Bulgaria Visa Application Process for Spouses of EU Citizens
The type of visa required for spouses of EU citizens to visit Bulgaria is a short-term visa that grants the right to stay in the country for 90 days out of every 180 days. A short-term Bulgarian visa grants the visa holder the right to go on touristic trips, travel, and attend events and seminars in Bulgaria.
The European Union (EU) norms foresee facilitating short-term (up to 90 days) visa applications made by family members of EU citizens who will travel with them to an EU country or visit them in an EU member state. Spouses of EU citizens who constitute the nuclear family, children under the age of 21 (and children of the spouse), or children over the age of 21 who are financially obligated (and children of the spouse), parents who are financially obligated, and parents-in-law and fathers-in-law can benefit from the facilitation of visa applications. The spouse of an EU citizen has the right to both ease visa applications and not pay visa fees in Bulgaria visa applications.
Are There Bulgarian Visa Exemptions for Spouses of EU Citizens?
There is no visa exemption for spouses of EU citizens to Bulgaria. EU citizens’ spouses and their children under the age of 21 (and their spouse’s children) are only exempt from visa fees.
What are the Required Documents for Bulgaria Visa Application for EU Citizens?
The documents required for Bulgaria visa applications for EU citizens are listed below.
- Passport : The requested visa must be valid for at least 3 months after its expiration date. The passport must not be older than ten years and must have at least 2 blank pages. Photocopies of the passport’s photo page and visas from Schengen countries, the UK, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand issued within the last 3 years must be attached.
- Bulgaria visa application form for EU citizens : All fields in the application form must be filled in completely and signed by the applicant.
- Biometric photo : One photograph is required that complies with biometric features, is not tampered with, is taken in front of a white background, is 35×45 mm in size, is not older than 6 months and shows the entire face clearly.
- Travel reservations : Reservations for transportation organizations must include complete travel details with departure and return dates.
- Bank statement : A bank statement or statement for the last three months must be submitted. The bank statement must have been issued within the last 15 days before the application and must include 50 Euros for each day of stay in Bulgaria, excluding airfare.
- Original copy of the population registration record : For Turkish citizens, a fully-fledged population registration record must be submitted. The document must have a QR barcode and include the maiden name, if any.
- Marriage registration : A marriage registration certificate from both Turkey and Bulgaria must be submitted. If the applicant is a child, a birth certificate must be submitted instead of a marriage registration certificate.
- Bulgarian citizenship certificate : A document proving the citizenship of the spouse who has Bulgarian citizenship must be submitted. If the Bulgarian citizen does not have Turkish citizenship, photocopies of the processed pages of the residence permit must be submitted. If the Bulgarian citizen spouse has a different name, a name equivalence certificate must also be attached.
Do Relatives of EU Citizens Need to Get Bulgarian Travel Health Insurance?
First degree relatives of EU citizens are exempt from Bulgarian travel health insurance. First degree relatives of EU citizens are their spouses, children under 21 (and their spouse’s children), children over 21 who are financially obligated (and their spouse’s children), parents or parents-in-law who are financially obligated, or fathers-in-law.
How Much is the Bulgarian Visa Fee for Spouses of EU Citizens?
EU citizens, their spouses and children are exempt from the Bulgarian visa fee. EU citizens, their spouses and children are only responsible for paying the coordination fee of the external service provider.
The average amount for 2024, including biometrics, consultancy, form petition and sworn translation from an external service provider, is 40 Euros. Additional services received upon the applicant’s request are charged separately. Except for services received from intermediary institutions, EU citizens, their spouses and children are not covered by the Bulgarian visa fee.
How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Bulgarian Visa for Spouses of EU Citizens?
Bulgarian visa for spouses of EU citizens is approximately 15 days after the application reaches the visa unit of the consulate. The visa finalization period may be extended due to missing documents or seasonal and workload of the Embassy visa section or the Consulate General.
How Long is the Bulgaria Visa for EU Citizens?
Visa durations vary depending on the duration of travel, frequency of travel, citizenship of the traveler and other special circumstances of the person. If the spouse who is an EU citizen has a residence permit in Bulgaria, the visa is generally issued for 1 year.
The most important factor in determining the visa duration is the citizenship or residence permit of the applicant or a first-degree relative in the country to be visited. Being a Bulgarian citizen or a citizen of an EU country affects the Bulgarian visa duration.