Charlotte
06-03-06, 10:21 PM
Visa
A foreigner may enter the Republic of Bulgaria if he has the valid papers for travelling abroad or any other substitute documents, as well as a visa for entry, stay or transit passing through the country when such a visa is required. Visas are not required when there is a bilateral agreement between Bulgaria and native country of the foreigner or an Act of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria for a non-visa regime. Foreigners who are citizens of 46 specific countries (for example the EU-countries, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia,Switzerland etc. – additional information for all this countries - www.mfa.government.bg (http://www.mfa.government.bg)) can reside in Bulgaria without visas for a period of 90 days within a period of six months as from their first entry in the country, unless an international agreement provides for a different period (shorter or longer).
A long-term visa shall be issued to a foreigner who can enter the country without any limits and the period of stay upon each entry shall be 90 days. The validity of this visa shall not exceed 12 months.
The price for a tourist/business visa is 30 Euro, the double visa 40 Euro, the express service for a single visa cost 45 Euro. Transit visa cost 20 Euro, express service 30 Euro, the double transit visa cost 40 Euro for 3 months and 50 Euro for 6 months.The administration fee for any kind of visa is 20 Euro.
Work Permit
The work permit is required for all foreign employees employed in Bulgaria and it’s not applicable to the Managing Directors, Board Members and other representatives of the highest management level from 46 countries - whereto most of the EU countries - special work permit is not required. For the other countries the common rules apply.
The expat has to fill out an application form and to enclose the following documents:
Working Contract (or detailed plan for his business activities in Bulgaria if he will work on free-lance basis)
Statutes of the host organisation
Authorised translation of the documents attesting to the necessary qualifications
Health certificate issued by the Health Service or authorised translation of a health certificate from another country.
Diploma or Certificate for a relevant education
2 photos
The Work Permit costs EUR 300. Upon submission of the request from a Bulgarian employer for issuance of a work permit, the foreign individual should be overseas.
Entry Visas
If you are from an EU member state, the UK, Canada, USA or Israel you do not need a visa to enter the country. Those from EU countries may stay in the country for up to 90 days in a six-month period, counting from the first date of entry. For citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Israel this period is up to 30 days within a six-month period, counting from the first date of entry. It doesn’t matter whether you leave and re-enter the country within that period, as the total number of days is what matters.
Travellers who are not citizens of the US or the countries listed above should obtain an entry visa in advance from the Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate in their country. For this they will need to provide a letter of invitation from a Bulgarian host, on a standard form, provided by the municipality, or a business partner, as well as a letter from their company or institution if they are travelling on business. Applicants for visas should note that incomplete forms, absence of photographs or inadequate payment usually result in the return of the application to the applicant without further action, and that turnover in the embassies is quite slow.
Staying On
For those wishing to stay longer than the permitted period the situation is difficult, even if their reasons for being here are quite genuine (such as owning a house!). In order to obtain a residence permit (1 or 5 years) one should either own a company which employs at least 10 Bulgarian staff and/or invest at least $500,000 in the country. Oh yes, and to get a 5 year residence permit you will soon have to sit a test in Bulgarian language proficiency!
You can get more information by visiting the Passport Office for Foreigners at 48 Maria Luiza Blvd. in Sofia, where the treatment is less than friendly and the waiting long, but these are really the only people who can give you a straight story.
Transit Visas
Transit visas allow a stay in Bulgaria of 24 hours or less. Airline tickets and evidence of right of entry into the next country of travel will be required. Possession of airline tickets does not guarantee the granting of an entry visa.
Medical Insurance
Although citizens of the countries listed above do not require visas for stays of up to a certain period, depending on their countries, they should be able, on request, to show evidence of medical insurance valid for Bulgaria.
The travel/medical insurance should be for at least $5000 and should cover emergency medical expenses, repatriation, transport of mortal remains, funeral and hospitalisation.
If the visitor has insurance of this type, a copy of the policy, with legible policy number, company name, duration of validity and sum of coverage or a letter from the insurance company including these data, should be submitted with the visa application.
If the traveller does not have such insurance, a visa application can be made without it, but the insurance must be obtained after the consulate has informed the applicant that the visa is approved. The visa will be issued only after proof of insurance is submitted.
A foreigner may enter the Republic of Bulgaria if he has the valid papers for travelling abroad or any other substitute documents, as well as a visa for entry, stay or transit passing through the country when such a visa is required. Visas are not required when there is a bilateral agreement between Bulgaria and native country of the foreigner or an Act of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria for a non-visa regime. Foreigners who are citizens of 46 specific countries (for example the EU-countries, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia,Switzerland etc. – additional information for all this countries - www.mfa.government.bg (http://www.mfa.government.bg)) can reside in Bulgaria without visas for a period of 90 days within a period of six months as from their first entry in the country, unless an international agreement provides for a different period (shorter or longer).
A long-term visa shall be issued to a foreigner who can enter the country without any limits and the period of stay upon each entry shall be 90 days. The validity of this visa shall not exceed 12 months.
The price for a tourist/business visa is 30 Euro, the double visa 40 Euro, the express service for a single visa cost 45 Euro. Transit visa cost 20 Euro, express service 30 Euro, the double transit visa cost 40 Euro for 3 months and 50 Euro for 6 months.The administration fee for any kind of visa is 20 Euro.
Work Permit
The work permit is required for all foreign employees employed in Bulgaria and it’s not applicable to the Managing Directors, Board Members and other representatives of the highest management level from 46 countries - whereto most of the EU countries - special work permit is not required. For the other countries the common rules apply.
The expat has to fill out an application form and to enclose the following documents:
Working Contract (or detailed plan for his business activities in Bulgaria if he will work on free-lance basis)
Statutes of the host organisation
Authorised translation of the documents attesting to the necessary qualifications
Health certificate issued by the Health Service or authorised translation of a health certificate from another country.
Diploma or Certificate for a relevant education
2 photos
The Work Permit costs EUR 300. Upon submission of the request from a Bulgarian employer for issuance of a work permit, the foreign individual should be overseas.
Entry Visas
If you are from an EU member state, the UK, Canada, USA or Israel you do not need a visa to enter the country. Those from EU countries may stay in the country for up to 90 days in a six-month period, counting from the first date of entry. For citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Israel this period is up to 30 days within a six-month period, counting from the first date of entry. It doesn’t matter whether you leave and re-enter the country within that period, as the total number of days is what matters.
Travellers who are not citizens of the US or the countries listed above should obtain an entry visa in advance from the Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate in their country. For this they will need to provide a letter of invitation from a Bulgarian host, on a standard form, provided by the municipality, or a business partner, as well as a letter from their company or institution if they are travelling on business. Applicants for visas should note that incomplete forms, absence of photographs or inadequate payment usually result in the return of the application to the applicant without further action, and that turnover in the embassies is quite slow.
Staying On
For those wishing to stay longer than the permitted period the situation is difficult, even if their reasons for being here are quite genuine (such as owning a house!). In order to obtain a residence permit (1 or 5 years) one should either own a company which employs at least 10 Bulgarian staff and/or invest at least $500,000 in the country. Oh yes, and to get a 5 year residence permit you will soon have to sit a test in Bulgarian language proficiency!
You can get more information by visiting the Passport Office for Foreigners at 48 Maria Luiza Blvd. in Sofia, where the treatment is less than friendly and the waiting long, but these are really the only people who can give you a straight story.
Transit Visas
Transit visas allow a stay in Bulgaria of 24 hours or less. Airline tickets and evidence of right of entry into the next country of travel will be required. Possession of airline tickets does not guarantee the granting of an entry visa.
Medical Insurance
Although citizens of the countries listed above do not require visas for stays of up to a certain period, depending on their countries, they should be able, on request, to show evidence of medical insurance valid for Bulgaria.
The travel/medical insurance should be for at least $5000 and should cover emergency medical expenses, repatriation, transport of mortal remains, funeral and hospitalisation.
If the visitor has insurance of this type, a copy of the policy, with legible policy number, company name, duration of validity and sum of coverage or a letter from the insurance company including these data, should be submitted with the visa application.
If the traveller does not have such insurance, a visa application can be made without it, but the insurance must be obtained after the consulate has informed the applicant that the visa is approved. The visa will be issued only after proof of insurance is submitted.