Visa Information

Who does and does NOT need a visa?
Holders of valid ordinary passports from Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Republic of Korea, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Tunisia, Yugoslavia.

Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need a visa for a visit to Bulgaria for a period of up to 90 days within each period of six months: Austria, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.

Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need visa for a visit to Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days within each period of six months: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK, USA, the Vatican.

The granting of a Bulgarian visa does not grant a permission to enter Bulgaria. The immigration control authorities in Bulgaria have the authority to grant or deny admission, if they have sufficient evidence that the foreign persons holding a Bulgarian visa do not intend to enter Bulgaria for the purpose he stated during the application procedure for a Bulgarian visa or they try to enter the country in violation of or with the intention to evade its immigration rules and procedures. Therefore, visa holders are advised to carry with them, for possible presentation to the Border Control authorities, the originals or copies of the documents submitted with their applications. The granting of Bulgarian visa and entry to Bulgaria is a privilege and not a right. Regardless of the type of visa that has been granted to a visa holder by the Bulgarian Embassy in London, it allows a stay in the country not exceeding 90 days within each period of six months.

Staying longer
If the visa granted by this Embassy is a multiple-entry visa valid for six months or one year and the visa holder wishes to stay in the country for more than 90 days within each period of six months he/she should apply for permission to the authorities for Administrative Control of Foreign Persons of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria or such person should reapply for a long-term Bulgarian visa at an Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Application for visas
Bulgarian visas are issued by the embassies and consulates of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

The processing of visa applications can take up to 10 working days, as confirmation in each case has to be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria in Sofia.

By applying for a Bulgarian visa the applicant agrees his/her personal data appearing on the application form to be electronically stored and processed and if necessary passed over to the appropriate authorities of other countries according to the international obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Documentation to be presented with your application
The applications should be made personally or by courier service but not by post. During the interview with the Consular Official you may be requested to present a number of documents which could include:

• a valid passport or a travel document , which should not expire earlier than 3 months following the end of your visit.
• filled-in application of the correct type.
• one photograph (35 mm x 45 mm).
• UK Resident visa or entry clearance.
• paid transportation to the next country of your destination (for transit trips).
• a letter of invitation by a Bulgarian citizen endorsed by the local authorities (for private visits) or by a company registered in Bulgaria endorsed by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (for business trips).
• prepaid tourist voucher / invoice for prepaid tourist services from a travel agency (for tourism).

Types of Visa
Visa for Airport Transit (type "A" visa)
– it can be single, double and exceptionally multiple valid for 3 months after the date of issue. A person who is issued with an airport transfer visa is considered not admitted to the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and his movement is restricted to the transit area of the airport. It gives a right to leave the aircraft when it makes a scheduled landing at a Bulgarian airport or a change of flights is necessary. Applicants are required to present a flight reservation. Only persons holding passports or travel documents of the following countries need to apply for a Visa for Airport Transit: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Sudan.

Transit Visa (type "B" visa)
- it can be single, double and multiple valid for 3, 6 and 12 months after the date of issue. It is issued to a foreign person who enters the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria from one country en route to another country. It allows entering the country and a maximum stay of up to 24 hours in Bulgaria. The multiple transit visa allows entering the country for up to 90 times within each period of 6 months. The applicants are required to submit: (1) proof of a paid fare for an onward transportation; (2) visa or an entry clearance issued by the country of next and final destination; (3) proof of sufficient funds (at least €50 or its equivalent in other currency for each entry). If the applicant is entering the country on a motor vehicle by road, he/she has to show proof of possessing additional funds of at least €200 or its equivalent in other currency for each entry.

Short Entry Visa (type "C" visa)
- it can be single or multiple valid for 3, 6 and 12 months following the date of issue. It is issued to foreign persons who travel to Bulgaria for tourism, on business trips or make private visits. It allows one or multiple entries into the country and a stay not exceeding 90 days within each period of 6 months. Multiple entry visas are issued only to a foreign person who satisfies one or more of these conditions:

• maintains regular business contacts with companies registered in Bulgaria;
• has invested more than 50,000 EUR or its equivalent in other currency in the Republic of Bulgaria and there is a document from the Bulgarian Agency for Foreign Investment confirming this;
• is the representative of a person who satisfies one of the above two conditions;
• carries out commercial activities in Bulgaria and at least 10 Bulgarian citizens have been employed in relation to these activities;
• is a foreign expert, working in Bulgaria by virtue of an international agreement;
• is a representative of a foreign company, registered with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce;
• carries out activities in accordance with the Bulgarian Foreign Investments Act;
• has a substantial contribution for the development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and his/her country of nationality;
• is the member of the family of a Bulgarian citizen;
• has a Multiple Entry Visa valid for more than 12 months for one of the countries the citizens of which enjoy visa free regime for a short entry in Bulgaria.

The applicants for a Short Entry Visa are required to submit: (1) documents explaining the grounds for the visit (letter of invitation for a private or a business trip or a tourist voucher); (2) proof of availability of sufficient funds of minimum 50 EUR or its equivalent in other currency per day of the required stay, but not less than 500 EUR; (3) proof of availability of accommodation – prepaid tourist vouchers for a hotel, a letter of invitation for private visit endorsed by the local authority, or sufficient funds of not less than 50 EUR or its equivalent in other currency per night during the intended stay; (4) proof of a secured return trip from Bulgaria or sufficient funds (not less than 300 EUR or its equivalent in other currency) if the applicant will exit the country on a motor vehicle.

Long-term Visa (type "D" visa)
– it can be only single entry valid up to 6 months from the date of issue and a stay up to 90 days. It is issued to foreign persons who intend to apply for a long-term or a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria. The applicants for a long-term visa have to submit: (1) two filled-in applications for a Short Entry Visa; (2) two recent photographs (35mm x 45 mm); (3) originals of the documents giving ground for the application together with proof of the means for financial support and availability of accommodation. Processing time is approximately 30 days.

Employment
In case the foreigner is employed by a company or institution in Bulgaria, the employer should obtain the work permit from the appropriate department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria. Then the foreign person should enclose the original of the work permit to the application for a Long-term Visa (type "D" visa). In Bulgaria he can apply to the local immigration authorities for a residence permit.

Insurance
From 1 December 2001 all foreign and the stateless persons visiting Bulgaria need to have a medical insurance, covering them during the entire length of their stay in Bulgaria.

Money guarantee
The visas of the types "A" (Airport Transit), "B" (Transit) and "C" (Short Entry) can be issued upon the condition of depositing with the Consular Section of the Embassy of a money guarantee of not less than the price of a one-way plane ticket from Bulgaria to the respective country and additional funds of not less than 100 EUR. The amount of the money guarantee is shown on the visa vignette. The guarantee is released when the passport or the travel document of the visa applicant is presented at the Consular Section of the Embassy. The guarantee will not be released in the following cases:

• The foreign person is fined by the authorities for administrative control of foreign persons in Bulgaria for violations of the Bulgarian Immigration Law;
• The guarantee has been claimed back by the foreign person after the expiry of more than 90 days following the day that the visa has become invalid or the day the foreign person has exited the territory of Bulgaria, whichever comes first;
• The visa has been annulled by the Bulgarian Border authorities for violations of the Bulgarian Immigration Law;
• It is obvious that an attempt has been made to forge the visa vignette or the border stamps;
• The foreign person does not present the passport or travel document with the Bulgarian visa;
• It has been confirmed that the foreign person has made wrong declarations with the visa application;
• The foreign person does not present the receipt for the payment of the money guarantee.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
In order to avoid any problems all foreign visitors should bear in mind that according to Bulgarian Immigration Law they have to declare in writing within 48 hours of arrival in Bulgaria the address, at which they are staying, to the local authority for administrative control of the foreigners (normally the local police station). The hotel management does this, in case the foreign visitor is staying at a hotel. In case of private accommodation, visitors should request their host(s) to do the registration on their behalf with the local police station.

Bulgarian Embassy (London)
186-188 Queen's Gate, London, SW7 5H
Web site: www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk
Visa Section (office hours): 9.30 - 12.30 every working day, except Wednesdays;
24 Hour Visa Information Service: Tel. 090 6550 8950
24 Hour Fax on Demand Visa Application Form Service: Tel. 090 6554 0819
Individual inquiries on submitted applications: Tel. 020 7589 3763 (12.30-1.30 only)

Driving into Bulgaria
Every foreign citizen who enters the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria on a motor vehicle has to present a document of ownership over this vehicle, if such ownership is not explicitly shown on the documents of registration of the vehicle. See more about driving in Bulgaria here.