Bulgaria Tourist Visa
Table of contents
- Table of contents
- Traveling to Bulgaria
- Who Needs a Bulgaria Visa?
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa Validity
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa Requirements
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa Application
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa Interview
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa Fees
- Where to Apply
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa Processing Time
- Approved Visa Applications
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa FAQ
Traveling to Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a Balkan country with a rich heritage of multicultural influences and traditions. With its Black Sea coastline, majestic mountains, and picturesque rivers, Bulgaria is an ideal travel destination for tourists.
Who Needs a Bulgaria Visa?
Foreign nationals from the following countries must apply for a Bulgaria tourist visa, before traveling to Bulgaria:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Ivory Coast, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa Validity
The Bulgaria short stay visa C is for short term stays, such as tourism, business, transits, and personal visits. The Bulgaria short stay visa can be issued as single, double, or multiple-entry, allowing for a 90-day maximum stay within any 180-day period from the date of first entry, and can be issued as a multiple entry visa valid for 12 months, and, in some cases, for 5 years.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa Requirements
The following are required when applying for a Bulgaria short stay visa:
Passport & copies
Applicant should have a passport or travel document, issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure date from Bulgaria, and contains 2 blank pages for official use. A photocopy of the travel document’s information page is also required.
Personal photo
The applicant is required to submit one recent personal photo, 3.5cm x 4.5cm, against a light background, with full frontal features.
Application form
Applicant should fill out a Bulgaria visa application form, with a personal photo attached.
Purpose of travel proof
Applicant should provide proof of their purpose of traveling to Bulgaria, such as a personal or business invitation.
Medical insurance
Applicant should have valid insurance, worth at least 30 thousand euros and recognized by the EU member states.
Financial proof
Applicant should have proof of financial means, such as bank statements or salary slips, to support their stay while in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa Application
The application process for a Bulgaria tourist visa is as follows:
- Complete visa application form
• Print out a Bulgaria visa application form and fill it out with your personal details and other requested information.
• Book an appointment at your nearest Bulgaria embassy or foreign mission abroad. - Submit visa application
• Attend your scheduled appointment at your nearest Bulgaria embassy or representation office where you booked your visa appointment.
• Submit the Bulgaria visa application form and all required documents at your nearest Bulgaria embassy, consulate, or representation office abroad.
• Pay the Bulgaria visa application fees. - Await visa decision
• If the Bulgaria tourist visa is approved, applicants can collect their Bulgaria visa from the Bulgaria embassy, consulate, or representation office where they applied.
• Make sure all visa information is correct and matches your passport or travel document.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa Interview
As all applications are reviewed on an individual basis, an in-person interview may be required. Accordingly, you may need to schedule and attend an in-person interview at the Bulgaria embassy or representation office where you are applying.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa Fees
The application fee for the Bulgaria short stay visa C is $95 USD, its equivalent, or based on the rules of reciprocity between countries.
Where to Apply
The Bulgaria tourist visa should be applied for at a Bulgaria embassy, consulate, or foreign mission abroad.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa Processing Time
The Bulgaria tourist visa is usually processed and issued within 15 calendar days.
Approved Visa Applications
If approved, applicants should collect their Bulgaria tourist visa from the Bulgaria embassy, consulate, or representation office where they applied. We advise you to review the visa and make sure all information is correct and matches the passport details.
Bulgaria Tourist Visa FAQ
Foreign nationals from over 90+ countries can travel to Bulgaria visa-free. Schengen citizens, British nationals, and holders of valid visas and residence permits issued by Romania, Cyprus, and Croatia, are also allowed visa-free entry into Bulgaria. Bulgaria also permits double and multiple Schengen visa holders to enter Bulgaria visa-free, as long as they have used their Schengen visa at least once before. All other foreign nationals are required to apply for a Bulgaria visa, prior to traveling to Bulgaria, at their nearest Bulgaria embassy, consulate, or foreign mission abroad.
Holders of the Bulgaria tourist visa, or short stay visa C, can stay for a maximum of 90 days in Bulgaria, within any 180-day period, starting from the date of first entry into Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is not yet part of the Schengen zone.
No, holders of a Bulgaria visa are not permitted visa-free travel to Schengen countries, while holders of a Schengen visa are allowed visa-free entry into Bulgaria.
