Bulgaria is another beautiful addition to the Schengen Area. Indians are also popular worldwide as tourists who travel to various countries to explore the culture and surroundings.
So, if you want to apply for a Bulgaria visa from Delhi, you must pay attention to the details and carefully plan your trip. Please fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride with us!
The following article will provide a step-by-step guide along with the needed documents to help you navigate the process for a visa to travel to Bulgaria.
Is Bulgaria Part of the Schengen Area?
Yes, Bulgaria is the latest to join the Schengen Area on 31 March 2024, by eliminating the air and maritime internal border controls. However, the land internal border still has to hear from the relevant committee to uplift the checks.
This was a unanimous decision made by the Council on 30 December 2023. Along with Bulgaria, Romania also made a partial integration into the Schengen Area.
Right after that, both these countries started issuing Schengen visas and National visas to foreigners to let them visit the state and fulfill the purpose of their trip.
Bulgarian Embassy in New Delhi
New Delhi residents can apply for a Bulgaria visa by submitting their application to the nearest Embassy of Bulgaria. This diplomatic mission offers every kind of visa that Delhians can apply for.
However, to schedule an appointment, they need to visit a visa application center, as the respective embassy does not entertain this application step but only through email.
Details of the embassy
The following are some of the details of the embassy.
Location: 16/17 Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
Phone number: +911126115550
FAX: +911126876190
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 9.00 AM to 1.00 PM, 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Email: Embassy.Delhi@mfa.bg, bgembdelhi@yahoo.com
States and union territories of New Delhi
The Embassy of Bulgaria in Delhi accepts applications from applicants who belong to the following jurisdictions. Other than that, the embassy does not provide visa services.
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Ladakh
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Uttarakhand
- Chandigarh
This information can be subjected to change. So, it is always important to verify with the embassy/consulate or check their official website.
Visa Types Offered by the Bulgarian Embassy in New Delhi
Traveling to the destination country first requires you to identify the visa type considering the purpose of your trip. So, Delhi residents have the following options as authorized by the Bulgarian embassy.
Type A
You need to apply for a Type A or airport transit visa when traveling to a non-Schengen country en route to Bulgaria. This visa type allows you to stay at the transit area or the international airport of Bulgaria without leaving your spot.
It is usually valid for 24-78 hours.
Type C
On the other hand, a short-stay trip to Bulgaria requires you to apply for a Type C or Schengen visa. This has a validity period of 180 days, giving you access to stay in the country for 90 days.
Typically, a short-term visa is used for purposes including,
- Tourism
- Medical treatment
- Business
Type D
Lastly, staying in Bulgaria for more than three months will be possible if you have a Type D or long-stay visa. Alternatively, you can also term it a National visa.
Generally, it is valid for up to 12 months but can be extended considering the fulfillment of your trip purpose. For instance, if you have started a degree or taken on full-time paid employment, that’s when you will need this visa.
What Are the Requirements for Applying for a Bulgaria Visa from Delhi?
When applying for a visa, you need to submit the following documents to show that you have fulfilled the eligibility criteria to travel to the target destination.
Passport
Having a passport is mandatory to start the process. So, make sure that it is valid for at least three months after you exit Bulgaria. Moreover, it should contain two blank pages to attach the visa stamp.
Besides, it must not be older than the last ten years and no alteration has been made to the data page.
Application form
You need to submit a visa application form after filling it in either English or Bulgarian language. Furthermore, you need to sign the form at the two places. In the case of a minor, the parent or guardian can do the job.
One photo
Moreover, submit one recent photograph with a dimension of 35*45mm, a light color background, and 70-80% of the picture should cover the face and the shoulder. Avoid attaching a picture having dark glasses, wearing headcovers, non-professional photos, etc.
Proof of residence
If you have been staying in another state for a temporary period, you need to submit proof of Indian residency including a return visa or a residence permit.
Means of transportation
You must disclose the means of transportation while traveling to Bulgaria. For instance, you can prove it by submitting a return travel ticket or a confirmed booking for air, land, or sea transport.
This will help the authorities analyze your travel date and time, destination country, airport terminals, IATA codes, etc.
Proof of accommodation
Accommodation proof such as a hotel booking or lodging arrangements made by the inviting company or person should also be submitted.
Other than that, you can also sign a rental contract for an apartment or house.
Cover letter
Furthermore, writing a cover letter to explain the purpose of the trip, the duration of your stay, and any subsequent visits, will add strength to your application.
For your ease, you can get this document from coverletterforvisa.com written by experts.
Travel medical insurance
The insurance document should be valid for the entire stay in Bulgaria with coverage amount of at least 30,000 euros. As a result, this will help you manage expenses related to accidents, surgery, repatriation, evacuation, luggage loss, flight cancellation, etc.
Proof of funds
Moreover, ensure to have sufficient funds to manage the daily expenses such as the food, transportation, and accommodation. This requires you to submit financial documents such as a three-month bank statement or a three-year income tax return.
Other supporting documents
You may ask to submit some other supporting documents including,
- Proof of purpose such as an invitation letter or a letter of sponsorship to disclose the intention of traveling to Bulgaria and who you will fund your trip.
- In addition, you will also need to prove your social status by submitting documents such as your marriage certificate, a birth certificate of the children, and a death certificate of the spouse (if applicable).
- Lastly, employment-related documents including an offer letter, no objection certificate, bank statement, salary slip, or income tax return can also add value to your application.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for a Bulgaria Visa from Delhi
As a resident of New Delhi, you can start the application process for a Bulgaria visa by following the step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Visit the embassy’s website
First, visit the official website of the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi. On the home page, you will find several tabs that you can explore.
From there, click on the tab of ‘consular services’ to move to the next step.
This will lead to a new page that has several options for you to go through. However, because you are planning a trip to a Schengen country, make sure to select ‘traveling to Bulgaria’ to choose the visa type.
Step 2: Choose the visa type
Upon turning the arrow down, the site will give you a chance to go through the details of the specific visa you want to apply for. For instance, a study visa or a work visa.
On the same page, you will find information about the application forms and the application fee for a Bulgaria visa from Delhi.
Step 3: Book an appointment
Since the embassy only allows the applicants to schedule their appointments by email. It is best to visit a visa application center such as VFS Global to book an available slot for an appointment through online means.
For this purpose, visit this site to make an appointment with the consular office at the embassy.
After a new page opens, create an account or log in with your credentials to an active account to proceed ahead with the appointment booking.
Step 4: Fill out the application form
Furthermore, from the same site, you will be able to download and print the visa application form considering the type of permit. For example, a Schengen visa has a separate application form and you have to fill another form for a Type D visa.
Step 5: Gather the documents
The fifth step requires you to gather the required documents, as stated above. Make sure that you have the exact number of copies and a logical arrangement of the documents.
Step 6: Visit the center
After that, visit the application center or the embassy on the day of your appointment to submit your documents along with the visa application form. Moreover, you are also required to deposit the visa fee in the local currency to move to the final stage of the process.
Step 7: Attend the interview
This is the final phase of the Bulgaria visa application process. However, it depends on the choice of the embassy or the consulate. If they find any discrepancy in the documents submitted by you, they will request you to attend an interview. But, it is always advisable to be ready for it under any circumstances.
Step 8: Wait for the answer
Lastly, after completing all the steps, wait for an answer till the embassy processes your application. Once approved, you can collect your passport/visa from the same center or get it delivered through a courier service.
Bulgaria Visa Fee
Residents of New Delhi are required to deposit a specific amount when applying for a Bulgaria visa. This varies considering the visa type and the age limit of the applicant.
For example,
- Type A visa= 90 euros
- Type C visa= 90 euros in case of an adult.
- Schengen or Type C visa= 45 euros for children between the ages of 6 and 12
- Type D visa= 100 – 200 euros
Moreover, the following categories of applicants are exempted from paying the visa fee.
- Minors below the age of six
- Researchers, students, and pupils
- Citizens of Bulgaria and EU/EEA/Swiss
Furthermore, you can pay your fee using VFS Global through Cash/Card/UPI.
How Long Does It Take the Embassy to Process a Bulgarian Visa?
Usually, the Bulgarian Embassy takes almost 15 days or one month to process your visa. However, the normal processing time gets interrupted in case of holidays or peak travel season, the workload on the embassy, or application backlog. As a result, you may have to wait for up to 45 or 60 days to get an answer on your Bulgaria visa application.
That is the reason you are advised to lodge your applications at least three to four months before your intended departure to the destination country.
FAQs
- How much is the fee for a Bulgaria visa from Delhi?
Technically, the application fee for a Bulgaria visa depends on the type of permit you apply for, the number of entries, and your age limit. However, the standard fee for a short-term visa is 90 euros, whereas, the range for a long-stay visa is between 100-200 euros.
- What are the chances that my Bulgaria visa from Delhi will be approved?
There is no exact percentage that explicitly shows the success rate for a Bulgarian visa. However, you need to make sure that you have fulfilled all the requirements and eligibility criteria to increase the approval chances for your Bulgaria visa from Delhi.
- Is attending an interview mandatory to get a visa for Bulgaria from Delhi?
It depends on the embassy through which you submit your visa application and the type of visa. Usually, the embassy requests you to attend an interview for a long-stay visa. But, prepare yourself to answer the questions regardless of the purpose of your visit to Bulgaria.
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