Bulgaria tourist visa
Bulgaria joined Schengen in stages: air and sea borders opened on 31 March 2024, land crossings on 1 January 2025. So it now issues the uniform Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) rather than a national sticker of its own. For an Indian passport holder that single visa covers tourism, sightseeing and visiting friends or relatives — and it opens the whole Schengen area to you for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Where you file depends on your route. Apply through Bulgaria's mission in India when Bulgaria is your main destination, or when it is your first point of entry into the Schengen area. On the ground, VFS Global's Bulgaria visa application centres take in the file; the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai decide the outcome. We assess your profile, build the file and manage the submission.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport valid at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages
- ✓Purpose limited to tourism, sightseeing or visiting friends and relatives — no paid work or study
- ✓Bulgaria is your main destination (most nights) or, if there is no single main destination, your first point of entry into the Schengen area
- ✓Proof of funds to cover the stay and confirmed onward or return travel showing you will leave before the visa expires
- ✓Travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 covering the entire Schengen trip, including emergency treatment and repatriation
Visa options for Bulgaria
Visa C — Schengen short-stay
Single, double or multiple entry for tourism or transit; total stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, valid across all Schengen countries.
Visa A — airport transit
For passing through the international transit zone of a Bulgarian airport without entering the country.
Visa D — long-stay
For stays over 90 days; VFS Global opened Bulgaria D-visa centres in six Indian cities from November 2025.
Documents typically required
- ✓Completed and signed Schengen (Type C) visa application form
- ✓Indian passport valid at least three months beyond departure, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages
- ✓Two recent Schengen-spec passport photos (35 x 45 mm, light background)
- ✓Travel medical insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 cover for the whole Schengen area, including repatriation and emergency treatment
- ✓Flight tickets
- ✓Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (hotel bookings) or an invitation from your host
- ✓Day-by-day travel itinerary
- ✓Proof of financial means — recent personal bank statements and income-tax returns
- ✓Cover letter explaining the purpose and dates of your trip
- ✓Employment proof — leave letter/NOC from employer, business registration for the self-employed, or student/retirement proof
- ✓Previous passports and any earlier Schengen or other visas
- ✓Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) captured in person at the visa centre for first-time applicants
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
First-time applicants visit a VFS Global Bulgaria visa application centre in person to give biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph. Once recorded, these can be reused for later Schengen applications within 59 months.
Frequently asked questions
Do I apply to Bulgaria or to another Schengen country?
Two tests settle it. If you'll spend the most nights in Bulgaria, it is your main destination and you apply to Bulgaria. If no single country dominates the trip, you apply wherever you first enter the Schengen area — and if that is Bulgaria, the same route holds. In practice that means VFS Global's Bulgaria visa application centres in India, with the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai taking the decision.
How long does the Bulgaria Schengen visa take?
Usually around 15 calendar days from the day you submit. If the consulate wants extra checks or documents, it can stretch to 45. The timeline and the outcome are always the consulate's call — what we give you is a realistic estimate for your case.
Can I visit other Schengen countries on this visa?
Yes. Since 31 March 2024 the visa Bulgaria issues is the uniform Schengen one, valid across every member state. You can move through the whole area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Do you guarantee the visa?
No — that call always rests with the consulate. What we do is give you a frank read on your chances and make the application as strong as it can be. Over the last 2–3 years our success rate has run at 97%.