VISA INFORMATION   Table of Contents  1. General information  2. Documents for application for visa 3. Types of Visas  4. Documents for application for D-type visa 5. Visa application forms  6. Other useful information  7. Visa fees  8. Bulgarian Embassy Visa Section    1. General information I. Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need visa to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 90 days within each period of six months: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela.   II. Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need visa to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days within each period of six months: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, USA, the Vatican.   III. Holders of passports of countries mentioned in sections A and B do not need transit visa for Bulgaria (excl. multiple-transit visa).   IV.Holders of passports of countries not mentioned in sections A and B need visa to enter Bulgaria (for any duration of stay) as well as to transit Bulgaria (for any type of transit).   Important : From 1 January 2006 (in accord with art. 18 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria - SG, issue 63 from 02.08.2005) on entry in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria the foreign citizen is obliged to fill in a registration form, declaring the purpose of the visit and the address of stay. The citizens of EU and EEA member-states are relieved of this order as from 13 January 2006.   General rules               1. Applicant applies personally.              2. Visa application procedure takes up to 10 working days, as confirmation/refusal in each case has to be received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.              3. Despite the visa has already been put into your passport, Bulgarian border authorities are entitled to refuse entry or to reduce the term of validity of the visa or even to cancel the visa in case they consider your visit to Bulgaria inappropriate to the provisions of the Bulgarian Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria.         3. Types of visas     Transit Visa ("B"-type visa): single-(one-way-), double- or multiple-transit visa valid for 3, 6 or 12 months after the date of issue. Issued to a foreign person who enters Bulgaria en route from one country to another country. It allows maximum stay in Bulgaria for up to 24 hours. One-way transit or Double-transit visa (explicitly only for Turkish citizens) allows 1 or 2 entries and respectively 1 or 2 stays in Bulgaria not longer than 24 hours each. Multiple-transit visa allows up to 90 entries of Bulgaria within each period of 6 months. One stay in Bulgaria is not longer than 24 hours.As it is mentioned above applicants for transit visas are required to present at the Embassy their visa/s issued by the country of next and final destination.   Short-stay Visa ("C"-type visa): single- or multiple-entry valid for 3, 6 and 12 months following the date of issue. It is issued to a foreign person who travels to Bulgaria for tourism, or for business purposes, or on a private visit. It allows one or many entries into the country. One stay in Bulgaria should not exceed 90 days within each period of 6 months.     Multiple entry visa is issued only to a foreign person who meets one or more of these requirements: - has regular business contacts with companies registered in Bulgaria;    - has invested more than 50 000 Euro or their equivalent in other currency in Bulgaria, which is certified through   a document by the Bulgarian Agency for Foreign Investment;   - is a representative of a person who meets one of the two abovementioned requirements;   - has commercial activities in Bulgaria and at least 10 Bulgarian citizens are employed in relation to these activities;   - is a foreign expert, working in Bulgaria under an international agreement;   - is a representative of a foreign company, registered at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce;   - has 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;   - is a member of a family of a Bulgarian citizen;   - is granted a Multiple-entry Visa valid for more than 12 months of one of the countries the citizens of which are granted by Bulgaria visa-free regime for short-stay in Bulgaria.       Visa for a long stay ("D"-type visa) – a single-entry visa valid usually for 3 months from the date of issue. This visa permits a stay in Bulgaria also for up to 90 days. However, it is issued to a foreign person who intends to apply in Bulgaria for a long-term stay (above 90 days) or to receive residence permit in Bulgaria which is issued by the Bulgarian authorities.       4. Documents for application for D-type visa:  NB!     1. Applicants submit documents and meet requirements specified in “Residing in Bulgaria” section.             2. Conditions for possible employment or receiving residence permit are also specified in “Residing in Bulgaria”.             3. Application processing time is up to 30 working days.       1. Work in Bulgaria as an employee (Subparagraph 1, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned;   - proof of employment: a work permit by the Bulgarian Agency on Employment with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.       2. Trade activity or Business in Bulgaria, incl. as an employer (Subparagraph 2, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of an established company in Bulgaria:  a copy of a decision by a Bulgarian court to determine establishment of your (shares of) company in Bulgaria. This copy will be issued not earlier than 3 months before the date of application and will be legalized in Bulgaria;   - proof of current status of your (shares of) company in Bulgaria in case it has been established earlier than 3 months before the date of application: a copy of a decision by a Bulgarian court to determine current status  of your company. This copy may specify possible current changes at your company, e.g. a change of its type from Ltd. to Stock company or transfers of shares made recently etc. This copy will be legalized in Bulgaria;   - proof of Bulstat(Булстат)-registration of your company;   - proof of tax registration: a copy of a document by the Bulgarian tax authorities to determine tax-registration of your (shares of) company. This copy will be issued not earlier than 3 months before the date of application and will be legalized in Bulgaria;   - proof of tax-clearance in case tax-registration of your (shares of) company has been made earlier than 3 months before the date of application: a copy of a document by the Bulgarian tax authorities to specify you have paid all of your taxes and you are currently not tax-obligated. This copy will be legalized in Bulgaria.   - proof of trade registration: a copy of a decision by a Bulgarian court to determine your company registration in the Bulgarian Trade Register. This document will specify e.g. your status as a full owner or share-owner or associate etc.; and it will be legalized in Bulgaria;   - proof of your social security: a document by the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute (НОИ) to determine you are under social security scheme in Bulgaria;   - proof of entitlement to social security activities in Bulgaria as an employer: a document by the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute (НОИ) to certify you are registered as employer capable of making social security;   - proof of at least 10 jobs opened: a document by the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute (НОИ) to certify at least 10 Bulgarians are employed at your company. This requirement is not valid for applicants from EU-countries;   - proof of social security available in favor of your employees: a document by the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute (НОИ) to certify employees at your company are under a social security scheme;   - proof of clearance to the National Social Security Tax (NSST) System: a document by the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute (НОИ) to certify clearance to NSTT (ДОО);   - proof of current financial operations: a document by the Bulgarian Tax Authorities to certify financial operations are being made by your company and they are related to the amount of taxes being paid;   - proof of debt clearance: a document by a Bulgarian Bank;   - proof of a current bank account: a document by a Bulgarian Bank (bank statement) to specify you have a functioning bank account;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of a real estate in Bulgaria, or tenant under agreement with an owner, or you have accommodated yourself at a home under an explicit statement by the owner. This document will be legalized in Bulgaria.       3. Study in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 3, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law for the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos (3.5x4.5 cm);   - photocopy of your passport;   - proof of study: a document by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science to determine type of your study;   - proof of fee payment: a document by a Bulgarian bank to certify your tuition fee has been paid (bank account to which money has been transferred to be mentioned);   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as a tenant or an owner of a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned. This document to be certified in Bulgaria;   - proof of means for life-sustaining in Bulgaria: a document by a Bulgarian bank to certify availability of your banc account. Money in your bank account to be enough to sustain your life during your stay in Bulgaria.       4. Foreign Specialists in Bulgaria under Bilateral/International Agreements (Subparagraph 4, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law onthe foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of stay: a document by a relevant /Bulgarian/International institution to certify your stay in Bulgaria will be under such an agreement;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned.   - proof of life-sustaining means in Bulgaria: a document by the respective (Bulgarian) organization to specify receiving of regular salary or a document by a Bulgarian bank to certify availability of your current banc account. Money in that account is to be considered as enough to sustain yourself during your stay in Bulgaria.   .   5. Marriage with a Bulgarian or with a foreigner who resides (stays) for long time in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 5, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of marriage: a marriage certificate for a marriage with a Bulgarian citizen or with a foreigner who resides for long time  in Bulgaria. This document needs to be legalized in Bulgaria;   - a photocopy of the Id. card of the foreigner who resides for long time in Bulgaria and and with whom marriage will be made (if thatis the case;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify status of (co-)ownership of a real estate in Bulgaria or tenant status, address mentioned;   6. Representatives of a Foreign company whose branch/office is registered at the Bulgarian Trade and Industry Chamber (Subparagraph 6, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law for the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of branch/office registration: a document by the Bulgarian Trade and Industry Chamber. This document needs to be issued not earlier than 1 month by the date of your visa application;   - proof of tax registration: a document by the Bulgarian tax authorities, legalized in Bulgaria;   - proof of life-sustaining means in Bulgaria: a document by the respective (Bulgarian) organization to specify receiving of regular salary or a document by a Bulgarian bank to certify availability of your current banc account. Money in that account is to be considered as enough to sustain yourself during your stay in Bulgaria;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned;   - a letter of attorney by your company (whose branch/office is opened in Bulgaria) to specify the necessary power of attorney is already granted to you as a representative of this company.   7. Self-sustaining parent(s)  of foreigners staying in Bulgaria under (Subparagraph 7, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - birth certificate of the child of the parent(s) who already resides in Bulgaria. This document needs to be translated into Bulgarian and certified at this Embassy;   - proof of stay of the parent(s): a permit for the parents to reside in Bulgaria granted by the Bulgarian authorities under subparagraph 1, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the abovementioned Law;   - proof of means for life-sustaining in Bulgaria: a document by a Bulgarian Bank to certify parent(s) hold a bank account opened at that bank, or a document by the child to specify he/she will bear all the expenditures of the parent(s) made by them in Bulgaria. Money in the banc account is to be considered as enough to sustain life of the parents in Bulgaria;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned;   8. Medical Treatment in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 8, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of medical treatment: a document by a Bulgarian hospital or clinic or rehabilitation centre etc. which contains a plan for your treatment/revalidation. A medical examination document needs to be enclosed. All documents to be certified by the Bulgarian Ministry of Health;   - proof of means for self-sustaining in Bulgaria: a document by a Bulgarian Bank to certify you owe a bank account opened at that bank. Money in that account is to be considered as enough to sustain yourself during your stay in Bulgaria.   9. Foreign Media Correspondents in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 9, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - a credential letter by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   10. Foreign Pensioners in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 10, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of regular pension: a document by the authorities which is translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator and certified by this Embassy;   - proof of current Bulgarian bank account: a document by a Bulgarian bank to certify you have opened your bank account and regular pensions will be (are) transferred to that account;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned.   11. Foreign Investors in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 11, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of investment: a document by the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance to certify you have made an investment in Bulgaria according to the Law on the foreign investments in the Republic of Bulgaria;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned.       12. Members of the family of a foreigner who stays (resides) in Bulgaria for long time(Subparagraph 13, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law onthe foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of kinship: a document (marriage/birth certificate etc.) by the authorities to determine your tie of relationship. This document needs to be translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator and certified by this Embassy;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned.       13. Parents of a foreigner who is a staff-member of a foreign Embassy/Consulate/Government commercial office/ or International organization in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 14, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law for the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - a letter (Note Verbale) by the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this Embassy;   - a letter (Note Verbale) by the Embassy in Sofia, addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.       14. Foreigners of liberal professions in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 15, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of your profession’s permit: a letter by the Bulgarian Agency on Employment with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy;   -proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned;   - proof of means for self-sustaining in Bulgaria: a document by a Bulgarian Bank to certify you owe a bank account opened at that bank. Money in that account is to be considered enough to sustain yourself during your stay in Bulgaria.       15. Non-commercial activities in Bulgaria (Subparagraph 16, paragraph 1, Article 24 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - proof of activities permit: a letter by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice or by the Department of Ecclesiastical Matters with the Bulgarian Council of Ministers;   - a letter by a NGO (foundation etc.) to certify your membership/affiliation. This document needs to be translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator and certified by this Embassy;   - proof of lodging: a document to certify your status as an (co-)owner of (or tenant at) a real estate in Bulgaria, address mentioned;   - proof of means for self-sustaining in Bulgaria: a document by a Bulgarian Bank to certify you owe a bank account opened at that bank. Money in that account is to be considered enough to sustain yourself during your stay in Bulgaria.       16. A Parent of a Bulgarian citizen, who sustains him/her financially (Subparagraph 4, Article 25 of the Law on the foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria):   - two filled in application forms;   - two recent color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;   - passport photocopy;   - a written declaration by the applicant to explicitly specify his/her willingness to stay in Bulgaria for long time and to sustain his/her child’s there;   - a written declaration by the spouse of the applicant to explicitly specify his/her readiness to accommodate the applicant at his/her own address in Bulgaria. This document will be legalized in Bulgaria;   - a birth certificate of the child. This document will be legalized in Bulgaria;   - proof of life-sustaining means for the benefit of applicant and his/her Bulgarian child: a document by a Bulgarian bank to specify you have a banc account with means enough to sustain life of yours and your child in Bulgaria.           5. Visa application forms: see related section   6. Other useful information Regardless of the validity of the short-stay entry “C”-type visa (for 3 or 6 or 12 months) it allows one stay in Bulgaria to be not longer than 90 days within each period of 6 months. No visa allows one stay in Bulgaria to be longer than 90 days. If applicant wishes to have a stay in Bulgaria longer than 90 days then he/she applies for “D”-type visa. Again, term of stay permitted by the “D”-type visa is up to 90 days but only under this visa the foreign person is aloud to apply in Bulgaria for receiving a residence permit. That residence permit allows a stay to be longer than 90 days.   Granting of Bulgarian visa does not mean a final assurance to enter Bulgaria. Bulgarian immigration authorities may deny admission, if they have sufficient evidence that the foreign person holder of Bulgarian visa  intends to enter Bulgaria for purpose other than stated during the application for visa  or if he/she tries to enter the country in violation of or with the intention to evade its immigration laws. 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 to the Embassy during the application procedure.   Important: According to the Bulgarian immigration law all foreign visitors in Bulgaria must register themselves by declaring in writing the address, at which they are expected to stay, within 5 days after arrival in Bulgaria. In case of stay at a hotel  foreign person is obliged to fill in the respective hotel form. In case of private accommodation, the guests request their host to assist for their registration at the local aliens authorities or local police station.       Applicant should be aware that by applying for Bulgarian visa his/her presonal data in the application form may be electronically stored, processed and if necessary passed over to the relevant authorities of other countries in accordance to international obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria.   Every foreign citizen who enters the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria by means of motor vehicle needs to present at the border a document of ownership of the vehicle, if such ownership is not explicitly mentioned in the documents of registration of the same vehicle.   In accordance with the Decree No 198 / 2001 by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria all foreign persons visiting Bulgaria for short-term stay, or passing transit through its territory, should have a valid medical insurance policy covering the duration of their stay in the country.