been cohabitating) and any children under the age of 18.

In addition to the requirements listen above under long-stay visas, Bulgaria visa requirements for a family reunification visa include:

Marriage certificate.
Proof you have lived together for no less than one year (if not married).
Travel insurance from your country of residence.
Birth certificates or adoption papers, as applicable.
Proof of private health insurance in Bulgaria.
Police clearance or previous convictions certificate from your country of residence.
Any other documents proving family relationship or custody over child/ren.

Bulgaria Visa Requirements for Minors

If a minor is traveling to Bulgaria on their own or accompanied by someone other than their parent/legal guardian, they must present:

A copy of their birth certificate.
A power of attorney notary, which is certified by both parents/legal guardians (or the one who has custody, if the child does not have both parents), stating that they agree that the child travels unaccompanied. Include both the original and a photocopy.

The Bulgarian embassy or consulate may request additional documents as they see fit. Always check in with the Bulgarian embassy/consulate before applying.

You should submit these documents at the Bulgarian representation in your countries, such as an embassy or consulate. You must do so in person.

However, Bulgaria also allows foreigners to submit visa applications via an authorized visa application agency.

How to Apply for a Bulgarian Visa?

To obtain a Bulgaria visa, you have to apply in person no earlier than 3 months in advance at a Bulgarian consulate or embassy. The Bulgaria visa application process is as follows:

Contact a Bulgarian embassy or consulate (the one in your country or nearest to you) to inquire about application times, requirements, and appointments. They may also have information on their website, so make sure to check that.
Download, complete, and sign the Bulgaria Visa Application Form.
- You must complete the application form in tyes letters.
- Your name should be in Latin letter, as stated on your passport
- You must complete the rest of the application form in English or Bulgarian
Gather the required documents.
Submit the application form and required documents in person at a Bulgaria consulate or embassy.
- Application for children or people who are unable to submit their own application have to be submitted by a legal representative or someone authorized to apply on their behalf.

Please note:

You may have to go back to submit your biometric information.

Bulgaria Visa Fees

The Bulgaria visa fees are:

For a short-stay or an airport transit Bulgaria visa:
- For adults: €80
- For children between 6-12 years of age: €40
For a long-stay Bulgaria visa:
- For stays of up to six months: €100
- For stays of up to one year: €200

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