Bulgarian Visa Requirements
Effective from mid-March 1997, EU citizens do not need a visa for a 30-day period of stay in the country. If you are not an EU citizen then simply check the visa requirements on the Bulgarian embassy's website for the latest information (www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk).
If you are looking to stay for longer than 30 days it is likely that you will require a visa and you should, again, check the Bulgarian embassy's website for the latest information. As rules and regulations do change in Bulgaria, it is important that you reference the latest information.
The Bulgarian embassy in London currently states the visa requirements are as follows:
Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need a visa for a visit to Bulgaria for a period of up to 30 days within each period of six months:
Andorra, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein,
Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK, USA, the Vatican.
For passport holders of countries enumerated in this section, a visa is needed only if:
a. their stay in Bulgaria should exceed 30 days, or
b. they require multiple entry for a longer period of time or a long-term visa.
Police Registration
One regulation to keep in mind when entering Bulgaria is that you are required to register with the police within 48 hours of entering the country. If you are staying in a hotel or guest accommodation, then this is generally handled for you. So if you are feeling a little uncomfortable about leaving your passports with the reception desk, don't worry, this is normal, and it's simply to take the burden away from you.
As Bulgaria 's entry into the European Union grows nearer, it is likely that such regulations will become obsolete, for consistency with the rest of Europe. But for now, I would advise you to register with the local police station as soon as you are able to if you are not planning to stay in hotel/guest house accommodation.
You will, of course, hear stories of people who have not registered and have not had any problems when leaving the country - but there are similar stories of people who have been asked to pay fines and leave the country as well. Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes.
Longer Stays in Bulgaria
You may be one of the growing number of people who are looking to retire in Bulgaria - or may be looking to spend some time working there perhaps. To do this you will need to assess the visa situation.
Type 'D' Visa
For longer-term stays for the purpose of business and/or residency a Type 'D' visa is required - it is obtainable from the nearest Bulgarian embassy, usually in the country of nationality. The application for a type 'D' visa can be applied for at your local Bulgarian embassy. The processing time varies, and can be anywhere from one to three months and above. The type 'D' visa itself will cover you for a period of up to 90 days.
If applying from the UK, you can obtain the visa application form from the Bulgarian embassy's website. You need to select the type 'C' application form (even though you are applying for a type 'D').
The supporting documents that you require will depend on the reason for your application, which would generally fall under these categories:
- Business
- Foreign investment
- Private (retirement for example)
