Independent trip to Bulgaria: are the borders open for Russians?

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Sunny and hospitable Bulgaria welcomes tourists: the current visa legislation is one of the most relaxed among the EU countries. Schengen holders do not have to worry about obtaining a visa: they are allowed a free three-month stay in Bulgaria within six months. If not, when visiting the country for the first time, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a short-term tourist visa. Obtaining it is not associated with any difficulties, and the traveler can easily request the necessary document on his own.

The country is free for Russians to enter if they have an open Romanian, Cypriot or Croatian visa or residence permit from these countries.

Types of visas

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues 4 types of visas:

• Short-term (tourist) - issued to independent travelers, as well as to persons who decide to visit relatives living in Bulgaria. Valid for 90 days for 6 months, after which you are required to leave the country. Regardless of the type of visa (it can be single, double or multiple), the total number of days of stay in the country should not exceed 3 months.
• Group - issued to a group of travelers - citizens of the same country. It allows you to enjoy Bulgarian hospitality for no more than 30 days in six months, and the composition of the group should not change.
• Transit - suitable for tourists traveling through Bulgaria to other countries. With it you can leave the airport building and walk around the area throughout the day.

Russians transferring to other flights at Bulgarian airports and not planning to leave the airport terminal do not need a transit visa.

• Immigration - necessary for those who plan to study or work in the country or seek immigration. With this visa, a foreigner can live in Bulgaria for a year, engage in business activities and subsequently apply for citizenship.

Video test for knowledge of Bulgaria | 10 tricky questions for tourists:

Applying for a visa yourself

To obtain an entry permit, it is enough to prepare a standard package of documents and submit it to the Bulgarian Embassy or the nearest visa center of the country. When submitting documents to the embassy, ​​you will only need to pay a consular fee of 35 EUR; when applying through a visa center - another 20 EUR for their services. Children under 6 years old are exempt from fees. In case of visa refusal, fees are non-refundable. Prices on the page are for September 2021.

Applications are reviewed within 4 working days (not counting the day of application).

But it is optimal to apply a month before the trip: in this case, the applicant will have enough time to resubmit documents if for some reason the visa is denied.

Submitting documents for a tourist visa if you plan to stay in a hotel.

Before going to the visa center, you need to prepare a package of documents; for a tourist visa you need the following list:

1. A completed application form. The form is available from the visa center website. Look at the sample form with comments.
2. A foreign passport valid for at least 3 months from the end date of the trip.
3. A copy of the first page of the passport.
4. Color photograph 35*45 mm is standard for all visa centers. Photos can be taken on the spot in the machine, but, of course, it’s better in advance. Glue it to the completed form.
5. A health insurance policy valid in Bulgaria with coverage of at least 30 thousand euros. The insurance policy can be purchased online or on site.
6. Air, train tickets (copies), or booking confirmation.
   If you are driving a car - copies of your driver's license, registration certificate, green card (can be purchased on the spot) and the route in free form.
7. Confirmed hotel reservation – electronic paid reservation of a hotel room. Usually this is a scan that should contain the following data - the name of the hotel, its details (address, telephone, e-mail, contact person), information about the room being booked, your data from your passport (name, surname, date of birth, passport number and expiration date ) date of arrival and departure, stamp. The question often arises: Is it possible to get a visa without purchasing a tour or paying for a booking? Here is what the Bulgarian visa center writes about this:
   

   Confirmation of the hotel reservation is required (fax/scanned copy on letterhead with a signature and seal, or a printed reservation from the electronic booking system). The confirmation must include all entrants by name, length of stay, and hotel details. It is also necessary that the fact of payment for the hotel by the applicant be documented (in the hotel reservation itself or in the form of additional documents).

   The fact of payment means either a receipt or a signature on the reservation that payment has been received. So, if there is an urgent need to obtain a visa without reference to a date or hotel, then you can, for example, find a room with free cancellation on Booking and pay for it. And after receiving the visa, cancel the reservation and payment. Please pay attention to the cancellation deadlines!

   If you don’t want to bother with booking, try contacting a travel agency. Please note to them that you only need a visa without additional services.

8. A certificate of employment on company letterhead must include the seal of the organization, the signature of the person in charge, address, work telephone number, position and salary of the applicant. Pensioners provide a copy of their pension certificate. Individual entrepreneurs: copies of the individual entrepreneur registration certificate and TIN certificate. The unemployed provide nothing.
9. Confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds for the trip, may be a certificate of purchase of currency or a current bank statement (can be in rubles at the current exchange rate +/-). The amount must be at least 500 € or 50 € per day per person. That is, if you are traveling for 14 days, multiply by 50 = 700 euros per person (or the equivalent in rubles). If there is no such money in the account yet, but you need to get a visa, ask friends, relatives, etc. to transfer the missing amount to the account, get a bank statement and you can immediately return the money back.
10. Consent to the processing of personal data. Filled out on the basis of a Russian passport! The form can be downloaded from the visa center website. Look at the sample filling for Moscow and the sample for a child.
11. Russian passport (needed only to enter the visa center, required by the security service).
12. Money. For citizens of Russia and Ukraine, for a regular visa the consular fee + service fee is about 4,000 rubles, for an urgent visa - 6,200 rubles per person - current tariffs. The difference between regular and urgent visas: regular visas are processed for 4 days, urgent visas are processed for 2 days, not counting the day of submission.

Children under 6 years old at the time of submitting documents are exempt from fees (except for residents of St. Petersburg and Pskov). If you submit today, and tomorrow the child turns 6 years old, then do not pay fees.

This is a mandatory list for Russians. There are a few more IFs.

• If a minor child is traveling with you, then the requirements are the same, with the exception of clause 8. But you must include a copy of your birth certificate with the kit.
• If you are traveling with your family, you can hand over all the kits alone; for this you additionally need a Russian passport + a copy of your spouse and a marriage certificate + a copy. The same extras. Documents are also needed to obtain passports with ready-made visas.
• If you are traveling with a child (children), but without one of the parents, or the child is traveling without both parents, for example, with a grandmother, then the original + copy of the child’s consent to travel must be included in the set of papers. This is a standard notarial consent, done by a notary within 15 minutes, the cost is 800-1300 rubles. The notary requires the presence of both parents with passports, a marriage certificate and a child’s birth certificate. You can immediately give consent for the child to leave on your own (unaccompanied), in which case it will be valid both for one of the parents and for strangers.

Important note: if the child periodically travels to Bulgaria, then make this consent for a longer period than for the duration of the trip, for example, 5 years or more, the notary may grumble, but the law does not prohibit making such a document. The main thing for the Bulgarian visa center is that it is valid on time, and you will save time and several thousand rubles in the future.

Documents for a visa to Bulgaria

Required documents to obtain Schengen category C:

1. The application form
   must be filled out in block letters in English (can be filled out online), without marks or corrections, signed by the applicant in his own hand;
2. International passport
   Validity period must not exceed 3 months from the date of departure from the Schengen zone, and a photocopy of its first page;
3. Photo
   3.5 x 4.5 cm (see photo requirements below);
4. Copy of tickets
   A photocopy of air tickets or round-trip tickets for any type of transport.
5. Certificate of employment
   Certificate of employment with the stated position and salary;
6. Bank account statement
   The statement must be recent and not older than 6 months. The account must have at least 500 EUR;
7. Hotel reservation
   Confirmation of the reserved room in the hotel/hostel. The document must indicate all members of the incoming family/company, as well as information about payment for accommodation;
8. Sponsorship letter
   In addition to the listed documents, students must receive a certificate from the educational institution and a copy of their student ID. For pensioners - a copy of the pension certificate. And also for all of them and those who are not working - an application for sponsorship, a certificate from the sponsor’s work, a copy of his internal passport and a document confirming the degree of relationship.
9. For a business visa: invitation and copy of the agreement.
   The host party, a company registered in the Republic of Bulgaria, must have an invitation in two versions: original and photocopy; In addition, a copy of the agreement, which should confirm the existence of partnerships between organizations. Instead, you can provide a letter of recommendation from the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
10. For a private visit: invitation and/or confirmation of relationship.
    You must receive an invitation written strictly according to the sample from the receiving party. You can view it at the Visa Application Center or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria; If the receiving party is a close relative (parent, spouse, child or sibling), copies of documents confirming the relationship are required;
11. For transit
    , a photocopy of the visa of the state to which the trip is planned. If a visa is not required to visit it, then documents establishing the purpose of travel will be suitable: for example, copies of air tickets, hotel reservations, etc. But if a traveler from Russia does not plan to leave the airport and the wait for the flight does not exceed 24 hours, he will not need a transit visa will be needed.

Obtaining a business visa usually does not involve any additional checks; the document is prepared in 4-6 days, depending on the workload of the Visa Center. There is no need to go through an interview.

If a tourist enters Bulgaria by car, it is necessary to attach copies of the vehicle registration certificate, driver’s license, received Green Card and travel itinerary in any form.

Caravan and campervan rental

In Bulgaria, tourists use a motorhome to better see the country, be able to travel freely, and stay in beautiful places.

Mobile homes are equipped with everything you need: toilet, kitchenette, shower, relaxation area. In summer, it is better to rent a caravan with air conditioning.

On average, daily rentals start from 45 euros/day, depending on the rental period, the camper itself and capacity.

Typically the rental price includes:

• Full caravan insurance and public liability insurance.
• Travel medical insurance.
• All necessary documents for moving around the country (maps).
• Equipment: bedding, refrigerator, shower, toilet.
• 100% payment for the reservation, no later than 7 days before the start of the rental.

Registration of visas for children

It is necessary that a child under 14 years of age be included in the parent's passport. For children over 14, their own foreign passport is issued. For each minor, you must fill out a separate form and attach a photocopy of your birth certificate.

To quickly cross the border, it is better to have your original birth certificate with you. It can be requested from both the Russian and Bulgarian sides.

If children leave Russia with one parent, a notarized permission to leave from the second will be required. In the case where there is no second parent/guardian, documents establishing this are required (for example, a death certificate). If minors are traveling with third parties, they must provide notarized permission from both parents/guardians.

Photo requirements

The application must be accompanied by one color photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm on a light plain background, taken no more than six months ago. The applicant's face must be clear, detailed, and free of dark glasses or other objects that distort features. Only frontal photos are allowed, strictly without the “red-eye” effect.

Photos cut from amateur photos or taken independently will not be accepted. You also need to prepare photographs of each child included in the passport. Failure of the image to meet the requirements listed above is the most common reason for refusal to issue a visa.

The photo is taken from the front, a slight smile is acceptable. Dimensions: 3.5x4.5 cm, the head should occupy 70-80% of the image (approximately 3 cm).

Face size

According to the 2021 rules set by Bulgaria, an applicant for a Bulgarian visa must look like this in the photo:

• The contours of the face should be clear and not blurry.
• The face occupies from 70 to 80% of the total space of the image, i.e. no more than 2 mm from the top of the visa applicant's head to the top border of the photograph.
• The person filming must sit strictly in front of the camera. The ears and forehead should be open, the gaze fixed on the lens, the hair thrown back so that nothing covers the face.
• The face and shoulders are turned straight towards the lens, the back is straight, the chin is not raised up.
• It is necessary to explain to the master that the face of an applicant for a visa to Bulgaria must meet not only the established photo size (3.5 by 4.5 cm), but also have the following parameters:

1. The regulated distance from the chin to the crown is from 3.2 to 3.5 cm.
2. The distance from the chin to the eyes should be 1.3 cm.

• It is prohibited for a person to be photographed wearing glasses - regular or tinted - that will hide their eyes. Other objects should also not hide the eyes. If glasses or medical blindfolds are necessary, you should provide a doctor's certificate.
• The face should not be hidden by a national headdress. Exceptional cases include belonging to certain religious or confessional groups. Before filming in a studio, this nuance must be clarified by phone at the visa center or embassy.
• There should be no “red eye” effect (this makes it much more difficult to identify the applicant).
• The photograph may be printed on glossy or matte paper.

If these photo requirements for a Bulgarian visa in 2021 are not met, then embassy or visa center employees have every right to reject the submission of documents, as well as the visa application (addresses of the VC, consulates and embassies here).

Consular fee – 35 €

Before receiving a visa, you will need to pay a consular fee of 35 EUR and 20 EUR as a service fee. Payment is made in national currency (rubles) at the current exchange rate of the Bulgarian Embassy directly at the Visa Application Center at the time of application. If all documents are filled out correctly, the entry permit will be prepared in 4-6 working days.

The applicant can also request an urgent visa - then the consular fee will be 70 EUR, the amount of the service fee does not change. The visa will be ready in two days.

Embassy and consulates of Bulgaria in Russia

Embassy of Bulgaria in Moscow

Visa center in Moscow

Bulgaria Visa Application Center in Vladivostok

Bulgaria Visa Application Center in Irkutsk

Bulgaria Visa Application Center in Kazan

Bulgaria Visa Application Center in Murmansk

Bulgaria Visa Application Center in Smolensk

Answers to questions about obtaining a visa to Bulgaria

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• What documents are needed to obtain a Bulgarian visa for pensioners to travel to visit their son?
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• What is the maximum period for which you can obtain a Bulgarian visa if you have real estate in the country?
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• Is consent required from the child's father when traveling to Bulgaria?
• How long can you stay in Bulgaria on an annual visa?
• How long does it take to obtain a work visa to Bulgaria for Russian citizens?
• The consent of one or both parents is required for a child to travel to Bulgaria accompanied by a third party
• What to do if there are mistakes in the tourist’s first and last name in the invitation from the hotel for a visa to Bulgaria
• What you need to travel to Bulgaria in transit through Romania

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Rules for entry into Bulgaria from July 8, 2021

From July 8, 2021, Bulgaria is tightening entry rules for Russians due to the worsening situation with COVID-19 in Russia.

Now all Russians entering Bulgaria, including vaccinated ones, must do a PCR test 72 hours before entry.

In the absence of a certificate with a negative PCR test result, a 10-day quarantine is provided for citizens of the Russian Federation.

The remaining requirements for Russians entering Bulgaria have not changed:

1. You can enter the country if you have a negative PCR test, which must be done no later than 72 hours before entering Bulgaria.
2. Entry is allowed to Russians who provide a certificate with the results of a rapid antigen test done no later than 48 hours before entry.
3. Vaccinated tourists were previously allowed to enter Bulgaria. The second vaccination must be done no later than 14 days before entering the country. The certificate must be in English.
4. Tourists who have recovered from coronavirus could provide evidence of the illness they had already suffered. Positive PCR test done in the last 15-180 days before entering Bulgaria. These entry options cannot be used at this time.
5. The Bulgarian Embassy issues visas. Entry to Bulgaria is also possible with a valid Schengen visa for Russians.
6. From July 1, 2021, children under 12 years of age do not need to present a test or other certificates to enter the country.
7. To enter Bulgaria, you must have medical travel insurance that covers treatment for coronavirus.

Insurance can be purchased online within 5 minutes. You can compare prices from all insurance companies and choose the most profitable option on the Cherehapa.ru service.