Bulgaria Tourist Visa: Types, Requirements and Application
With a Bulgaria tourist visa, you can enjoy the beautiful sites in Bulgaria at an affordable rate. Bulgaria has become a tourist haven for many foreigners over the years. This is because of the many beautiful places in the country. For this reason, many tourists move to the country every year. But without a visa, you cannot have access to Bulgaria.
But you might ponder how you can acquire a tourist visa to Bulgaria. Don’t worry; we have gone into deep research to provide the answers for you. First, however, you must read through to find the easiest way to get your visa.
Therefore, in this article, you will learn about the requirements, eligibility, processing time, and the application process for a visa to Bulgaria for tourism. Read on as we unveil the topic for you.
Why Bulgaria is a good place for Tourism
Just like other Baltic nations, Bulgaria is a quiet place to visit. So, millions of tourists troop in every year, especially in the winter, to enjoy the crisp weather in the region. Moreover, the country is full of monuments that point to its rich history and culture. Therefore, here are the main reasons you must visit Bulgaria this year.
#1 Enjoy the high mountains
The mountains are what make Bulgaria unique. So, if you love mountain climbing, consider visiting Bulgaria. But, more so, you can have a view of these beautiful mountains. You will also enjoy the cool breeze of the mountains’ waterfalls.
#2 The winter
Visit Bulgaria in the winter, and you will never want to return. You may ask why. The reason is that many activities keep you busy in the winter. Do you love skiing or mounting climbing? That is exactly what Bulgaria offers during winter.
#3 Visit historic towns
Do you love history? Then, Bulgaria is the correct country to visit. This is because Bulgaria is a country full of history. So, whenever you are in the country. You must not miss visiting the historic towns in the country. Therefore, you must visit the cities below:
- Sofia
- Varna
- Plovdiv
- Rila Monastery
- Nesebar
- Veliko Tarnovo
- Bansko
- Sozopol
- Koprivshtitsa
- Burgas
Bulgaria Tourist Visa
Bulgaria Tourist Visa allows the holders to visit Bulgaria for tourism purposes only. With this visa, you can stay in Bulgaria for ninety days. Thus, it can enable you to visit many places in Bulgaria without restriction.
Eligibility for Bulgaria Tourist Visa
Citizens of non-Schengen countries who are not from the USA, Australia, and Canada need a visa to enter Bulgaria. This means that you must obtain a visa to enter Bulgaria for tourism. Therefore, citizens of the following countries require a Bulgaria Tourist Visa to visit the country. They include:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- The central African Republic
- Chad
- The People’s Republic of (PRC) China
- Comoros
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Congo-Brazzaville
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of Korea
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Republic of Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestinian Authority
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Surinam
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Countries exempt from Bulgaria Tourist Visa
In addition to the Schengen countries, other countries can come to Bulgaria without a visa. Therefore, the following countries’ citizens need a visa to visit Bulgaria. They include:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- China, Hong Kong
- China, Macao
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Lichtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxemburg
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherland
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Palau
- Panamas
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Serbia
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- The United States of America
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City State
- Venezuela
Requirements to apply for Bulgaria Tourist Visa
There are specific requirements to obtain a tourist visa to Bulgaria. In other words, you must meet all the needs for Bulgaria Tourist Visa. Otherwise, you won’t receive your visa. Without these documents, you will find it hard to obtain your tourist visa. Therefore, you must prepare your documents before applying for a visa. These requirements include:
- Bulgaria Tourist Visa application form
You will, first of all, fill out an application form. In the form, you must show the intention of visiting Bulgaria. You will also include the duration of your stay in the country. Then, you will provide your details like your name. In addition, you will add your place of birth.
#1 Passport
You will need your passport, especially a recent one. This will also act as a form of identity. Again, this passport must contain two blank spaces for your visa stamp.
#2 Previous visas
You must also provide copies of your previous visas. However, if you don’t have any previous visas, you wouldn’t need to offer them.
#3 Photo
You will also need two recent photos to apply for a Bulgaria Tourist Visa. These photos must meet the Bulgaria visa photo requirements.
#4 Flight ticket
You will need a flight ticket to Bulgaria. However, this must not be an actual flight ticket. Instead, it can be a flight reservation. Moreover, you must show that you have booked your flight to visit Bulgaria.
#5 Travel insurance
Another requirement is your travel insurance. This will be a minimum of €30,000 for the time you will be in Bulgaria. Therefore, you must show that you have travel insurance with a Bulgarian insurer.
#6 Proof of accommodation
You will present proof of accommodation. This can be a hotel reservation or an invitation by a friend or family member.
#7 Proof of sufficient financial means
In addition to other documents, you must show proof of financial means. To prove your financial means, you can use a bank statement. In addition to that, you present a letter from your employer. All of these can serve as means of financial means. Meanwhile, the minimum amount is 50 euros per day. But you must not have less than 500 euros.
#8 Police Clearance Certificate
Of course, Bulgaria doesn’t need criminals in their country. So, they make sure that each tourist has a police clearance form. Therefore, you must get police clearance before applying for a visa.
#9 Letter of invitation
Suppose a friend or family member is inviting you to Bulgaria. Then, you will need to provide a letter of invitation. Thus, you will have to contact the person asking you to get your visa.
Steps to apply for Bulgaria Tourist Visa
Indeed, the application process for Bulgaria Tourist Visa is not easy. However, with the proper guidance, you can quickly obtain this visa. To this end, we have presented the most manageable steps to obtain a tourist visa to Bulgaria. Therefore, follow the steps below to apply for a Bulgaria Tourist Visa.
Step 1:Â Look for the Bulgarian embassy in your country.
The first step is to look for the Bulgarian embassy. This is where you will submit your application. So, you must know the location of the embassy.
Step 2:Â Fill out an application form for Bulgaria Tourist Visa.
Secondly, you must fill out an application form. In the application, you must state your reason for visiting Bulgaria. Also, you have to indicate the duration of your stay in Bulgaria. Above all, you must provide your correct name and country of origin.
Step 3:Â Book an appointment with the embassy.
The next step is to book a Bulgaria Tourist Visa interview appointment. This is necessary because the embassy won’t attend to you if you don’t book an appointment. Therefore, you must contact the Bulgarian embassy to book an appointment.
Step 4:Â Gather your Bulgaria Tourist Visa documents.
The next step is to assemble your documents. While doing this, you have to make sure that they are complete. Otherwise, you won’t obtain a tourist visa to Bulgaria. Therefore, make sure that you gather all the documents you need.
Step 5: Attend your Bulgaria Tourist Visa interview
Make sure that you go for the interview on time. And while attending the interview, you must take all your documents. Otherwise, you will not get a visa to Bulgaria for tourism.
Step 6: Wait for the processing of your Bulgaria Tourist Visa
It takes about ten days to process your visa. So, you will have to wait for this time. Once your visa is ready, you will get a notification from the embassy. Meanwhile, make sure that you pay your visa fee before this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Bulgaria Tourist Visa?
You will pay a visa fee of 72 euros. This fee covers biometrics and the application process. Moreover, you will pay this fee in cash in the embassy.
How long is Bulgaria Tourist Visa valid?
Bulgaria Tourist Visa is valid for 90 days. This is within three months. So, you must travel to Bulgaria within this period.
Can I extend my Bulgaria Tourist Visa?
You cannot extend your Bulgaria Tourist Visa. You can only apply for this visa from your home country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you only need to meet the requirements to obtain your Bulgaria Tourist Visa. In addition, you must not be a citizen of a Schengen nation. Therefore, you must come from a country eligible to use a visa to enter Bulgaria. Above all, ensure you follow the step above while applying for a visa.