Visa “C” for short stay

Published on 26.08.2024.

There are different types of visas, and you can read general information about them here: 

Borders and visas

In this article, we will look at the type C visa for a short stay in Bulgaria. This C visa gives you the right to stay in the country for:

• 48 hours (2 days); or
• 90 days in total in the span of every 6 months 

It is most often issued when you need to:

• cross the territory of Bulgaria within 2 days;
• travel for touristic purposes, to visit relatives, to receive medical treatment here, for business relations and other similar purposes for which you need a short stay. 

In certain cases you DO NOT NEED a C visa.  For example, if:

• You are citizens of a Member State of the European Union (EU);
• You have a Schengen visa from another EU country;
• You have the status of a "stateless person" or a refugee status acquired in another EU member state and hold a travel document issued by that state;
• You have a long-stay "D" visa or a continuous, permanent or long-term residence permit in Bulgaria:

Bringing your family to Bulgaria

Access to the labour market for foreigners in Bulgaria and the relevant residence permits 

Access to higher education in Bulgaria

• You are a citizen of a country for which a C visa is not required, e.g. Ukraine (if you have a biometric passport), UK, etc. The full list of countries can be found at this link.

In all other cases, you need a visa type “C” to come to Bulgaria. We advise you to consult with the Bulgarian Embassy before travelling. 

As of 31 March 2024, Bulgaria issues uniform (Schengen) visas valid for the whole Schengen area. This means that a C visa issued by Bulgaria after 31 March 2024 entitles you to travel throughout the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period, regardless of checks at internal land borders.

However, if you obtained your C visa before 31 March 2024, then you must apply for a Schengen visa separately. 

Below, we will look at the two types of short-stay C visa and the procedures for obtaining such a visa. 

Visa “C” for transit passage 

You only need this visa if you are making a transit crossing through Bulgaria, i.e. entering and exiting the Bulgarian border to go to another country. You must cross within 48 hours (2 days).

If you are travelling by plane, it counts as a transit passage when you arrive on one flight from one country and catch another flight to another country within those 2 days. 

With this visa, you have the right to make one, two or more crossings.

Important! This type of "C" visa is different from an "A" airport transit visa because an "A" visa only allows you to stay in the transit area of the airport, whereas with a "C" transit visa you have 2 days in which you can pass through Bulgaria, and you are allowed to leave the airport and be on Bulgarian territory.

Necessary documents 

You can apply for this C visa in person at the Bulgarian consulate in the country where you are legally residing. You can check on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria where there is a diplomatic and consular representation of Bulgaria, as well as their contacts (see the picture below for a guide).

Important! Applying for a visa for Bulgaria can only be done from abroad. You cannot apply for a visa if you are already in Bulgaria.

You need the following documents no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 calendar days before the date of your planned travel:

1. Application form;
2. A valid foreign travel document (passport) which expires no earlier than 3 months after the planned date of departure from Bulgaria or, in the case of multiple visits, after the last planned date of departure from Bulgaria;
3. Photocopy of the pages of the travel document with the personal data and the visas issued and/or photocopy of the residence permits held for the countries you will pass through and for the country of destination;
4. A passport-size photograph of yourself, scanned or taken at the time of application - 3.5 x 4.5;
5. Fingerprints to be taken - this is not done for children under 12;
6. Valid medical insurance for travel abroad to cover the period of stay in Bulgaria, with a minimum cover of  30,000 EUR. This insurance must cover repatriation costs for medical reasons and emergencies, emergency hospital treatment or death in Bulgaria;
7. Evidence that you have arranged transport for the transit and/or that you have the necessary financial means to continue the transit;
8. Evidence that you have sufficient financial means of subsistence for each transit of at least 50 EUR and, if you are transiting overland with your vehicle, additional means of at least 200 EUR;
9. The fee for a type “C” visa is 80 EUR and free for children under 12 years old.

Please note that fees paid are non-refundable if your visa application is rejected.

Some countries have visa application agents who may charge you additional fees.

The visa application and the required documents for children under 14 years old must be submitted by their parents or legal representatives.

The visa application and the required documents for children between 14 and 17 years old must be signed by the children themselves and countersigned by their parents or legal representatives.

Before submitting the documents, in general you need to book a date and time at the embassy (see information on Bulgarian embassy contacts above). As a rule, an appointment is made within 2 weeks of the date when it was requested. Only if it is an emergency, you will be allowed to submit your application without a pre-arranged appointment, or to be held immediately. 

This requirement for a pre-arranged meeting does not apply for family members of a European Union citizen.

Visa type “C” for the purpose of a planned short stay

This is the second type of short-stay C visa. It allows you to enter Bulgaria once, twice or multiple times and to stay in the country for a total period of up to 90 days in any 6-month period starting from the date of first entry.

Necessary documents

The application is again submitted at the consular representation of Bulgaria in the place where you are legally residing. 

You need the following documents no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 calendar days before the date of your planned travel:

1. Application form;
2. A valid foreign travel document (passport) which expires no earlier than 3 months after the planned date of departure from Bulgaria or, in the case of multiple visits, after the last planned date of departure from Bulgaria;
3. Photocopy of the pages of the travel document with the personal data and the visas issued and/or photocopy of the residence permits held for the countries you will pass through and for the country of destination;
4. A passport-size photograph of yourself, scanned or taken at the time of application - 3.5 x 4.5;
5. Fingerprints to be taken - this is not done for children under 12;
6. Valid medical insurance for travel abroad to cover the period of stay in Bulgaria, with a minimum cover of  30,000 EUR. This insurance must cover repatriation costs for medical reasons and emergencies, emergency hospital treatment or death in Bulgaria;
7. Documents that justify the purpose of your trip and copies of them, such as: 

• invitations from people or companies if applicable (described below in the list of documents);
• if you are travelling for a cultural exchange - submit a letter of invitation from the Ministry of Culture or from the mayor of the relevant municipality,
• if you are travelling for medical treatment, a certificate from the hospital and an epicrisis from a local hospital;
• if it is for tourism - hotel reservations, apartments, return air tickets, travel voucher from a tour operator, etc.

8. Proof that you have the necessary financial means to support yourself in the amount of at least 50 EUR for each day of the requested stay;
9. Evidence that you have the necessary funds to provide your own accommodation or proof that you have a minimum of  50 EUR for each day's accommodation; 
10. Evidence that you have sufficient financial means to leave the country - you have a return ticket, or if you are travelling with your own vehicle - that you have at least 200 EUR for this purpose; 
11. An invitation-declaration form from a private person, certified by a notary and by the Migration Directorate. The following documents shall be submitted when the declaration is certified:
    • Declaration of the property status of the inviting person;
    • A certificate of income issued by the inviting person's place of work or a copy of a tax return.
12.  Or an invitation-declaration from the person or company inviting you for the purpose of business relations, certified by a notary public and the Migration Department, whereby you must submit: 
    • Certificate of current status of the company issued by the district court of its registration; 
    • A copy of the tax return of the inviting person/company for the previous year with a reference number from the territorial directorate of the National Revenue Agency.
13. Or an invitation-declaration from a legal entity for the issuance of a visa for the purpose of business relations, certified by a notary public and the Migration Directorate. In this case it is necessary to submit a certificate of the current status of the legal entity issued by the district court of its registration. 
14. Or an invitation-declaration from the representative office of a foreign company for the issuance of a visa for business relations, certified by a notary and the Migration Directorate, after submission of the following documents: 
    • Certificate of current status of the representation issued by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
    • Copy of the certificate of registration with the relevant territorial directorate of the National Revenue Agency.
15. The fee for the issuance of a C visa is  80 EUR and for children under 12 years of age it is free of charge. 

Please note that fees paid are non-refundable if your visa application is rejected.

Some countries have visa application agents who may charge you additional fees.

The visa application and the necessary documents for children under 14 years old must be submitted by their parents or legal representatives.

The visa application and required documents for children between 14 and 17 years old must be signed by the children themselves and countersigned by their parents or legal representatives.

Before submitting the documents, in general you need to book a date and time at the embassy (see information on Bulgarian embassy contacts above). As a rule, an appointment is made within 2 weeks of the date when it was requested. Only if it is an emergency you may submit your application without a pre-arranged appointment or immediately. 

The requirement for a pre-arranged meeting does not apply for family members of a European Union citizen. 

Multiple-entry short-stay visa

Multiple-entry C visas may be issued under certain conditions and can have a validity period of maximum 5 years, i.e. you can stay in Bulgaria for 90 days within every 180 days, but your visa is valid for a longer period and you do not need to issue a new one for this period. 

You can obtain a multiple short-stay visa for the following periods: 

• Up to 1 year if you have obtained and used 3 visas within the last 2 years; 
• Up to 2 years if you have obtained and used a multiple-entry visa with a validity of up to 1 year in the last 2 years; 
• Up to 5 years if you have obtained and used a multiple-entry visa with a validity of up to 2 years in the last 3 years. 

You should meet the following requirements for a multiple-entry visa:

• Maintain permanent business contacts with Bulgarians or Bulgarian companies engaged in business or non-profit activities;
• Maintain permanent business contacts with representative offices of foreign companies;
• Make a significant personal contribution to the development of relations between another country and Bulgaria; 
• You are a family member of a Bulgarian citizen;
• You are a family member of a citizen of the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland who is a long-term resident of Bulgaria;
• You are a family member of a foreigner who is a long-term resident in Bulgaria;
• You are a driver of an international road transport or a crew member of a rail passenger and freight transport;
• You are travelling to Bulgaria only for tourism with no intention of overstaying.

You must also meet the following requirements:

• You must have a valid travel document that: 1) allows you to enter Bulgaria, 2) was issued within the last 10 years, and 3) expires at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Bulgaria;
• You have justified the purpose and conditions of your stay and you have sufficient financial means to support yourself and to finance your return to your country of origin or to travel to another country.

See the previous section for the necessary documents. 

Refusal to be issued a visa

You will be refused a visa C if:

• you are found to be acting against the national security of Bulgaria;
• your actions have jeopardised Bulgaria's international relations with another country;
• evidence is found that you are involved in terrorist activities or are using Bulgaria as a country through which to pass to another country to carry out similar acts; 
• there are indications that you are committing other crimes such as being part of a criminal organisation and smuggling weapons, explosives, ammunition, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, etc;
• you have attempted to enter the country using false documents;
• you do not have the necessary financial means required to stay in the country or to travel; 
• you do not have the necessary visas or tickets to the next countries you will travel to from Bulgaria; 
• you have applied for a visa with an invalid passport;
• you have failed to prove your purpose of travel to Bulgaria; 
• evidence has been found that your purpose is in fact to stay in the country as an immigrant without having the necessary authorisation, etc. 

In case of refusal, you have the right to appeal within 14 days before the administrative courts in Bulgaria after the authorities inform you of the refusal. 

We advise you to consult an expert immigration lawyer. You can also request an online legal consultation with the Foundation for Access to Rights - FAR by filling in the form at this link:

REQUEST ASSISTANCE