Bulgarian visa types: the difference between C and D
The document you need to enter Bulgaria follows from the purpose of your stay, not its length. Someone visiting and someone relocating do not go through the same door: the first falls under the short-stay Schengen visa, the second under the national long-stay D visa. Getting that distinction right at the outset is cheaper than an application filed under the wrong procedure.
Visas and residence · Last reviewed: 2026-10-10
This is not legal or financial advice
Why visas split into two families
The split comes from whose rules govern the visa. A short-stay visa is governed by common EU visa legislation: Bulgaria issues it as part of the Schengen area, and the document is valid in the other member states too. A long-stay visa is a national document — its conditions, its grounds and its document list are set by Bulgarian law. That is why "I have a visa" says nothing on its own; which one it is changes everything.
What a short-stay visa (C) is for
Schengen legislation defines a short stay as no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and that count is shared across the whole area. Tourism, family visits, business meetings, short courses and trade fairs all fall here. A short-stay visa confers no right to paid work and cannot serve as the basis for a residence application. Airport transit is a separate category covering only the transit zone.
What a long-stay visa (D) is for
The D visa is the first step for someone intending to settle. It does not grant residence in itself; it is the precondition for the residence permit application. It is issued on grounds such as work, study, family reunification, retirement or long-term commercial activity, and only by Bulgaria's diplomatic missions abroad. Once in the country, the holder applies for residence domestically, at the Migration Directorate.
| Short-stay (C) | Long-stay (D) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Common EU visa legislation | Bulgarian national law |
| Where it is valid | The whole Schengen area | Bulgaria; also permits short trips within the area |
| Typical purpose | Tourism, visits, business meetings, short courses | Settlement, work, study, family reunification |
| Link to residence | None | Precondition for a residence application |
| Where you apply | Consulate or an authorised visa centre | Only at a Bulgarian mission abroad |
Who may enter without a visa
- For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens the concept of a visa does not apply; entry rests on the right of free movement.
- Nationals of third countries on the EU visa-exemption list may come for short stays without a visa.
- Holders of a valid visa or residence card issued by another Schengen state generally need no separate visa for a short trip.
- None of these exemptions creates a right to work; paid employment always requires a separate authorisation.
Visa-free is not the same as work-permitted
Where applications are filed
Both types are applied for abroad at Bulgarian consular missions; in some countries appointments and document intake run through authorised visa centres. The list of required documents depends on the ground of application — work, study and family reunification each need a different file. Verify the current list and the appointment channel on the page of the mission that covers you.
The numbers on the official page (read on 10 October 2026)
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa page distinguishes three categories: A (airport transit), C (transit or planned short stay) and D (long stay). It also states that Bulgaria has issued uniform (Schengen) visas since 31 March 2024 and that visa-free stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.
| Topic | Value on the page |
|---|---|
| When to apply | no earlier than 3 months before the planned trip; in person or through an authorised agent |
| Passport | valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure, with at least 2 blank pages, issued within the last 10 years |
| Photograph | 3.5 × 4.5 cm on a light background; the face must fill 70–80% of the photo |
| Medical insurance | valid in the EU for the whole stay; the cover cannot be less than 30 thousand euro |
| Personal interview | no exception for a long-stay visa application |
| Fee exemption | applicants under 6 on the application date and family members of Bulgarian and EU citizens |
| Appeal against a refusal | to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as higher authority, or to the Administrative Court Sofia-city |
| Application centres | for Turkey the page lists 10 rows: Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Gaziantep, two in Istanbul, Izmir and Trabzon |
The link between a national long-stay visa and residence shows in the Interior Ministry's service description (regime 238): applications for long-stay residence as a single permit holder or as a seasonal worker rest on a visa issued under Art. 15(1) of the Foreigners Act; for the single permit, a residence document under Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 can serve as an alternative.
Figures are dated and exclude the fee amount
Frequently asked questions
Can I arrive on a tourist visa and then switch to residence in Bulgaria?
As a rule, no. A residence permit application is built on a long-stay D visa; a short-stay visa is not part of that chain. Exceptions are narrow and case-specific, and should be confirmed with the consulate or a lawyer.
Can I work on a short-stay visa?
No. A short-stay visa is for visiting and grants no right to paid work. Employment requires a separate authorisation procedure and usually obligations on the employer's side as well.
What can I do if my visa application is refused?
A refusal is notified in writing with reasons, and the appeal route is stated in the decision itself. Before reapplying, it is most practical to remove the ground for refusal so the same outcome does not repeat.
How long must my passport be valid for a visa?
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure, have at least 2 blank pages and have been issued within the last 10 years.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Avrupa Komisyonu, İçişleri — Schengen, sınırlar ve vize politikası — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa_en · 2026-08-16
- Avrupa Komisyonu — Göç Portalı — https://ec.europa.eu/immigration/ · 2026-08-16
- Министерство на външните работи — Visa for Bulgaria — https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria · 2026-10-10
- Европейска комисия — Short-stay calculator (90/180) — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/border-crossing/short-stay-calculator_en · 2026-10-10
- ИИСДА — Разрешаване на продължително пребиваване на чужденци (МВР, режим 238) — https://iisda.government.bg/adm_services/services/service_provision/21815 · 2026-10-10
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