Why a Bulgarian visa gets refused
A short-stay visa application is refused if one of the grounds in Article 32 of the EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) applies. The refusal is notified on a standard form with reasons, and the applicant has a right to appeal.
Visas and residence · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
Refusal grounds in the Regulation
Under Article 32(1)(a), a visa is refused if the applicant:
- presents a travel document that is false, counterfeit or forged;
- does not justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay (or, for airport transit, of the intended transit);
- cannot prove sufficient means of subsistence for the stay and for the return to the country of origin or residence, or cannot acquire such means lawfully;
- has already stayed 90 days in the current 180-day period on a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity;
- is the subject of a SIS alert for refusing entry;
- is considered a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of a Member State;
- does not prove adequate and valid travel medical insurance, where applicable.
Under point (b), a visa is also refused if there are reasonable doubts about the authenticity of the supporting documents or the veracity of their contents, the reliability of the applicant's statements, or the intention to leave the Member States before the visa expires.
How the refusal is notified
Per the Regulation, the decision and its reasons are notified on the standard form in Annex VI, in the language of the Member State that took the final decision and another official EU language. Information on a refused visa is entered in the Visa Information System (VIS).
Right of appeal
Refused applicants have a right to appeal. Appeals are conducted against the Member State that took the final decision and under its national law; Member States give applicants information on the procedure in the Annex VI form. On the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry page, a refusal may be appealed before the higher administrative authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or before the Administrative Court Sofia-city. The pages read do not state an appeal deadline, so none is given here; check the refusal form.
This page is not legal advice
Frequently asked questions
Can a visa be refused without giving reasons?
No. The Regulation requires the decision and the reasons to be notified to the applicant on the standard form in Annex VI.
Can I appeal a visa refusal?
Yes. The Regulation grants a right of appeal; the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry page names the Ministry itself or the Administrative Court Sofia-city as the route.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Европейски съюз (EUR-Lex) — Регламент (ЕО) № 810/2009 (Визов кодекс), консолидиран текст към 28.06.2024 г., чл. 32 (на англ.) — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/810/2024-08-01/eng · 2026-10-08
- Министерство на външните работи — Visa for Bulgaria (раздел „Refusal to issue a visa“) — https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria · 2026-10-08
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