Sofia Express and Bulgaria Train Visa Procedures
Sofia Express is a means of transportation that allows travel from Istanbul to Sofia via the Istanbul-Sirkeci and Pythio railway and requires a visa. Sofia Express departs from Istanbul Halkalı Train Station every day at 22:40 and stops at 10 stops, delivering its passengers to Sofia in the morning.
Bulgarian high-speed train works continue in Istanbul and if completed, the duration of travel to Bulgaria is expected to be 1.5-2 hours. Sofia visa procedures are valid for train travel and visas are required from ordinary (maroon) passport holders.
Is a Visa Required for Sofia Express?
For Sofia Express, ordinary (maroon) passport holders are required to have a visa. Diplomatic (black) passport and service (grey) passport holders who will travel to Bulgaria with Sofia Express are exempt from visa for 30 days, and special (green) passport holders are exempt from visa for 90 days.
What are the Required Documents for a Bulgarian Train Visa?
Documents required for a Bulgarian train visa may vary depending on the city of application and accommodation options.
The documents required for a Bulgarian train visa are given below.
- Sofia express train ticket : Vehicle information must be submitted for the trip to Sofia.
- Bulgaria train visa application form : Must be filled out and signed personally.
- 1 biometric photograph : Must not be older than 6 months.
- A fully documented population registration document : A population registration document showing family ties is required.
- Passport : Must have at least 2 blank pages and be up to date.
- Travel health insurance : Must have coverage of at least 30,000 Euros.
- Financial status documents : Documents showing that travel expenses will be covered must be submitted.
- Visa fee receipt : The visa fee receipt paid to Garanti Bank at the counters on behalf of the Consulate must be submitted.
How to Apply for Istanbul Sofia Express Visa?
The Istanbul Sofia Express visa application is made by consultants after the train ticket is delivered along with other required documents, without the visa applicant having to come to the office for the Sofia train journey.
After the Istanbul Sofia Express visa result is announced, the passport is delivered to the visa holder by hand or by cargo.
Where to catch the Sofia train?
You can take the Sofia train from Istanbul Halkalı Train Station.
After the Sofia train departs from Halkalı, if the visa procedures for the Edirne Bulgaria train are completed, you can travel to Sofia by getting on the Edirne stop, which is 3 stops away.
Where to Buy Sofia Express Train Tickets?
Sofia Express train tickets can be purchased from Istanbul Sirkeci Train Station.
How much is a Sofia Express Train Ticket?
Sofia Express train ticket prices are 35 Euros for single sleeper cars and 15 Euros per person for double occupancy. Istanbul Sofia Express ticket prices are 10 Euros per person for 4-person couchette cars and 9.40 Euros per person for 6-person couchette cars.
What Time Does the Istanbul Sofia Train Depart?
The Istanbul Sofia train departs from Halkalı Train Station every day.
The departure times of the Istanbul Sofia train are given in the table below.
| Stop | Departure Time |
|---|---|
| Cyclic | 22:40 |
| Cerkezkoy | 00:14 |
| Alpulu | 01:35 |
| Edirne | 02:21 |
What are the stops of Sofia Express?
The stops of the Sofia Express from Halkalı are Çerkezköy, Alpullu, Edirne, Kapıkule, Svilengrad, Dimitrovgrad, Plovdiv, Pazarcık and Sofia, respectively.
Is it possible to take a Balkan tour with Sofia Express?
The last stop for travel with the Sofia Express is Sofia, but sometimes the train goes as far as Bucharest. Those who want to make a Balkan tour from Sofia can make a Balkan tour from Sofia Train Station by taking the Kalotina-Svilengrad railway, the Sofia-Varna railway, the Sofia-Kulata railway or the Belgrade, Bucharest, Sarajevo, Trebinje, Shkodra and Ohrid train lines.
Which Visa Should Be Obtained for Train Transits through Bulgaria?
For transit passages through Bulgaria by train, a double-entry or multiple-entry Bulgarian transit visa is required.
Bulgaria double entry and multiple entry transit visas are included in the scope of visa B. The documents required for the Bulgarian B visa vary depending on the city where the Bulgarian foreign representative is located.
Is it possible to do Interrail with Sofia Express?
It is possible to do Interrail with Sofia Express. The Interrail Balkans route is Zagreb, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Belgrade, Skopje, Athens.
With Interrail, you can travel by train from Sofia to administrative lines with Pass validity. Bulgaria Interrail Pass consists of One Country Pass and Global Pass services that can be purchased according to the duration of the trip.