Visitor Information
The Republic of Bulgaria requires no visas for the citizens of a number of countries in the world, but every tourist is advised to obtain preliminary information in this respect because some kinds of visas require longer time for processing and issuing.
Information & Types
Bulgarian citizens are not required visas for travelling in the European Community countries and in most of the remaining European countries, as well as in some countries in Asia, Africa and America, with which Bulgaria maintains enduring friendly, cultural and economic relations.All data below are subject to frequent change as far as terms, costs and visa requirements with each specific country are concerned, so the prospective visitors should first check the state of the contacts between their own country and Bulgaria.
Entry of foreign citizens in Bulgaria. A foreign citizen may enter Bulgaria only if he possesses a valid document for travelling abroad or any substituting document instead, as well as an entry visa, visa for a stay or a transit visa, when such is required. Visas cover:
· Transit visa
· Short-term visa
· Group visa
· Long-term visa.
The term of stay in the country on the grounds of a visa may not exceed 90 (ninety) days. Visas are issued by the diplomatic and consular offices of the Republic of Bulgaria, long-term visas are issued upon the approval of the foreign citizens control authorities.
Since 1st January 2002 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commenced issuing a new type of Bulgarian visa. It is in the form of a sticker and for the first time in Europe a photo on it is required.
Transit visa. A foreign citizen who enters Bulgaria on the grounds of a transit visa at a particular border checkpoint from one country shall leave Bulgaria within 24 (twenty-four) hours through the border checkpoint with another country. In order to obtain a transit visa the foreign citizen shall have visa for the country of his final destination. Should he travel not by airplane or no visa is required for the country of final destination, the foreign citizen shall have visa for the first country along the route, for which visas are required. Single – valid up to 3 (three) months and allowing only 1 (one) transit through the country. Double transit – 3 (three), 6 (six) or 12 (twelve) months validity, allowing 2 (two) transits through the country. Multiple - 3 (three), 6 (six) or 12 (twelve) months validity, allowing unlimited number of transits through the country.
Short-term visa. Such visa is issued to a foreign citizen when he enters the country once or multiple times for a stay of up to 90 (ninety) days within a 6 (six) months period considered from the date of his first entry. The multiple short-term visa is valid for up to 1 (one) year. The validity may be extended by the foreign citizens control authorities for humanitarian reasons. Single (tourist) visa – valid up to 3 (three) months and allowing 1 (one) entry and stay in the country. Multiple entry visa –3 (three), 6 (six) or 12 (twelve) months validity, allowing unlimited number of entries in the country.
Group visa. Group visa is issued for a transit stay or entitling to a stay up to 30 (thirty) days to foreign citizens who had formed a group before their departure to Bulgaria, are registered in a group passport and only if they enter, stay and leave the country as a group.
