VISA INFORMATION  

When travelling to Bulgaria, holders of European Union passports do not need a visa, if they plan to stay up to 90 days, within 6 months from the date of their first entry; as of 1-st September 2006 holders of Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK and Northern Ireland and Canada passports do not need a visa if they plan to stay up to 90 days, within 6 months from the date of their first entry. All foreign nationals when entering the Republic of Bulgaria or in transit should have a health/travel insurance, valid passport, sufficient financial funds and travel itinerary.

Important Notice: All foreign visitors should bear in mind that under the Bulgarian Law they are required to announce in writing to the local police station, within 5 days of their arrival in Bulgaria, the address at which they will be staying. If they are staying at a hotel or at private lodgings, the hotel management/host bears the obligation to register them at the local police station.

If you are a holder of a passport that does require a visa, please see the following information about the types of visa that are available for you if you wish to visit Bulgaria:

SINGLE /MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA - for one entry and 90 days max. stay/within 6 months/

                   Regular - issued within 7 working days   AUD $120

                                   /the visa fee is non-refundable/

                   Urgent   - issued within 3 working days   AUD $240

                                   /the visa fee is non-refundable /

Visa requirements :

1.     Valid passport

      2.     Completed application form - download the form

3.      One recent photo – passport size

4.     Day of arrival and departure/ copy of ticket, travel itinerary/

5.  Evidence of financial means to support your trip - bank statements, others

6.     Visa fee – money order/bank cheque, payable to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Canberra

7.     Repaid self-addressed courier bag, express post or registered mail – when sent by mail

8.     Invitation /for business visit - invitation from a Bulgarian company filled in declaration after a sample and notarized in the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Trade; for visiting relatives - invitation from a Bulgarian citizen filled in declaration after a sample and notarized in the Municipality where is the permanent address of the person/ or tourist voucher.

9. Health insurance policy with minimum cover of 30 000 euros, issued by a company licensed to operate within the EU.

Attention! Holders of Macedonian and Serbian passports do not pay the visa fee for issuance of a short stay or transit visa within 7 working days.

                 Holders of Russian and Ukrainian passports pay 70 AUD visa fee for issuance of a short stay or transit visa within 7 working days.

            SINGLE/ DOUBLE/MULTIPLE TRANSIT VISA valid for 3/6/12 months -

                   Regular - issued within 7 working days           AUD $120

Visa requirements :

1.      Valid passport.

2.      Completed application form – download from above

3.       Two recent photos – passport size

4.      Day of arrival and departure/ copy of ticket, travel itinerary/

6.      If you need to obtain a visa to be allowed to enter the next country along your route we need to have proof that you have obtained the required document before we issue the transit visa.

7.  Proof of financial means to support your travel and information on the transport means to leave the country.

8. Health insurance policy with minimum cover of 30 000 euros, issued by a company licensed to operate within the EU.

LONG-STAY VISA (National Visa) (Type D Visa): 

If you would like to receive more detailed information on a particular type of long-stay visa please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail or phone.

Issued to an alien wishing to settle durably or permanently in Bulgaria on any of the grounds listed in Articles 24 and 25 of the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

A long-stay visa entitles the alien to a single entry into Bulgaria with a right to stay for a duration not exceeding 90 days. The period of validity of this type of visa may not exceed six months. This limitation on the duration of stay applies until receipt of a long-term residence permit from the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

Note:

Long-term residence is:

1. durable: of an authorized duration not exceeding one year;

2. permanent: of an indefinite authorized duration.

A durable residence permit may be granted to aliens who:

∙ have been admitted for full-time study at licensed educational establishments.

A durable residence permit may be granted to aliens who:

∙ wish to perform work under an employment relationship after obtaining a permit from the authorities of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certified copy of the work permit.

- engage in commercial activities in Bulgaria according to the statutory procedure, and at least 10 jobs for Bulgarian citizens have been created as a result of these activities, unless otherwise agreed in an international treaty which has been ratified, promulgated and entered into force for the Republic of Bulgaria.

Upon first entry, any such aliens must present:

- a certified copy of the judgment of court on entry into the Commercial Register;

- a certified copy of the document on tax registration;

- a certified copy of the document on BULSTAT registration;

- a certified copy of the document on registration at the National Social Security Institute and documentary proof of payment of social and health insurance for 10 Bulgarian citizens working under an employment relationship, if such document is required by law.

Upon second and any subsequent entry, any such aliens must present:

- a court certificate on current status of the Commercial Register record of the company case
- a certificate issued by the tax office exercising competence over the applicant's registered office, to the effect that the financial results have been declared and the taxes due have been paid;

- a certificate issued by the National Social Security Institute, to the effect that the applicant does not incur any outstanding liabilities to the Institute.

∙ have been admitted for full-time study at licensed educational establishments.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a document certifying that the applicant has been admitted for full-time study and is attending the relevant school during the academic year (applicable to first-year students: a certificate issued by the Ministry of Education and Science; applicable to second- and further year students: a current certificate issued by the higher educational establishment);

- documentary proof of payment of tuition fees.

Note: Aliens of ethnic Bulgarian nationality are not required to submit proof of possession of financial means to cover the subsistence costs!

∙ are foreign specialists staying in Bulgaria by virtue of international treaties whereto the Republic of Bulgaria is a party.
To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- documents issued by competent authorities, proving that the applicant will stay in Bulgaria by virtue of an international treaty;
- a document issued by the relevant sending party;

- a document issued by the receiving party in the Republic of Bulgaria.

∙ have grounds to be permitted permanent residence, or have contracted a marriage with a Bulgarian citizen or with an alien permanent resident in Bulgaria.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certificate of civil marriage, updated, translated and legalized.

∙ are representatives of non-resident commercial corporations registered at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certified copy of the registration of the representative office at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
- a current certificate, issued by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry not earlier than one month prior to its submission;
- a certified copy of the certificate of tax registration.

∙ are financially self-supporting parents of alien permanent residents in Bulgaria or of a Bulgarian citizen.
To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- an official document certifying the birth of the descendant;

- a certificate issued by the aliens administrative control services to the effect that the descendant has been granted permanent residence, or a document certifying that the descendant holds Bulgarian citizenship.

∙ have been admitted for long-term treatment to a medical-treatment facility and possess financial means to pay for such treatment and to subsist.
To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certificate issued by the medical-treatment facility according to the established procedure, stating a plan for treatment and recovery.

∙ are foreign mass-media correspondents who are accredited to the Republic of Bulgaria.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a document of accreditation, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.

∙ possess a pension entitlement and sufficient financial means to subsist in Bulgaria.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a document issued by the competent authorities of the relevant State, certifying possession of a pension entitlement;
- a document issued by a bank within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, certifying that the applicant holds an account to which the relevant remittances of the pension will be credited.

∙ carry out activities under the Investment Promotion Act.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certificate on a direct investment made, issued by the Ministry of Finance.

∙ are members of the family of an alien who has been granted a durable residence permit.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- applicable to children: a translated and legalized birth certificate;

- applicable to spouses: a translated and legalized civil marriage certificate;

- a document certifying an address of residence;

- a copy of the document showing that the holder has been permitted durable residence.

∙ are parents of an alien or are de facto cohabitees of an alien who has been granted a durable residence permit in pursuance of Article 28

 (6) of the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a note issued by the relevant embassy;

- a document certifying an address of residence;

- if necessary, a document issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, certifying de facto cohabitation.

∙ wish to work on a freelance basis after obtaining a permit from the authorities of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in accordance

 with Article 24a of the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certified copy of a permit for work on a freelance basis, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

∙ wish to perform non-profit activities after obtaining a permission from the Ministry of Justice under terms and according to a procedure established by an ordinance of the Minister of Justice in consultation with the Minister of Interior;

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- a certified copy of a permission issued by the Ministry of Justice;

- applicable to religious communities: a certificate issued by the Religious Affairs Directorate with the Council of Ministers.

The above-mentioned applicants must possess in all cases:

∙ a foreign-travel document issued in good and due form;

∙ an application in a standard form, completed in duplicate;

∙ two colour photographs (sized 3.5 by 4.5 cm);

∙ a foreign-travel document (passport) issued in good and due form and a photocopy of the pages of the foreign-travel document containing the personal data, the valid visas or residence permits held, and the last Bulgarian entry stamp;
∙ proof of provision of accommodation for the duration of residence in Bulgaria;

∙ proof of possession of financial means to cover the subsistence costs for the duration of residence in Bulgaria;

∙ compulsory commercial and social insurances for the duration of residence in Bulgaria.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL RULES FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENCE

Authorization for stay in the Republic of Bulgaria, without fulfillment of the requirements under the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, may be granted to aliens who have rendered services to the Republic of Bulgaria in the public and economic sphere, in the area of national security, science, technology, culture or sports.

To obtain a visa, any such aliens must present:

- A document showing the services rendered in the respective sphere, issued by the competent government minister, with the exception of the cases related to national security.

Visa fee:

SINGLE ENTRY LONG-TERM VISA - for one entry and 180 days max. stay/within 6

                                                                  months/

                   Regular - issued within 30 business days    AUD $200 / a non-refundable processing fee /

 The visa needs to be obtained prior to the alien’s entry into Bulgaria and in the country which has issued the alien’s passport.

The application and the required documents must be submitted in person by the applicant.

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