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Visa field guide · BG
Plan your Bulgaria application
MFA form, VFS or the mission, then the Migration DirectorateSee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.01 / ROUTES
Choose the route that matches your trip
These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.- ↗Short-stay Schengen visa
Visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period when Bulgaria is the main destination.
- ↗National long-stay visa (Type D)
One of 21 recognised legal grounds — employment, study, family reunification, retirement, investment or qualifying remote work — for a stay beyond 90 days.
02 / JOURNEY
What the application journey usually looks like
The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.- 01Confirm the correct visa type
Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs separates a short Schengen visit from a Type D long-stay visa granted on one of 21 recognised legal grounds.
- 02Download the official MFA form
The application form is published on the MFA site and is completed before booking, not through a fully online system.
GUIDELENS HELPS HERE - 03Book with the mission or a VFS centre
Submit in person at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, or at a VFS Global visa application centre where one serves your country.
- 04Attend the interview & give biometrics
The MFA states that no exception is made from the personal-interview requirement for a Type D application, and most applicants also give fingerprints.
IF ASKED - 05Track the consular decision
Standard consular processing applies; the mission or VFS channel reports the outcome once a decision is made.
- 06Register with the Migration Directorate
A Type D visa only grants entry — within 14 days of arriving, apply to the competent Migration Directorate office for the residence permit that covers the actual stay.
03 / BEFORE YOU START
Four things to know before you start
- Official starting point
- The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.bg) publishes the visa form, requirements and the network of missions and VFS centres.
- Short or long stay
- Stays up to 90 days in 180 days use the Schengen C route; longer stays need a Type D visa granted on one of 21 legal grounds.
- Interview is not optional
- The MFA is explicit that a personal interview is never waived for a Type D long-stay application.
- After arrival
- A Type D holder must apply for a residence permit at the relevant Migration Directorate office within 14 days of entering Bulgaria.
04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE
Bulgaria visa details that differ from the regional guide
Bulgaria follows the shared Schengen short-stay rules, but its own MFA form, submission network and post-arrival Migration Directorate step set the national workflow apart.- 01
Download the form directly from the MFA
Bulgaria uses a form published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website rather than a single online application system; complete and print it before booking an appointment.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria · Visa for Bulgaria ↗ - 02
A Type D interview is never waived
Where some short-stay applicants can skip an interview, the MFA states plainly that a long-stay Type D application always requires one.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria · Visa for Bulgaria ↗ - 03
Residence follows the visa on a 14-day clock
A Type D visa allows entry only; within 14 days of arrival, apply separately to the Migration Directorate for the residence permit that covers the actual stay.
Ministry of Interior · Migration Directorate, issue of residence permits to third-country nationals ↗ - 04
Keep the Schengen rule in view
For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.
European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗
05 / PREPARE
Information worth gathering before you open the form
Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.Passport and previous travel-document details
Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation
Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay
Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip
Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant
Translations and route-specific documents requested locally
06 / OFFICIAL
Continue with the official authority
You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.