Bulgaria Student Visa Application Process

Bulgaria Student Visa Application Process 2025

A Bulgarian student visa is a type of visa that foreign nationals who want to attend a language education, Erasmus education or an educational program longer than 90 days in an institution in Bulgaria must obtain. Depending on the duration of the education desired, a short-term or long-term Bulgarian student visa can be obtained.

What are the Types of Bulgarian Student Visa?

Types of Bulgarian student visas are listed below.

• Student visa for Bulgarian language courses
• Bulgaria student visa for studies longer than 90 days
• Bulgaria student registration visa
• Bulgaria Erasmus+ student visa

What is a Bulgarian Short-Term Student Visa?

Those who will participate in education programs of less than 90 days in Bulgaria and do not need a residence permit must obtain a short-term (C type) Bulgarian student visa. Short-term education programs can include language school courses, research assignments or certificate programs. The Bulgarian tourist student visa allows the visa holder to stay in Bulgaria for a maximum of 90 days at a time.

What is a Bulgarian Long-Term Student Visa?

A long-term (D type) Bulgarian student visa is a type of visa that must be obtained by those who want to participate in an educational program in Bulgaria that will last longer than 90 days. It is not possible to stay in Bulgaria for educational purposes for more than 90 days with short-term (C type) visas. Educational programs that require a long-term Bulgarian visa can be listed as undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, post-doctoral or Erasmus programs.

Long-term student visa holders have the right to reside in Bulgaria; visa holders are given a residence card and also have the right to request a Bulgarian identity card called Lichna Card. Applications for Bulgarian long-term student visas are made directly to the Bulgarian foreign mission.

What are the Bulgarian Student Visa Requirements?

People who want to get a Bulgarian student visa must have a valid passport with at least two blank pages and must prove that they will attend an educational program in Bulgaria. Before applying, the transportation itinerary for the trip to Bulgaria must be determined and a copy of the flight itinerary must be submitted in the visa application. In order to get a Bulgarian student visa, the applicant must have a clean criminal record and must not have been banned from entering Bulgaria before.

What are the Required Documents for a Bulgarian Student Visa?

The documents required for a Bulgarian student visa are listed below.

• Passport : Applicants for a student visa must have a valid passport, the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and must have at least 2 blank visa pages. For short-term student visas, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expiration date, while for long-term visas, the passport must be valid for at least 2 years. If available, a photocopy of the applicant's previous passport and visa must be added to the application file.
• Biometric photo : One biometric photo taken no more than 6 months ago, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm in size, in color and with a white background is required.
• Bulgaria student visa application form : Depending on the type of visa you want to obtain, you must fill out the Bulgarian C type or Bulgarian D type student visa application form. The visa application form must be filled out with complete and accurate information and must be signed by the applicant.
• Education acceptance document : A document showing that the visa applicant has been accepted to an education in Bulgaria must be included in the application; the documents must be issued by the authorized institutions in Bulgaria.
• Visa application petition : A visa application petition must be written that includes the applicant's personal information, details of the educational program to be attended in Bulgaria, accommodation information and financial situation.
• Proof of financial situation : Documents must be submitted showing how the person will support himself/herself, pay for the tuition fees and financially support his/her daily life during the period he/she will spend in Bulgaria for the purpose of education. If someone else will cover the student's expenses, a letter of commitment stating this and relevant sponsorship documents must be submitted.
• Accommodation reservations : Documents such as accommodation reservations or rental contracts covering the entire duration of education in Bulgaria must be attached to the visa application file.
• Travel health insurance : In all European Union countries, travel health insurance valid for the entire duration of education or at least 1 year and with a coverage of at least 30,000 Euros must be obtained from authorized agencies before the visa application and the insurance policy must be presented during the application.
• Criminal record : The criminal record obtained from the competent authorities and translated if requested must be attached to the visa application.
• Visa fee receipt : The visa fee determined for the type of visa applied for must be paid before the application and the receipt must be submitted during the application.
• Consent : If the person applying for a Bulgarian student visa is under the age of 18, a special permission document approved by a notary public must be obtained from his/her parents.

Bulgaria student visa documents may vary depending on the education program accepted, the duration of education and work status; different or additional documents may be requested by the representative office.

How to Fill Out the Bulgarian Student Visa Application Form?

When filling out the Bulgarian student visa application form, first of all, the appropriate short-term (C type) or long-term (D type) visa type must be selected and the application form for that visa type must be filled in. The entire visa application form must be filled out legibly, without leaving any missing fields, and if filled in by hand.

The Bulgarian student visa application form must be filled out in English or Bulgarian using the Latin alphabet, and the applicant's name must be written on the form as it appears in the passport. The application form must be signed by the applicant. Families of EU citizens must fill in the fields reserved for their own situation and containing family information on the visa application forms.

How Much Should the Bank Guarantee Be for a Bulgarian Student Visa?

For Bulgaria student visa applications, the applicant or his/her family members must have at least 4,000 Euros accessible in their bank account.

How to Write a Student Application Form for a Bulgarian Visa?

The visa application form, which is one of the required documents for a Bulgarian student visa, must be written in an official language and addressed to the Bulgarian Consulate, in English or Bulgarian. The visa application form must first state that the student will go to Bulgaria for educational purposes, and include the details of the education and duration information. How the education in Bulgaria will be financed must be explained in the visa application form.

Is There a Language Requirement for a Bulgarian Student Visa?

There is no language requirement to obtain a Bulgarian student visa and IELTS or TOEFL exam results are not required during the application.

How to Get Health Insurance for Student Visa in Bulgaria?

Student visa applicants who want to study in Bulgaria must obtain travel health insurance through authorized insurance agencies in Turkey. Travel health insurance must provide coverage of at least 30,000 Euros and must be issued for at least 1 year or the entire duration of education.

How to Get a Student Visa Appointment for Bulgaria?

Student visa appointments for Bulgaria can be made by e-mail from the Bulgarian Consulate. The Bulgarian state has foreign representatives in Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa and Edirne in Turkey; for long-term student visa applications, visa appointments must be made by e-mail from the representatives.

The appointment addresses of Bulgarian foreign missions are as follows.

• Appointment address of the Bulgarian Embassy in Ankara : embassy.ankara@mfa.bg
• Bulgarian Consulate General in Istanbul appointment address : consulate.istanbul@mfa.bg
• Appointment address of the Bulgarian Consulate in Bursa : office.bursa@mfa.bg
• Bulgarian Consulate in Edirne appointment address : consul.edirne@mfa.bg

How to Get a Bulgarian Student Visa?

To obtain a Bulgarian student visa; the necessary application documents must be completed, an appointment must be made at the authorized foreign representative office in the place of residence and the application must be submitted to the representative office. In order to apply for a Bulgarian student visa, the educational program to be attended in Bulgaria must first be arranged; in visa applications, student visa applications are only accepted for definite education. Individuals with a clear educational purpose must fill out the visa application form completely and correctly and prepare up-to-date copies of the documents requested for the visa application. The Bulgarian visa fee must be deposited into the account numbers determined by the Bulgarian foreign representatives.

The applicant, who has prepared the necessary documents and paid the visa fee, must make an appointment at the Bulgarian foreign mission and complete the application by being present at the mission in person on the appointment date. After the visa application is made at the consulate, the application file is evaluated by the visa unit.

It is not possible to apply for a Bulgarian student visa online; although the visa application form is prepared online, the application must be completed in person at the representative office.

Can I Get a Bulgarian Student Visa Through VFS Global?

It is not possible to obtain a long-term (D type) Bulgarian student visa through VFS Global. VFS Global only accepts short-term (C type) visa applications for Bulgaria; for long-term student visas, individuals must apply in person at the Bulgarian foreign mission.

How Much Does a Bulgarian Student Visa Cost?

The application fee for a Bulgarian student visa is 100 Euros. Including biometric procedures, notary fees, sworn translation procedures, travel health insurance and consultancy services, the cost of a Bulgarian student visa is between 220 Euros and 280 Euros.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Bulgarian Student Visa?

The processing time for Bulgarian student visas takes approximately 35 working days, and the processing time of applications may be extended depending on the workload of the representative offices or holidays.

How to Get a Student Residence Permit in Bulgaria?

To obtain a student residence permit in Bulgaria, students who will be in Bulgaria for more than 90 days, regardless of whether they are EU citizens or not, must apply to the National Directorate of Migration in Sofia or the migration department of the local police station and request a long-term residence permit card. The Bulgarian National Directorate of Migration is responsible for issuing, canceling or extending residence cards and can be reached through police stations.

Bulgarian long-term residence permit is granted for 1 year for non-EU citizens and 5 years for EU citizens. International students studying in Bulgaria first receive a temporary residence permit certificate after applying for a residence card and a long-term residence card is issued to them within 3 weeks. In case of missing documents in Bulgarian long-term residence card applications, the applicant student is expected to complete the missing document within 7 days.

How Much Is the Bulgarian Student Residence Permit Fee?

For applications for a Bulgarian student residence permit, a filing fee of 10 BGN must be paid. After the residence permit is issued, foreign students must pay for the printing of the residence card. If the residence card is requested to be delivered within 30 days, 45 BGN must be paid, if it is requested to be delivered within 15 days, 90 BGN must be paid, or if it is requested to be delivered within 2 days, 250 BGN must be paid.

In addition to the file fee and card printing fees, students who obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria must pay a Bulgarian residence permit fee of 100 Bulgarian Leva.

What are the Reasons for Bulgaria Student Visa Application Rejection?

Reasons for rejection of Bulgaria student visa application are listed below.

• If the required documents are missing, the Bulgarian student visa application will be rejected.
• If the documents submitted during the application are determined to be fake or do not reflect the truth, the visa application will be rejected.
• In order to obtain a student visa, it is necessary to provide information about the education program and to prove participation in education; if this purpose cannot be proven, the Bulgaria student visa request is rejected.
• Students with criminal records are denied student visa applications for Bulgaria.
• Visa applications of those who have been found to have been in Bulgaria illegally before or whose visa application has been previously rejected may be rejected.

The evaluation and decision of the Bulgarian student visa application is at the discretion of the visa unit of the Bulgarian Consulate. Although it is possible for the visa application to be rejected due to missing documents, in some cases the representative office where the application is made may request the provision and delivery of this document; in this case, it is possible for the application not to be rejected. Even if the Bulgarian student visa application is rejected, it is possible to re-apply; in cases where the reason for rejection is eliminated or is incorrect, explaining this issue in detail increases the chance of acceptance of subsequent applications.

How to Extend a Bulgarian Student Visa?

For Bulgarian student visa extension procedures, the documents submitted in the first application must be obtained again and the local office of the authorized institution for immigration procedures must be reached. It is not necessary to re-submit the criminal record, but the personal identity card is expected to be presented. The extension application must be made at least 2 weeks before the expiration of the Bulgarian student visa validity period. The period of stay of students in Bulgaria with a student residence permit is counted as half-time for the permanent residence permit; People who have studied and lived in Bulgaria for 5 years cannot apply for a permanent residence permit.

Is Bulgaria Student Visa Schengen Specific?

No, the D Bulgaria student visa does not have the features of a Schengen visa.

Which Countries Can I Visit with a Bulgarian Student Visa?

You can travel to all Schengen countries with a Bulgarian C type student visa.

What are the advantages of being a student with a study visa in Bulgaria?

The advantages of being a student with a study visa in Bulgaria are listed below.

• The registration fees of educational institutions in Bulgaria are quite affordable compared to European countries.
• Daily living expenses in Bulgaria are more affordable than in other countries.
• One of the most important advantages of being a student in Bulgaria for Turkish students is the proximity of the countries and the ease of transportation.
• There are many different departments and study programme options at Bulgarian universities.
• There are many language schools in Bulgaria where international students can enroll.

With many different educational options offered to international students, studying at a university or participating in short-term training in Bulgaria is often preferred.

How Much Are Student Expenses in Bulgaria?

Basic expenses and average fees for student life in Bulgaria are given in the table below.

Expenses	Monthly Fees
House rent	150 - 300 Euro
Eating and drinking	200 - 300 Euro
Internet and television bill	15 Euro
Transport	40 Euro
Electricity, water and heating bills	75 Euro
Gym	20 Euro

Considering the expenses of students, it can be said that living conditions in Bulgaria are student-friendly and for this reason, Bulgaria has become a preferred country for foreign students.

What are the Accommodation Options and Costs for University Students in Bulgaria?

University students in Bulgaria can rent private homes for between 150 and 300 Euros per month; renting a home is the most expensive living option. Students who want to stay more affordable than renting a home prefer shared homes or dormitories. If more than one person rents a home, the monthly rent of 150 to 300 Euros is split, making it more affordable. Student dormitory fees in Bulgaria range from 35 to 70 Euros per month.

Is it possible to work with a Bulgarian student visa?

Bulgarian student visa holders can obtain a work permit as a D type visa holder. Students who continue their education program at a university in Bulgaria can work part time without disrupting their education. International university students in Bulgaria have the right to work up to 20 hours per week.

To obtain a Bulgarian student work permit, it is sufficient to have a type D visa. Students in Bulgaria with a short-term student visa do not have the right to work. University students can benefit from the job opportunities provided to them on campus, as well as find work off campus, but for jobs off campus, a basic level of Bulgarian knowledge may be required.

Can Students in Bulgaria Bring a Car to Turkey?

People who have been in Bulgaria as students for more than 2 years can bring a car to Turkey; however, the car can only be used in Turkey temporarily.