Bulgaria and the Common Visa Policy of the European Union

Since 1 January 2007, the Republic of Bulgaria has been implementing the Common Visa Policy of the European Union under the conditions laid down in the Act of Accession.

Bulgaria and the Schengen Area

According to Council Decision (EU) 2024/210 of 30 December 2023 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, as of 31 March 2024, the Republic of Bulgaria is part of the Schengen area by initially abolishing checks on persons at internal air and sea borders.

According to Council Decision (EU) 2024/210 of 12 December 2024 setting the date for the lifting of checks on persons at internal land borders with and between the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, as of 1 January 2025, checks on persons at internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania have been lifted.

Uniform (Schengen) visas

From 31 March 2024, the Republic of Bulgaria issues uniform (Schengen) visas valid throughout the Schengen area. A Schengen visa issued by the Republic of Bulgaria after 31 March 2024 will allow its holder to travel throughout the Schengen area in accordance with the Schengen rules (no more than 90 days in any 180-day period), regardless of internal land border checks.

The short-term stay (90 days in any 180 days) within the Schengen area begins to be counted from the moment of entry into the territory of Schengen, including for the Republic of Bulgaria.

Short-stay visas issued by the Republic of Bulgaria before 31 March 2024

In accordance with Art. 2 of Council Decision (EU) 2024/210, further explained in recital 8 of its preamble, national short-stay visas issued by the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania before 31 March 2024 shall remain valid for their period of validity. However, holders of these national short-stay visas will only be able to travel to the Republic of Bulgaria, Romania and also to Cyprus, but not to other Schengen Member States.

Holders of a national short-stay visa issued by the Republic of Bulgaria or Romania who wish to travel to other Schengen member states will need to apply for a Schengen visa.

Long-stay visas and residence permits issued by the Republic of Bulgaria

Residence permits and long-stay visas issued by the Republic of Bulgaria will continue to be valid after March 31, 2024 and during their period of validity, as specified in Art. 2 of Council Decision (EU) 2024/210.

Holders of long-stay visas issued by the Republic of Bulgaria, still valid after 31 March 2024, will be able to travel freely within the Schengen area in accordance with the Schengen rules (no more than 90 days in any 180-day period) after 31 March 2024, regardless of checks at internal land borders.

Holders of residence permits issued by the Republic of Bulgaria in a uniform format in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 380/2008, or any other residence permits notified to the Commission by the Republic of Bulgaria in accordance with Article 10. 39 of the Schengen Borders Code and published in Annex 22 to the Practical Guide for border guards that they are still valid after 31 March 2024, will be entitled to visa-free short-stay in the other Schengen countries in accordance with the Schengen rules (no more than 90 days in any 180-day period) after 31 March 2024 and within the period of validity of those authorisations,  checks at internal land borders.

Visa-free regime for holders of valid visas and residence permits issued by Romania

National short-stay visas, national long-stay visas and residence permits issued by the Romanian authorities before 31 March 2024 shall be recognised, until their expiry date, as equivalent to Bulgarian national visas for transit and intended stay.

Regulation (EU) 2018/1806

From the date of accession to the EU in 2007, Bulgaria started to apply Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15.03.2001, which was codified by Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council as of 14.11.2018. It defines the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

As of 31 March 2024, if nationals of the countries listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 hold a valid uniform (Schengen) visa, the time spent by them in the Republic of Bulgaria will be considered part of the 90 days allowed to stay in the Schengen area for any 180-day period, regardless of border (air, land or sea),  which these citizens have passed in order to enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and regardless of whether it concerns short-term stay or transit.

The list set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 lists the countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa requirement when crossing the EU's external borders. Pursuant to Art. 4 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 they shall be subject to visa-free regime for a period of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

AIRPORT TRANSIT VISA (TYPE “A” VISA)

An airport transit visa is issued to a foreign holder of a regular foreign travel document or an

equivalent document issued by a state as per Annex 1 of the Regulation on the Terms and

Procedures for Issuing Visas and Determining the Visa Regime.

- Type “A” Visa

The airport transit visa may be single, double or, as an exception – multiple, with a validity

term of three months from the date of its issue.

-When a type “A” visa is issued?

The airport transit visa entitles the foreigner to cross or to stay in the international transit

zone of the airport in the case of a transit landing or of changing flights for the purpose of

continuing travel to another state.

A foreigner staying in a transit room of international flights is deemed not admitted to the

territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and is not entitled to leave the transit room.

-Documents to be submitted on applying for a type “A” visa

The following documents shall be submitted together with the application on applying for an

airport transit visa:

1. A regular foreign travel document;

2. A photocopy of the pages the foreign travel document with the personal information

and with the visas laid and/or a photocopy of the held permits for stay in the next

states along the route as well as for the end destination state, if required.

3. A recent colorful photograph (passport size)

4. Flight booking

Before the airport transit visa is issued, the ticket and a copy thereof are presented.

Documents to be submitted on applying for a transit visa type “C”

The following documents shall be submitted on applying for a transit visa:

1. A regular foreign travel document

2. A photocopy of the pages of the foreign travel document with the personal information

and with the visas laid and/or a photocopy of the held permits for stay in the next

states along the route as well as for the end destination state, if required;

3. A filled in application form with one passport size colour photograph (3,5 х 4,5)

4. Proof of ensured transport for transit passage and a copy of these documents and/or

proof of financial resources possessed to continue the journey

5. Proof of the required financial resources possessed for the sustention of each transit

passage amounting to a minimum of EUR 50 or their equivalent in another

convertible foreign currency, and in case of transit by road with a vehicle driven by

the person – additional funds amounting to a minimum of EUR 200 or their equivalent

in any convertible foreign currency

6. A valid insurance policy and a copy thereof issued by an insurance company licensed

to operate on the territory of the European Union with a minimum amount of coverage

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of EUR 30 000. The policy should cover repatriation costs as well as emergency

medical aid and treatment costs for each of the transit journeys.

When is it issued?

A long-stay visa is issued to a foreigner who wishes to settle for a long term or permanently

in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Stay duration

A long-stay visa of up to 6 months and a right to stay of up to 180 days is issued to

foreigners who wish to settle for a long term or permanently in the Republic of Bulgaria

(under article 15, paragraph 1 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act)

A long-stay visa with a validity term of up to one year and a right to stay up to 360 days

may be issued to foreigners who perform science research or are students under tuition

programmes for up to one year, post-graduate or trainee students, foreigners sent on

assignment by a foreign employer for the performance of specific tasks, related to control

and coordination of a tourist services contract as well as foreigners sent on assignment by a

foreign employer for implementing investments under the Investment Promotion Act (under

article 15, paragraph 2 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act).

Definition

The long-stay visa entitles the holder to multiple entries in the territory of the Republic of

Bulgaria within its validity term.

The long-stay is cancelled on issuing a permit for stay by the authorities for administrative

control of foreigners.

Applications

The application for issuing a long-stay visa is submitted only in the diplomatic and consular

missions at the permanent place of residence of the applicant or the missions accredited in

the state of the applicant’s permanent residence.

Persons staying legally in a third country, different from the country of their permanent

residence, may, as an exception, apply in this third country after explaining the reasons

thereof and if their return to the state of permanent residence is guaranteed.

Requirement for an interview with the applicant

No exception shall be made from the requirement for a personal interview when applying

for a long-stay visa.

Documents to be presented by the applicant

When applying for the issue of a long-stay visa the applicant shall present the following

documents:

· Visa application form

· A regular foreign travel document

· Copies of the pages of the foreign travel document with the personal information

and the visas laid and/or copies of the permits for stay possessed

· Recent passport-size color photograph

· Original documents and two copies thereof substantiating the application for a longstay

visa under the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act and the Regulation on

its implementation, and of the financial resources possessed for subsistence and

accommodation.

Other requirements

In order to obtain long-stay permission the person should have a home, obligatory health

insurance, sufficient subsistence means, without resorting to the social assistance system,

amounting to at least the minimum monthly wage or the minimum pension according to

Bulgarian law for the period of stay.

Initial application

On the initial application for permission for stay the persons who are over the age of 18,

with the exception of the stateless persons, shall present a previous convictions certificate

issued by the state whose citizens are or by the state of their customary residence.