To visit Bulgaria, Russians need to obtain a visa. The country is a member of the European Union, but has not entered the Schengen agreement, therefore the Bulgarian visa is not a Schengen visa, and you cannot enter Schengen with it. However, Schengen visa holders can enter Bulgaria without applying for a new visa. The days of stay in this country will be deducted from the period of stay in the Schengen area.
Documents for a Bulgarian visa
Please note that Bulgaria is very sensitive to the documents of the applicants. If the passport is old and shabby, something in it is torn or peeled off, the pages are crumpled, dirty or torn, there are traces that the document has been in the water or there is other damage, Bulgaria will not accept the application for consideration or refuse a visa. It is also necessary that the validity of the document is at least 90 days from the end of the trip.
If you are traveling for tourist purposes, an entry visa (short stay) is issued. For her, you will need to prepare a package of documents:
- passport and a copy of the first page from it;
- color photograph 35x45 mm;
- visa application form;
- certificate from work certified by the director and accountant;
- an invitation from a citizen of Bulgaria (if you are traveling on a private visit);
- Paid hotel reservation (fax or original with stamp and signature);
- bank statement (amount on the account: 100 euros for each day of stay, total at least 500 euros);
- an insurance policy issued according to the Schengen rules;
- consent to the processing of personal data;
- tickets to the country.
For those who have their own or rented housing in Bulgaria, you need to provide the following papers:
- a copy of the title deed of ownership of the house;
- notarized lease agreement (and its copy);
- confirmation of payment of taxes on real estate for the last year.
Visa application
As soon as the entire package is ready, the documents can be taken to the Bulgaria Visa Application Center, which is located in almost every major city in Russia. You can submit documents both in person and through a third party (you need a power of attorney) or a relative (you need confirmation of family ties). The accredited travel agency also has the right to submit documents. Acceptance of documents in all visa centers in Bulgaria is carried out on a first come, first served basis, from 9 am to 16 pm, passports are issued from 11 to 16. In some cities, you can come to visa centers by appointment.
If everything is in order with the documents, they are accepted after payment of the fee, and you will be given a receipt. When you arrive to collect your passport, you must have the receipt with you. The cost of a visa is 35 euros, but if you need urgent processing, it will cost 70 euros. Visa center services are paid additionally.
You can submit documents directly through the embassy or the Consulate General of Bulgaria, for this you need to call and sign up. The waiting time can be quite long.
Typically, a visa is ready in 4-7 working days. The term varies slightly, depending on the season and the workload of the consulates.
