Visa Information

Overview

The airport transit visa entitles the foreigner to cross or to stay in the international transit zone of the airport in the case of a transit landing or of changing flights for the purpose of continuing travel to another state.

A foreigner staying in a transit room of international flights is deemed not admitted to the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and is not entitled to leave the transit room.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of The Republic of Bulgaria.

For Detailed information about Bulgaria Visa please click here

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

Airport Transit Checklist

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form

Overview

A short-stay visa for the purposes of planned stay is issued to a foreigner who enters the country once, twice or multiple times for a total term of stay up to 90 days within each 6 months as of the date of the first entry.

A multiple short-stay visa may be issued to a foreigner who:

• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian natural or legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Commerce Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Non-Profit Legal Persons Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with representation offices of foreign legal persons registered pursuant to article 24 of the Investment Promotion Act;
• has substantial personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a Bulgarian citizen in the meaning of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act;
• is a member of the family of a citizen of a European Union member-state, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a foreigner residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria keeping his/her customary residence abroad;
• is a driver of international road transport or a member of a crew of railway transport for passengers and goods.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for a stay of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, our country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on 31.01.2012.

Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001

Since the date of its accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has been applying Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with ordinary passports you can obtain click here

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with diplomatic and service passports you can obtain click here

For Detailed information about Bulgaria Visa please click here

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

Short Stay Tourist Visa Checklist

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form

Overview

A short-stay visa for the purposes of planned stay is issued to a foreigner who enters the country once, twice or multiple times for a total term of stay up to 90 days within each 6 months as of the date of the first entry.

A multiple short-stay visa may be issued to a foreigner who:

• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian natural or legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Commerce Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Non-Profit Legal Persons Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with representation offices of foreign legal persons registered pursuant to article 24 of the Investment Promotion Act;
• has substantial personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a Bulgarian citizen in the meaning of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act;
• is a member of the family of a citizen of a European Union member-state, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a foreigner residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria keeping his/her customary residence abroad;
• is a driver of international road transport or a member of a crew of railway transport for passengers and goods.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for a stay of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, our country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on 31.01.2012.

Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001

Since the date of its accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has been applying Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with ordinary passports you can obtain click here

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with diplomatic and service passports you can obtain click here

For Detailed information about Bulgaria Visa please click here

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

SHORT STAY BUSINESS VISA CHECKLIST

There is a format for Invitation Letter which needs to be followed for anyone applying for business Visa through VFS Global for Bulgaria

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form

Overview

A short-stay visa for the purpose of transit is issued to a foreigner who wishes to transit through the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria en route to another state, for which he/she has a visa, if required.

The transit visa entitles the foreigner to one, two, or as an exception – three, transit passages each for a term of 2 (two) days and may be with a validity term of up to twelve months. The overall duration of stay on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a transit visa may not exceed 90 days within every six months as of the date of the first entry.

The main condition to accept the passage as transit is the entry through the border of the Republic of Bulgaria with one state and exit through the border of the Republic of Bulgaria with another state. A special case is related to airport transit when it is assumed that the passage is transit when the arrival is with a flight from one state and the departure is with a flight to another state within two days.

No transit visa is required for passage of citizens of third states when they produce any of the following documents:

• Schengen (single) visa, long-stay visa, permit for stay issued by any of the Schengen area states;
• National short-stay visas, long-stay visas and permits for stay issued by Romania and Cyprus;
• Permits for stay issued by Lichtenstein.

The right of passage without a visa under the transit decisions is applied only and exclusively for the purposes of transit passage.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

Transit Visa Checklist

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form

Overview

A short-stay visa for the purposes of planned stay is issued to a foreigner who enters the country once, twice or multiple times for a total term of stay up to 90 days within each 6 months as of the date of the first entry.

A multiple short-stay visa may be issued to a foreigner who:

• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian natural or legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Commerce Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Non-Profit Legal Persons Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with representation offices of foreign legal persons registered pursuant to article 24 of the Investment Promotion Act;
• has substantial personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a Bulgarian citizen in the meaning of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act;
• is a member of the family of a citizen of a European Union member-state, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a foreigner residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria keeping his/her customary residence abroad;
• is a driver of international road transport or a member of a crew of railway transport for passengers and goods.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for a stay of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, our country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on 31.01.2012.

Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001

Since the date of its accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has been applying Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with ordinary passports you can obtain click here

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with diplomatic and service passports you can obtain click here

For Detailed information about Bulgaria Visa please click here

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

Private Visit Visa Checklist

There is a format for Invitation Letter which needs to be followed for anyone applying for Private Visit through VFS Global for Bulgaria

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form

Overview

A short-stay visa for the purposes of planned stay is issued to a foreigner who enters the country once, twice or multiple times for a total term of stay up to 90 days within each 6 months as of the date of the first entry.

A multiple short-stay visa may be issued to a foreigner who:

• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian natural or legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Commerce Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Non-Profit Legal Persons Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with representation offices of foreign legal persons registered pursuant to article 24 of the Investment Promotion Act;
• has substantial personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a Bulgarian citizen in the meaning of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act;
• is a member of the family of a citizen of a European Union member-state, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a foreigner residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria keeping his/her customary residence abroad;
• is a driver of international road transport or a member of a crew of railway transport for passengers and goods.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for a stay of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, our country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on 31.01.2012.

Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001

Since the date of its accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has been applying Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with ordinary passports you can obtain click here

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with diplomatic and service passports you can obtain click here

For Detailed information about Bulgaria Visa please click here

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

Medical Visa Checklist

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form

Overview

A short-stay visa for the purposes of planned stay is issued to a foreigner who enters the country once, twice or multiple times for a total term of stay up to 90 days within each 6 months as of the date of the first entry.

A multiple short-stay visa may be issued to a foreigner who:

• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian natural or legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Commerce Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian legal persons engaging in business in the meaning of the Non-Profit Legal Persons Act;
• maintains lasting business contacts with representation offices of foreign legal persons registered pursuant to article 24 of the Investment Promotion Act;
• has substantial personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a Bulgarian citizen in the meaning of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act;
• is a member of the family of a citizen of a European Union member-state, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• is a member of the family of a foreigner residing permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria keeping his/her customary residence abroad;
• is a driver of international road transport or a member of a crew of railway transport for passengers and goods.

Note: The Consular Administration has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Submitting the following documents, while required, does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for a stay of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, our country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on 31.01.2012.

Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001

Since the date of its accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has been applying Council Regulation (EC) № 539/2001 of 15.03.2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement

Schengen visa must be obtained from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where the main purpose of travel lies. Therefore, please check your travel plans before submitting your application. In case of travel to multiple Schengen countries, please make your application to the one where you will be staying for the maximum number of days. If the duration of stay is the same in more than one Schengen country during the first trip, you must submit your visa application at the Embassy/Consulate of your first point of entry.

Please book appointments well in advance depending on your intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the travel date. Please refer to the processing time specific to this Mission.

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with ordinary passports you can obtain click here

More information about the Visa Regime for foreigners with diplomatic and service passports you can obtain click here

For Detailed information about Bulgaria Visa please click here

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, Please click here

Sport / Cultural / Artistic and Scientific Visa Checklist

Photo Specifications

A color photograph 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm against white background (the same holds for a child entered in the passport) – a full-face photo with clear, large enough face which takes up 70-80% of the photo

Note: Photos with dark glasses; non-professional photos or cut out of amateur photos is ineligible

Processing Time

The average processing time for the visa application is 15 working days at the Consulate. However the processing time may extend to 30 working days on a case to case basis by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Eid, Summer holidays (July and August), UAE National Holidays, Christmas, and New Year may extend the visa application processing time. VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays may extend the visa application processing time.

Download Forms

Visa Application Form