Visa information

Entry Visa Requirements for Bulgaria

Citizens of Schengen member states can travel to Bulgaria without a visa. Nationals of non-Schengen countries may enter Bulgaria with a valid Schengen visa.

Visitors from third countries intending to travel to a Schengen state must apply for a visa in advance. To determine whether you require a visa, please consult the Schengen Visa Info webpage.

Holders of biometric passports from the following countries are exempt from visa requirements for short stays (up to 90 days):

  • Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, and Montenegro

However, holders of non-biometric passports must obtain a visa in accordance with Visa Facilitation Agreements.

Visa Application Process

  • Visa applications must be submitted no earlier than 3 months before the intended travel date.
  • Applications must be submitted in person or through an authorized agent, except in humanitarian cases.
  • Important: Visa processing takes a minimum of 15 days. Please apply as early as possible.

 

Required Documents for a Short-Stay Visa (Visa C)

  1. A valid passport that:
    • Remains valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure date from Bulgaria.
    • Contains at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
    • Was issued within the last 10 years.
  2. A photocopy of passport pages containing personal details and any previous visas or residence permits.
  3. One recent passport-sized colour photograph.
  4. Supporting documents, including:
    • A letter from the applicant’s employer confirming their position and purpose of travel.
  5. Proof of accommodation (hotel booking) and travel itinerary (copy of flight tickets booking).
  6. Invitation letter from a legal entity in Bulgaria, confirming participation in an event. Please request an Invitation letter here .
    • Full name (as written in passport)
    • Date of birth
    • Organization/society and job position
  7. Proof of financial means, such as:
    • A return ticket or financial resources of at least EUR 100 (or equivalent) if entering by private vehicle.
  8. Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid in the European Union, covering:
    • Emergency medical assistance
    • Hospital treatment
    • Repatriation costs
  9. Visa fee payment of EUR 90 (proof of payment required).

Note: The Bulgarian consulate has the right to request additional documents or schedule an interview if necessary.

Visa Application Centers

Visa applications are processed by the diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Bulgarian Consular Services accept visa application forms through the Visa Application Centers, operated by the VFC Global Company . Visa application forms could be submitted in this way at the Visa Application Centers situated in the following countries and cities:

China

  • Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Jinan, Kunming, Nanjing, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xi’an

India

  • New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Mumbai, Pune

Indonesia

  • Jakarta, Bali

Kazakhstan

  • Nur-Sultan, Almaty

Malaysia

  • Kuala Lumpur

Maldives

  • Malé

Russia

  • Moscow, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Irkutsk, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novorossiysk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saratov, Ufa, Vladivostok, Voronezh

Singapore

  • Singapore

Turkey

  • Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Gaziantep, Izmir

United Kingdom

  • London, Edinburgh, Manchester