Visa to Bulgaria

Description:

Visa to Bulgaria for Russians in 2025

Russians have different types of visas to visit Bulgaria.

Despite the lack of inclusion of the country in the Schengen area, there is the possibility of entry using a double or multiple Schengen visa. Starting from April 2023, the Bulgarian authorities require that a tourist visit at least one of the Schengen states before such a trip.

It is also possible to enter using double-entry or multiple-entry national visas issued by Romania or Cyprus.

In the absence of suitable options, Russian citizens need to obtain a national tourist visa type C. More detailed information about the necessary documents and procedure for obtaining a Bulgarian visa can be found below.

How to get a visa to Bulgaria

Citizens of the Russian Federation must follow the procedures established by law for obtaining a visa to Bulgaria. It is important to bear in mind that despite Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, it is not a member of the Schengen Agreement, which means a ban on entering the Schengen area on this visa.

Registration of the necessary documents can be carried out independently or ask for help from our partners. With an independent approach, all responsibility for collecting and submitting documents lies with the applicant. This method also takes longer, and possible errors in filling can lead to failure. Contacting partners will facilitate the process, as specialists will check the correctness of filling in and the availability of all necessary documents, as well as take on other aspects of registration. This significantly saves time and reduces the risk of failure, which in this case is rare. The procedure for obtaining a Bulgarian visa is not associated with such difficulties as, for example, for traveling to the United States, so migration services are usually friendly to tourists from Russia.

Types of Bulgarian Visas

Applying to the consulate or visa center, Russians can obtain various types of entry documents:

Short-term;
Tourist;
Transit.
Business;
Worker.

The choice of a specific type of visa depends on the purpose and duration of stay. Therefore, it is recommended to study in more detail the rules, features and list of necessary documents for the most comfortable and successful travel.

For consultations write to our partners inWhatsapporTelegram+7 912-052-47-52, E-mail:magtour@66.ru
Quick registration of insurance policy for visa application and travel and other purposes, produces our permanent and reliable partner "Insurance Agent". For communication: phone + 79826938563 .WhatsApp WhatsApp.TelegramE-mail:1005-ins@bk.ru.

Tourist visa to Bulgaria

Tourist visa to Bulgaria is one of the most popular categories. Bulgaria offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including the Black Sea coast, ski slopes, historical sights of medieval Europe and a unique local flavor.

Obtaining a tourist visa in Russia is quite simple, since consular staff treat Russian tourists with understanding, and the percentage of refusals is minimal. The standard list of documents includes a foreign passport, copies of a birth certificate (if there are underage travelers), as well as a student card or pension certificate, photographs and, sometimes, health insurance. It is important to remember that documents will not be considered if a Schengen visa has been previously refused.

Tourist group visas allow a single entry with a stay of up to 30 days. The composition and size of the group are not subject to change during the stay and departure from the country.

Transit visa to Bulgaria

Transit visa can be obtained by Russian citizens who need to cross the territory of Bulgaria on the way to third countries. The validity of such a visa is only 24 hours, but it gives the right to leave the airport and stay in the country within the prescribed time limits. Citizens traveling through Bulgaria with a transfer or with an intermediate landing without leaving the airport, a transit visa is not required.

Business visa to Bulgaria

Business or business visa is required for those who plan to visit Bulgaria on issues related to professional activities, as well as participation in conferences, exhibitions and competitions.

The process of obtaining this type of visa takes three to five days. The absence of a complete package of documents or errors in them can slow down the process. Therefore, the best option is to collect and provide all the necessary documents in advance. For a more effective solution to this issue, it is recommended to seek assistance from experienced staff of a specialized visa center.

Working visa to Bulgaria

If the purpose of the trip is employment, a working entry document is required. Under Bulgarian immigration law, the applicant is required to obtain a full-time legal work permit, which is a work visa. The decision on extradition or refusal is made by the Government Migration Department or the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. The maximum period of validity of a work permit is 1 year, and after the expiration of this period it can be extended for another 3 years in accordance with the terms of labor and migration legislation.

Persons who do not require a work permit but need an open long-term visa include:

Managers of Bulgarian companies with legal status;
Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees;
Russian citizens with permanent residence in Bulgaria;
Persons on official missions.

In 2016, the procedure for the employment of foreign citizens became more complicated. Now, when submitting an application, it is necessary to make sure that there are no claims from Bulgarian citizens for the desired vacancy.

Visa for children in Bulgaria

Photograph requirements for a visa to Bulgaria

As mentioned earlier, children under 6 years of age receive entry documents for free. It is important to know that according to the migration legislation, children are considered to be persons under the age of 18 at the time of travel, even if they become adults after crossing the border. There are several key points regarding traveling with a child. Children between the ages of 14 and 18 must have their own passport with a signature, while children between the ages of 6 and 14 can have a photo pasted in the passport of one of the parents. It should also be noted that the validity of child passports must exceed at least three months after the end of the trip.

Since 2005, documents confirming kinship, such as certified copies of the birth certificate and the permission of one of the parents, are required to enter Bulgaria with a child.

The package of documents may vary depending on the purpose of the visit, so it is recommended to check it at the consulate or visa center.

How to fill out a visa application for Bulgaria

The questionnaire is an application form for an entry permit issued in the form of a questionnaire. Questions on the left side require honest and complete answers, and on the right side there is a place for notes put by consular staff. Today’s tourists can download the questionnaire from the official website of the Bulgarian Consulate in Russia or fill it out on the portal of the visa center.

For the correct design of the questionnaire, it is important to adhere to several useful recommendations. Filling the form should be done in a clear handwriting; initials are indicated in Latin letters, the rest of the information is in Cyrillic. The pen can only be used with blue or black ink. If errors occur, they should be crossed out and corrected in a free place; all corrections must be signed by the applicant or a trustee. No more than three corrections may be made. Contact phone numbers must contain the country code. In addition, the questionnaire must be filled in taking into account the selected category of visa: tourism, business or official purposes.

The cost of a visa to Bulgaria

When individually submitting documents, applicants are obliged to pay consular and service fees.

The consular fee for persons over 12 years of age is 80 €). (8103 ).). Children under 12 years of age are exempt from this fee. Travelers at the tourist forum note that the visa center accepts cash in euros, recommending to have an amount without changing. The Consulate website also indicates that payment is accepted exclusively in euros, taking into account the current rate at each visit to the page.
A service fee of 16.8 €те (1702 те) is mandatory for all applicants. Payment can be made in cash or by card in rubles at the exchange rate of the embassy, which may differ from the rate of the Central Bank.

As for the validity of a tourist visa to Bulgaria, a national C visa can be single, double or multiple. The maximum period is five years, provided that the stay in Bulgaria does not exceed 90 days for every 180 days.

Double-entry and multiple-entry visas also allow visits to Romania and Cyprus.

In early August, a tourist forum participant was informed that only single-entry visas are currently issued.

Terms of obtaining a visa to Bulgaria

The terms of registration depend on the purpose of the trip and the duration of stay. A single entry permit for tourist purposes can be obtained in just three working days with properly collected and completed documents. For other types of visas, the terms may vary depending on the availability of hotel reservations and returns.

How to properly apply for a visa to Bulgaria

In 2024, all applicants for a tourist visa to visit Bulgaria must submit their documents at the Bulgarian Visa Application Centre in Moscow. To do this, you must pre-register on a special page on the official website of the visa center. Representatives of the consular department of the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow recommend that Russians submit documents no later than 10 days before the expected date of the trip.

Visa centers also operate in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Ufa, Khabarovsk and in several other cities of Russia. However, due to technical reasons, they do not currently accept applications from Russians who need to pay a visa fee.

In regional visa centers, only those persons who are exempt from paying the fee have the right to submit documents. This includes children under 12 years of age, disabled people, family members of Bulgarian citizens and EU citizens, as well as spouses, children, parents and other close relatives of Russian citizens legally residing in Bulgaria, and several other categories of applicants.

Residents of the regions can contact our partners. The Bulgarian consulate confirmed this information, adding that the full list of tour operators is posted on the embassy’s website. However, it is worth noting that the data for 2022 presented on the site may be outdated. Some tour operators included in the list may have changed their activities or stopped accepting visa documents.

The consular officer also stressed that the agency may periodically limit cooperation with certain tour operators in case of negative feedback from customers.

Submission of documents directly to the consulate in Moscow is possible only in case of an urgent trip. However, the consulate warns that urgent visas are not currently being issued and applications will be processed as standard, on average for 10 days.

Terms of registration and obtaining a visa to Bulgaria

Representatives of the consular department at the Bulgarian Embassy in Russia said that all applications are processed at the visa center in Sofia. In most cases, this process takes up to seven working days.

The official website of the Bulgarian Visa Application Centre states that applications are usually considered within 15 days of their receipt at the consular office in Moscow. Those who submit documents in the regions should take into account the additional time required to send them. The total period of consideration of the application can be up to 45 days.

Despite these deadlines, traveler reviews indicate a faster visa issuance process. Participants in the tourism forum share their experience, arguing that applications can be processed from one to three working days, not including the day of application.

How to get a transit visa

For transit trips through Bulgaria, Russians also receive transit visas. Document requirements, cost and application procedure are identical to regular tourist visas. This information was confirmed by the consulate of the country.

In August 2023, the participant of the tourist forum shared his experience, claiming that after applying for a transit visa on August 11, after four working days he received a notification of the readiness of the passport. In this case, the visa was issued for two days with a single entry, corresponding to the request of the traveler.

Required documents for obtaining a visa to Bulgaria

A detailed list of documents and additional information about visas are available on the official website of the Visa Application Centre. To apply for a tourist visa, select the section "Tourism / Other private visits". This is what is required of each applicant:

Visa application form filled in Russian, printed and signed.
A foreign passport with at least two blank pages valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from Bulgaria.
Copy of foreign passport: the first page with photo and personal data, as well as pages with valid Bulgarian or Schengen visas, if any.
Copies of pages of the internal passport with personal data, notes on the issuance of foreign passports, marital status and registration.
One color photo measuring 3.5 × 4.5 cm, no older than six months.
Receipt of payment of consular fee.
Health insurance valid throughout your stay in Bulgaria with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros (3,038,700 ой).
Accommodation reservation or invitation, or a description of the route of the trip.
Confirmation of tour reservations, round trip tickets or travel itinerary description.
Documents confirming the availability of funds for the trip and the intention to return, such as a certificate from work, bank statement for the last three months and documents for real estate in Russia.
Consent to the processing of personal data.

For minors, a separate set of documents is required, including:

A copy of the birth certificate.
For single-entry visa - notarized consent to leave from a parent who is not accompanying the child. When traveling with another adult, consent from both parents is required.
For multiple-entry visa - notarized consent from both parents, except when the child is inscribed in the foreign passport of an adult and goes with him. In this case, the consent is signed only by the second parent.
Copies of valid Bulgarian or Schengen parent visas, if any.

Schengen in Bulgaria

As mentioned earlier, Bulgaria is not a member of the Schengen Agreement. However, holders of Schengen visas are free to visit this country with permitted short-term or long-term stay. Unlike a regular visa, Schengen provides the right to barrier-free border crossing, which greatly facilitates travel.

You can apply for a Schengen visa both at an official consulate and using the services of partners, which is a faster and safer option, allowing you to avoid mistakes and reduce the likelihood of refusals. The cost depends on the issuing state, the type of entry and duration of stay: short-term (up to 90 days) and multi-year.

In addition, it is possible to enter Bulgaria on Romanian, Cypriot and Croatian visas, which are considered equivalent to Bulgarian. In such cases, the maximum period of stay should not exceed 90 days within six months.

Documents required

The standard mandatory package of documents includes:

Completed application form for obtaining visa documents with the signature of the applicant;
A valid passport with the remaining validity period of at least three months upon arrival;
Standard color photo 3.5x4.5 cm;
Health insurance policy, valid in the European Union countries, with coverage of at least 30,000 euros;
Confirmation of booking of air tickets or documents for the car (certificate of registration of the vehicle, driver's license, route);
A copy of the birth certificate and the name of the minor children if they are travelling with the applicant;
Confirmation of financial solvency for the entire period of stay (bank account statement) in the amount of 50 euros per day.

Reasons for refusal to obtain a visa

Despite the relative loyalty of Bulgarian consulates to tourists from Russia, rejections are not uncommon. The package of documents will not be considered if the applicant has already been refused a Schengen visa. Also, self-collection and submission of documents are often accompanied by numerous errors, which can lead to a loss of time and money. Refusals can also be caused by violations of the rules of stay on previous trips, not only to Bulgaria, but also to other EU member states.

Special attention should be paid to the correct completion of the questionnaire, the answers in which should be honest and complete. Attempts to forge documents can lead not only to visa denial, but also to criminal liability.

What to do in case of refusal of a visa

If the reason for the refusal is related to documents, for example, the traveler made a mistake or provided an incomplete set of documents, you may need to reassemble the necessary documents and submit a new application at the visa center.

If the diplomatic mission in Sofia rejected the application for other reasons, the consular service at the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow is recommended to appeal the decision to the Bulgarian court. With a successful procedure, the applicant in most cases will be able to submit documents again, most often at no additional cost. The visa center in Sofia will be obliged to comply with the court's decision, officials said.

Incarcerated

Before joining the Schengen area, the Republic of Bulgaria shall take into account the specifics of the Schengen legislation in specific situations.

Currently, the issuance of visas in Bulgaria is carried out in a national way. Bulgarian visas give their holders the right to enter and stay in Romania, Croatia and Cyprus. However, it is important to note that Bulgarian visas do not grant the right to enter and stay in the Schengen area.

The Bulgarian Visa Service Center accepts applications only for short-term visas of category "C" (single, double or multiple). The duration of stay in Bulgaria on the “C” visa, regardless of the validity period of the visa, should not exceed 90 days for every 180 days. Providing a full set of documents is mandatory, and incomplete sets are not accepted.

Citizens of countries requiring a visa to visit Bulgaria can enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a valid Schengen visa, a visa of Cyprus, Romania and Croatia. The duration of stay is limited to the period specified in the visa and the number of entries, but does not exceed 90 days for every 180 days. If you wish to obtain a Bulgarian visa, the documents can be submitted at the Visa Application Centre.

It is also possible to enter Bulgaria with a valid visa issued in a cancelled passport, if you have a new valid foreign passport. Types of visas for which entry is possible include Bulgarian, Schengen, Romanian, Cypriot (without the need for a visa), Croatian. If you wish to obtain a visa in a new passport, the documents can be submitted by the Visa Application Centre together with the application for cancellation of a valid Bulgarian visa and the cancelled passport.

Foreign citizens legally residing in the territory of the Russian Federation temporarily or permanently (if they have a residence permit or registration in the territory of the Russian Federation), can apply for a Bulgarian visa. It is required to confirm the legal presence in the Russian Federation with additional documents, such as a marriage certificate, documents on registration of the company, a work permit and others. Copies of previous Bulgarian and Schengen visas for the last 3 years are also required. The standard deadline for considering an application is up to 10 working days, but according to the EU-Russia Agreement, this period can be extended to 30 working days, especially if additional study is necessary.

Citizens of Moldova, Georgia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine with biometric foreign passports can enter and stay in the Republic of Bulgaria without a visa for no more than 90 days during a 180-day period. Citizens of these countries with ordinary passports must obtain a Bulgarian visa when traveling to Bulgaria. The rules for calculating the days of stay in Bulgaria are available here.