In our office we assist with the visa application process. A visa is a permit issued by the Republic of Bulgaria for entry and residence, for transit or for airport transit. The visa is issued in the form of a single European Union visa sticker.
- Type A visa (for airport transit).
- Type C visa (for short-term transit or scheduled residence).
- Type D visa (for long-term residence).
Foreigners reside in the Republic of Bulgaria:
1. in the short term – up to 90 days within each 180-day period from the date of entry into the country;
2. for a prolonged stay – with an approved term of up to one year;
3. in the long-term – with an allowed initial term of 5 years and possibility of renewal after an application has been submitted;
4. permanently – with an indefinite term allowed.
- Type A airport transit visas are issued to foreign nationals who, together with their passports, hold a valid travel document or other similar document issued by several countries, whose names are detailed in Annex N1 to the Ordinance on the Procedure and Requirements for Issuing Visas. These countries are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. A foreigner residing in a transit hall for international flights with an airport transit visa is not allowed to leave the transit hall.
At our law firm, we assist in the preparation of documents for the issuance of a Type A Visa (for airport transit).
A short-stay visa for transit or intended stay Type C is issued to a foreigner who wishes to travel through the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria to another country for which he or she is in possession of a visa, where such is required.The transit visa entitles the foreigner to one, two or (exceptionally) several transit passes, each for up to two days.The total length of stay in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria of transit transit visa may not exceed 90 days within every 6 months from the date of first entry. In case of problems related to the issuance of Type C Visa, our law office renders legal protection and assistance.
A Type D long-stay visa is issued to a foreigner who wishes to settle for a prolonged period, long-term or permanently in Bulgaria.
A long-stay visa with a validity period of up to 6 months and a right of residence of up to 180 days is issued to a foreigner who wishes to establish a long-term or permanent residence in the Republic of Bulgaria. (under Art. 15, Para. 1 of the FRBA).
A long-stay visa with a term of validity of up to one year and with a right of residence of up to 360 days may be issued to foreigners who conduct research or are students of training programs up to one academic year, in apprenticeship or training, foreigners posted by a foreign employer for the performance of specific tasks related to the control and coordination of the implementation of a tourist services contract, as well as of foreigners seconded by a foreign employer for the implementation of investment, certified under the Investment Promotion Act (under Art. 15, Para 2 of the FRBA).
Our law firm assists with applications for international students at a university in the Republic of Bulgaria. We assist with the choice of university, specialty, preparation of all necessary documents.
In many cases, a foreigner applying for a Type A (airport transit) visa, a Type C visa (for short-term transit or scheduled stay), a Type D (long-term visa) is denied a visa. These refusals are in most cases illegal and incorrect. You have the opportunity to appeal the refusal. Contact us before the time limit for appeal has expired.
A multiple-entry short-stay visa with a term of validity of up to one year may be issued to a foreigner, provided that he or she has received a short-stay visa in the previous year and it has been used in accordance with the legal provisions for entry and residence in the Republic of Bulgaria and there are grounds for applying for a multiple entry visa.
A multiple-entry short-stay visa with a validity of no more than 5 years may be issued to a foreigner, provided that in the previous two years he or she has obtained and used a one-year multiple entry visa in accordance with the legal provisions for entry and residence in the Republic of Bulgaria and that the grounds for applying for a multiple entry visa are still valid only after consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Relations Directorate.
A multiple-entry short-stay visa may be issued to a foreigner who:
– maintains permanent business contacts with Bulgarian natural or legal persons, carrying out business activities within the meaning of the Commerce Act;
– maintains lasting business contacts with Bulgarian legal entities engaged in activities within the meaning of the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities;
– maintains lasting business contacts with representations of foreign legal entities, registered in accordance with Art. 24 of the Investment Promotion Act;
– has made a significant personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria;
– is a family member of a citizen of an EU Member State, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation who resides in the Republic of Bulgaria on a long-term basis;
– is a member of the family of a foreigner who resides for a long time in the Republic of Bulgaria – while maintaining their usual residence abroad;
– is the driver of an international road transport or a member of the crew of a passenger and freight rail transport (Art. 8, par. 2 and 3 from the Ordinance on the conditions and procedure for issuing visas and determining the visa regime ).
The visa sticker shall be affixed on a regular passport or in a substitute regular travel document recognized by the Republic of Bulgaria. When the foreigner holds a passport or a replacement travel document which is not recognized by the Republic of Bulgaria, the visa sticker may be affixed to a visa application form in accordance with an act of the Council of Ministers.
The legal visa services we offer are:
- Preparation of documents when applying for Type A Visa (for airport transit);
- Preparation of documents when applying for a Type C Visa (for short-term transit or planned residence);
- Preparation of documents when applying for a Type D Visa (for long-term residence);
- Preparing and applying for a visa;
- Preparation of documents justifying the purpose of the trip;
- Preparation of invitation-declaration for representation of a foreign legal entity;
- Appeal of refusal to issue a visa.
