There’s plenty to see in Bulgaria, from visiting one of the historical sites (of which there are many) to relaxing on one of the famous beaches.
But if you’re planning a trip to one of these sunny beaches or to the beautiful capital Sofia, you may need to apply for a Bulgarian visa.
This article provides guidance on the application process, requirements and some frequently asked questions related to Bulgarian visas.
Citizens of several countries can come to Bulgaria for short-term stays without a visa, including Schengen countries, the United States, Australia and Canada. All non-visa exempt foreign nationals must apply for a Bulgarian visa to be allowed to enter the country.
However, all children under six years of age (even those from countries that require a visa) are visa-free to enter Bulgaria.
The following countries are exempt from holding a visa when traveling to Bulgaria for a period of less than 90 days.
*Visa exemption for Bulgaria applies only to biometric passport holders.
Additionally: As Bulgaria is part of the European Union, all other EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are also visa-free for Bulgaria for long stays (over 90 days) ) as well as for Bulgaria work permit.
required due to EU free movement laws.
Bulgaria visas, much like Schengen visas, are divided into three main categories:
The Bulgaria Transit Visa, as the name suggests allows the holder to transit in a Bulgarian airport on their way to another destination. The visa does not allow the holder to leave the airport and actually enter the country of Bulgaria.
The Bulgaria airport transit visa is issued for a single or double entry. On special occasions, it may be issued for multiple entries for validity of three months.
Bulgaria Short-Stay Visa (Visa C) is issued for tourism, business, and personal visit purposes for stays of up to 90 days within a six-month period. This type of visa is usually issued for one entry. Additionally, you can count your remaining days in the Schengen area using our calculator.
You can get a multiple-entry Bulgaria short-stay visa, valid for up to one year, if:
Additionally, you can also get a Bulgarian short-term stay visa for transit purposes if you transit through Bulgaria. The Republic of Bulgaria is on its way to another country. If you have a Bulgarian short-stay visa for transit purposes, you can only stay in Bulgaria for two days. It is usually issued for single or double entry and is valid for 12 months.
In certain cases, you may be able to obtain a multiple-entry short-term visa for transit, at the discretion of the Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
Bulgaria Long-Stay Visa (Visa D) is for foreigners who want to stay in Bulgaria permanently or permanently, e.g. for work, study purposes practice or retire.
It is usually issued for a maximum period of one year and you must have a residence permit upon arrival in Bulgaria. It allows its owner to have multiple entries into the country.
If you don’t need a visa to Bulgaria, you can go there with just your passport, which must be valid for at least six more months and have at least two blank pages.
The immigration officer at the border checkpoint will then put the necessary stamp on the blank pages, allowing you to enter and stay in the country.
When submitting a Bulgaria visa application, you must have several required documents, such as:
Documents must be consolably legalized (with Apostille stamp or otherwise).
Additional documents required for a regular tourist visa to Bulgaria include:
Additional documents required for:
Short stay visa for Bulgaria (also known as C visa or tourist visa) is issued mainly for tourism, business, leisure, medical purposes or for private residence.
However, Bulgaria also issues type C visas for transit purposes, issued to foreigners passing through Bulgarian territory (i.e. enter through one country’s border and exit through another country’s border).
Additional documents you need to submit when applying for Bulgaria transit visa C are:
When applying for a Bulgaria Airport Transit Visa, you need the following additional documents:
In addition to the above requirements, when applying for a Bulgaria student visa, you must also have the following documents:
If you want to apply for a Bulgarian work visa, the Bulgarian employer must first apply for a work permit for you. Your employer must apply for a work permit to the Bulgarian Employment Agency by sending the following documents:
You can apply to bring non-EU family members to Bulgaria if:
You can bring your spouse or partner (with whom you lived with) and any children under 18 years of age.
In addition to the requirements listed above under the long stay visa, the Bulgaria visa requirements for the family reunion visa include:
If a minor is traveling to Bulgaria alone or with someone other than their parent/legal guardian, they must present:
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 apply for a visa through an approved visa application agency.
The Bulgarian embassy or consulate to which you are applying may require you to undergo a visa interview, at their sole discretion.
If you apply for a long-term visa, you must pass the Bulgaria visa interview, no exceptions.
Additionally, Bulgarian consulates and embassies also accept applications submitted through authorized visa agencies.
Check to see if it’s available in your country.
A Bulgarian visa is processed in about 10-15 working days. However, the times may change depending on the specific circumstances and the Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
The validity of the Bulgarian visa depends on the type of visa you are applying for. Short stay visa to Bulgaria is valid for up to 90 days within a six month period.
If you transit through Bulgaria, your short-stay visa for transit purposes is valid for a maximum of 2 days per entry.
Long-term visas to Bulgaria can be valid for up to six months or one year, depending on the purpose of your trip.
The Bulgaria visa fees are:
Yes, you do. Any foreign national who wants to live in Bulgaria long-term, such as for studying or working, needs to obtain authorization to live in Bulgaria long-term (ie. a Bulgarian residence permit.) Everyone needs a residence permit for Bulgaria, even EU nationals. However, non-EU nationals also have to apply for a long-stay visa prior to travelling. Residence permit applications are submitted after the foreigner is in Bulgaria.
There are three types of residence permits in Bulgaria:
No, Bulgaria is not yet an official member of the Schengen area.
However, they are making efforts to obtain membership of the Schengen zone visa-free regime.
Currently, Bulgaria only issues domestic visas.
No, because Bulgaria is not admitted to the Schengen area, you cannot use a Bulgarian visa to visit a Schengen country. Therefore, you will often have to apply for a separate visa for Schengen countries.
You can only enter and stay in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian visa. On the other hand, you can enter Bulgaria if you have a valid Schengen visa or visas for Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, which are also candidates for admission to the Schengen area.
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