Visa Information
Visa Information
As from 1st of January 2007 the Republic of Bulgaria applies the
Common Visa Policy of the European Union under the terms of the Treaty
of Accession to the European Union. According to the article 4 of the
Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Republic of Bulgaria
and Romania and the adjustments to the treaties on which the European
Union is founded, the provisions of the Schengen acquis, listed in
Annex II, are binding on and applicable in Bulgaria from the date of
accession to the European Union. The Schengen acts not referred to in
the annex, while binding on Bulgaria from the date of accession, shall
apply pursuant to a Council decision after verification in accordance
with the applicable Schengen evaluation procedures that the necessary
conditions for the application of all parts of the acquis concerned
have been met.
After the accession to the European Union, one of the main
priorities of Bulgaria is the accession to the Schengen area. Following
a Decision of the Council of Ministers, Bulgaria has declared readiness
for joining the Schengen area on March 2011.
The accession to the Schengen area requires full harmonization of
the national legislation with the Schengen acquis and implementation of
the Schengen best practices related to the issuing of visas.
As from the date of accession to the EU, Bulgaria strictly applies
Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third
countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing
the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that
requirement and its amendments and has adapted its visa regime
according to the lists in Annex I (third countries whose nationals must
to be in possession of a visa) and Annex II (third countries whose
nationals are exempt from the requirement to possess a visa) of the
said regulation.
Type of Visa
Airport
Transit Visa (Type A Visa)
Transit
Visa (Type B Visa)
Short-Stay
Visa (Type C Visa)
Long-Stay
Visa (National Visa) (Type D Visa)
Categories
of persons exempt from the obligation to present proof of guaranteed
subsistence, accommodation and transport and nsurance policy