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Visa issues

Planning an extended visit to Bulgaria? Visa requirements come into effect for holders of British or Irish passports after 30 days spent in Bulgaria within a six-month period. Beyond that, you will have to apply for either a short-term or long-term visa.

These can be obtained from:

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
186 to 188 Queen’s Gate,
London SW7 5HL.

Alternatively, you can download a visa application from the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in London. A type “C” (short term) visa allows you to stay for up to 90 days within each period of six months and is valid for up to six months from the date of issue. The Bulgaria visa application fee for type “C” is currently £34.

If you intend to apply for temporary or permanent residency when in Bulgaria, then you need a type “D” (long-term) visa. This visa is valid for up to 90 days. The application fee for a type “D” visa is currently £44.

Passport holders of the following EU countries can remain in Bulgaria visa-free for 90 days. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All foreign visitors to Bulgaria are required by Bulgarian immigration law to be registered with the local authority or local police station within 48 hours of arrival. So, if you’re staying with a friend or renting a private accommodation both you and your friend will need to attend the local police station or local authority with your ID documents for registration.

You will then be provided with a registration slip that you should keep ready for inspection at all times. The cost of registration as a foreigner in Bulgaria is currently just 2 Levs. If you are caught unregistered, you could be fined around 500 Levs.

If you’re staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast then your hosts will handle the registration as part of their service.

Residency permits

There are two types of permits:

• a temporary permit for residency of up to a year 
• a permanent residency permit  
 

To obtain a temporary residence permit you need to have a type “D” visa and proof of national insurance or social security number. You also require a minimum of 3,000 leva (approximately £1,020) on deposit in a Bulgarian bank account. The visa is granted for one year and is renewed annually, together with a Bulgarian identity card… the same ID document that each Bulgarian citizen holds.

Note: All applicants for long-term permits are subject to thorough checks by Interpol and Europol and other organizations holding data for persons with criminal activities. It is a Bulgaria visa requirement that all applicants must have clean criminal records and must not be the subject of any pending criminal proceedings, otherwise applications will be rejected. For further information to ascertain whether or not you would be eligible for a permit consult with the Bulgarian Embassy in London.

For pensioners: A common interpretation of the law says that if you can demonstrate proof of reliable income at a rate that comfortably exceeds Bulgarian standards (the minimum wage in Bulgaria is, at the moment, 120 leva per month), it should be possible to obtain permanent residence status. The impending entry into the EU should overcome any problems in this area.

Employment: If you’re employed by a company or institution in Bulgaria, your employer should obtain a work permit on your behalf from the appropriate department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria. If you plan to stay long term, just enclose your work permit with a long-term visa application form (type “D”).