Do Russians need a visa to Bulgaria in 2019? Russian citizens require a visa to visit Bulgaria, for which they must apply to Bulgarian visa centers or to the visa departments of the embassy.

A visa to Bulgaria is issued independently in the same way as when applying through a travel agency, the difference is that in the first case, documents must be submitted to the visa center yourself. In general, obtaining visas to Bulgaria is practically not associated with any difficulties, so Russian tourists travel to the country quite steadily.

Holders of valid Schengen visas types C and D can freely enter the territory of Bulgaria and stay there within the framework provided by the Schengen visa. The maximum period is 90 days within six months.

Types of visas to Bulgaria

Visas to Bulgaria for Russians in 2019 are obtained in the same order. This needs to be separately stated, since there was a lot of information that the Bulgarian side plans to issue visas to Russian tourists directly upon arrival in the country, but such a practice would be contrary to the rules of the European Union, of which Bulgaria is a member.

Documents for a visa to Bulgaria

Standard and mandatory package of documents

A completed application form for a visa to Bulgaria (all fields of the application form must be filled out. The application form must be signed by the person traveling with his own hand);
A valid international passport with a validity period of at least 3 months after the end of the intended trip (+ a copy of its first page). The owner's signature is required in the passport;
Color photograph 3.5x4.5 on a light background (including for the child included in the passport);
Health insurance policy valid in European countries for the entire duration of the trip. The amount of coverage must be at least 30 thousand euros;

Medical travel insurance for a visa to Bulgaria. Specify the country and travel dates, then select the appropriate option and issue a policy.

Air tickets (copy) or confirmation of ticket booking or documents for the car (copy of registration certificate, copy of driver's license, copy of Green card, free form itinerary).

Tourist trip

Confirmation of hotel reservation (fax copy/electronic reservation). The confirmation must include the names of all travelers, length of stay, and hotel details. It is also necessary that the invitation confirms that the applicant has paid for the hotel;
Certificate from the place of employment on company letterhead with a stamp indicating the address, work telephone number, position and salary of the applicant. Pensioners have the right to provide a pension certificate instead of an income certificate;
Evidence of sufficient funds for the trip (certificate of currency purchase, traveler's checks or current bank account statement, etc.) at the rate of 50 euros per night per person (but not less than 500 euros for the entire duration of the trip).

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Private visit

Transit

Photocopy of the visa of the point (country) of destination;
If the applicant has a visa-free regime, it is necessary to provide documents confirming the purpose of the trip (invitation, hotel reservation, real estate documents, etc.).

Business trip

An invitation from a Bulgarian legal entity of the established form (original and photocopy);
A letter of recommendation issued by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry or the Bulgarian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Moscow, or a copy of the contract, certifying joint business activities and intentions related to upcoming trips;
Certificate from the place of employment on company letterhead with a stamp, indicating the address, work telephone number, position and salary.

Traveling with children

For children, regardless of whether they are included in the parents’ passport or not, a separate form is filled out, to which

A complete set of documents is attached. In addition to the general list, you must provide the following documents:

a copy of the child’s birth certificate (it is advisable to have the original with you);
if a child is traveling accompanied by one of the parents or third parties, a notarized power of attorney for the removal of the child from the remaining parent and its copy, as well as a copy of the first page of the principal’s passport, is required.

If one of the parents is deceased or absent, it is necessary to provide the relevant documents (death certificate, original police certificate, copy of a single mother’s book, etc.).

Children over 6 years of age who are included in their parents' passport must have a photograph attached. Children over 14 years old must have their own passport.

Photo requirements

The photo must be in color, size 3.5x4.5, on a light background (including for the child included in the passport).
The face in the photo should be clear, large, only from the front and occupy 70-80% of the photo. The eyes should not be red.
Photos with glasses with tinted lenses, photos taken in a homemade way or cut out from amateur photographs are not accepted.

Submission requirements

To speed up the application process, the documents attached to it must be folded in the following order:

A completed application form for a visa to Bulgaria with a pasted photograph;
International passport;
Photocopy of the main page of the passport;
Documents confirming the purpose of the trip;
Insurance policy;
Air ticket reservation;
Certificate of employment;
Documents confirming the availability of sufficient funds;
For minors traveling unaccompanied by parents or guardians: a copy of the birth certificate and a notarized copy of the exit permit from the parents;
Additional documents.

Visa validity periods

Validity of short-term (entry) visas

A single entry visa gives the right to a single entry and stay in the country for up to 90 days within 6 months from the date of entry. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker;
A double entry visa gives the right to two entries and stay in the country for up to 90 days within 6 months from the date
first entry. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker. However, double-entry visa holders cannot enter the country twice through the same border crossing;
A three-month multiple entry visa is valid for three months. The visa gives the right to multiple entries and a total stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker;
A six-month multiple entry visa is valid for six months. The visa gives the right to multiple entries and a total stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker;
A multiple-entry annual entry visa is valid for twelve months. The visa gives the right to multiple entries and a total stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days within six months from the date of first entry. The specific length of stay is indicated on the visa sticker.

A transit visa (single, double or multiple) gives the right to travel through the territory of Bulgaria to third countries with the possibility of staying in the country for up to five days for each entry.

Cost of a visa to Bulgaria in 2019

The following categories of citizens are exempt from paying the consular fee::

In case of visa refusal, the consular fee and service fee are not refunded.

Duration of obtaining a visa to Bulgaria

Short-stay visas and transit visas are issued within 4-6 working days (depending on the place of application), and urgent single-entry short-stay visas and urgent single-entry transit visas are issued within 48 hours. You can find out about the status of processing visa documents on the page.

Who doesn't need a visa

Citizens of a number of countries do not need a visa to Bulgaria. These are the countries of the European Union, USA, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and some others.

A visa is not required for a short-term stay on the territory of the republic for holders of valid double and multiple-entry Schengen visas, long-term visas, as well as residence permits issued by the Schengen countries. The only condition for holders of such visas is that the number of entries and the visa corridor of the Schengen visa must not be exhausted.

An independent trip to Bulgaria is sometimes much cheaper than purchasing a tour, and is more profitable for those who want to purchase real estate. The possibility of traveling independently in Bulgaria is especially important when the buyer has already concluded a preliminary agreement.

If you have already concluded a preliminary agreement for the purchase and sale of real estate in Bulgaria and you need to go to conclude the main agreement (receive a notarial deed of ownership of real estate) - why do you need a hotel in this case, if you, in fact, are already going to your home and in a couple of days will you officially become the owner of the coveted square meters on the Black Sea coast?

After numerous requests from our clients to us for help in obtaining visas, purchasing air tickets, insurance, etc., we decided to create a special page and explain how to do everything yourself and who to turn to for help?

VISAS AND AIR TICKETS

Air tickets to Bulgaria for individual trips can be found and purchased through the search engine on this site (column on the left), which looks for the cheapest options. When making connecting flights, carefully look at the date and time of the plane's arrival at the connecting airport so as not to wait too long. Sometimes it is more profitable to buy not the cheapest option!

Hot deals on air tickets at very low prices can also be found using our website by clicking on the corresponding banner in the left column.

Visas can be purchased from a travel agency in your city. If the travel agency does not provide such services without purchasing a tour, then you can contact VISA CENTERS or special companies that help in purchasing visas, of which there are many. Advice: to buy real estate, it is most profitable to take a 3-month, 2-entry visa. This is a little more expensive, but if you have to come to Bulgaria again to conclude a purchase and sale transaction and pick up the contract, there will be no unnecessary hassle.

Any travel agency will be happy to provide you with insurance (without which it is impossible to obtain a visa) for the duration of your trip. And if you want to save money, contact your local insurance company directly. True, it is better to know the nuances of insurance for those traveling abroad.

If you need a document confirming the rental of residential premises in Bulgaria for the duration of your trip or a document confirming the reservation of a hotel room (to obtain a visa), you can find a suitable hotel in the search engine on the website (left column) and book a room for free. Canceling a reservation is almost free, too.

We warn you in advance about a possible problem with air tickets. If you suddenly want to purchase an air ticket to fly to Burgas or Varna within 3 to 7 days during the high season (from June 15 to September 15), then there may not be tickets for charters or these tickets will cost through intermediaries 2 times more expensive.

If you do not want to overpay, then there are several options to solve the problem:

1. You can fly not from Moscow, but from St. Petersburg, where, as a rule, tour operators and intermediaries do not buy up all the seats on charters, and, accordingly, the likelihood of purchasing a cheap ticket is higher.

2. You can take a connecting (transit) flight through Europe. For example, through Munich. Let's say Moscow - Munich, Munich - Burgas. The price for such a ticket will be lower than a charter from Moscow to Burgas. However, instead of 2.5 hours, you will have to spend 5–6 hours on the road.

3. You can fly to Sofia on a regular flight. In summer, the price of air tickets to Sofia, as a rule, does not increase, and speculators are not interested in this direction. From Sofia to Burgas and Varna you can fly with a local Bulgarian airline (flight 30 - 40 minutes), and you can also get from Sofia by bus in 4 hours along the brand new high-speed route or by train (6 - 8 hours).

You can get from Varna to Burgas and vice versa by bus or minibus, which depart at least 1 flight per hour (sometimes, at certain times of the day, flights every 15 - 30 minutes) from the central bus stations. The distance between Burgas and Varna is about 130 km, travel time is about 2 hours. It is important to know: the LAST regular bus leaves no later than 19:00. We didn’t have time - taxi!!!

Examples of typical misconceptions of buyers from Russia and Ukraine and differences in determining the areas of real estate can be read in the article “Nuances, nuances, nuances...” on the main page. And ways to protect yourself from Bulgarian real estate scammers, information on taxes, tariffs and duties can be found in the “Good to know” section. We hope that this information will help you wisely invest your money abroad.

How to relax in Bulgaria on your own? We talk about obtaining a visa, ticket prices and accommodation. Which resorts to spend time at? What to see on your own or with a guided tour? Tips for tourists and a traveler's review.

Travels that we organize entirely ourselves leave strong impressions and change our lives. Bulgaria has been and remains one of the popular destinations for independent travelers. Today we will talk about how to independently prepare for a holiday in Bulgaria and not forget anything, what to see and when is the best time to go.

You can also go to Bulgaria on a tour package - often a vacation on a tour costs less than an independent trip. Look at the prices and decide which is more profitable and convenient for you. Last minute tours search on the services and - they will find the best offers among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

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Visa to Bulgaria on your own

Contrary to popular belief, Bulgaria is not a visa-free country for Russians. There are several ways to enter the territory.

The Schengen agreement has been partially in force in Bulgaria since 2007. This means that with a multiple-entry Schengen visa (also called multi-Schengen), you can enter the country for up to 90 days within six months.
You can enter Bulgaria with a visa, and Romania.
The third option is a national visa.

Documents for a Schengen or national visa to Bulgaria:

A passport valid for at least 3 months after the end of the trip.
A copy of the first page of your passport (the page with your personal data).
One color photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm - there are also certain requirements for the size of the face and the background of the photograph.
A questionnaire filled out by you personally. It is issued at the consulate or visa center. You can also download the application form for obtaining a visa to Bulgaria yourself, fill it out and print it on A4 sheets.
A certificate from work on company letterhead indicating your position, length of service and your salary - it is certified by the seal and signature of the manager.
Insurance.

(Photo © vic_burton / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

When to go?

The swimming season in Bulgaria is from May to September, however, both May and September are not too hot. Our independent trip to Bulgaria took place at the end of August, we visited several cities - we experienced rain, wind, and cool nights. From December to March is the ski season.

Flights

You can fly to Bulgarian resorts from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and several other large cities.

On average, the price of round-trip air tickets in summer starts from 7,000 rubles. But this expense item may be quite small. Prices for one-way tickets from Moscow start from 1,500 rubles. And sometimes one-way tickets to Bulgarian resorts can be bought - attention - for less than 2,000 rubles! These are usually charter flights, most often from Moscow and St. Petersburg, for which you can catch a ticket even at the height of the season. Such prices are also found at Pobeda, Rossiya Airlines and some others.

(photo © passer8 / flickr.com)

Where to book a hotel in Bulgaria on your own

Housing prices in Bulgaria will pleasantly surprise you. In large popular resorts (Sunny Beach and Golden Sands), prices for apartments and small hotels start from 13 euros per night per room. In other cities (Varna, Burgas, Sofia) you can find housing for even 10 euros per day, especially if you live further from the sea. As a rule, these are hostels, apartments or mini-hotels. Hotels on the first line even here offer rooms from 20 euros per night.

There are also many interesting accommodation options on the Airbnb website. In addition to standard apartments, rooms and hotels, you will find private villas surrounded by greenery, authentic accommodation and modern equipped campsites. Prices start from 10 euros per night. Of course, tourists visiting Bulgaria on their own will like it more here.

During our trip to Bulgaria, we independently booked a studio apartment in an unremarkable high-rise building, a tent on a wild beach, a room in a small hostel and a room in a small hotel in a mountain village.

(Photo © Traveling Pooh / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Where to relax on your own in Bulgaria

The most important thing in Bulgaria is the sea and golden sand, stretching for many kilometers. Along the Black Sea there are resort villages, port cities, popular and secluded beaches. People also come here for health reasons: there are plenty of sanatoriums, mud clinics and boarding houses here.

The most famous resorts Bulgaria:

Pomorie;
Sunny Beach;
Golden Sands;
Nessebar;
Balchik.

In addition, there are large cities, for example, Varna and Burgas. Here you can relax and swim (and save on housing).

Rentals on the beach:

sun lounger - 6-8 leva;
umbrella - 6-8 leva;
bedspread - 3 leva.

Each resort is a place with a varied infrastructure and plenty of entertainment for vacationers of all ages. Depending on the location of the beach, you can find a suitable type of active recreation: surfing on the “Golden Fish” and “Dunes” beaches, fishing and sailing on a yacht on the beaches of the Primorsko resort, paragliding on Albena beach.

You can simply sunbathe on the sand - Golden Sands and Sunny Beach are perfect for this. And if you get tired, outside the beach area there are amusement parks, shops, cathedrals and museums. In the evening you can go to a club or restaurant - there are a huge number of them at each resort.

(Photo © Złota Bułgaria / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Food prices in Bulgaria

Compared to other resort countries, you can eat in Bulgaria quite inexpensively.

Approximate prices in leva:

simple budget breakfast in a cafe - 6 leva;
lunch - 10 leva;
lunch in an inexpensive cafe - 15 leva;
lunch in a good restaurant - 40 leva;
have lunch at McDonald's - 8 leva;
0.5 liters of homemade beer - 2 leva;
a standard size cup of cappuccino 2-2.5 leva;
bottle of water 0.33 l - 1 lev.

Transport and car rental

In cities and towns in Bulgaria you can use regular buses. They are quite inexpensive - about 1.5 leva. A tangible advantage of local buses is that almost all of them have open Wi-Fi.

Another good option is to rent a car if you don't want to spend your entire vacation in one place. We rented a car in Varna for two days. We looked for a company via the Internet, and the best price was 26 euros per day. Typically cars cost 40 euros per day or more.

Our review and advice for car rentals:

habitual right-hand traffic;
very good roads;
strict speed limit: on the highway - up to 60 km/h, very rarely - up to 90;
There are enough cameras on the roads;
never saw the police;
To rent a car, a Russian license is enough.

Rent a car- this is the best way to travel! - reliable and convenient car rental service in Bulgaria. Choose a car to suit your taste and budget - there is a wide choice. The cost of renting a car is from 8 euros per day. Do you have any questions? The Russian-speaking support service will help you with everything.

Excursions in Bulgaria

Since Bulgaria is a country with a rich culture and history, popular excursions here are walks through ancient quarters, visits to museums and Orthodox shrines. Such excursions are available in Varna, Nessebar, Sofia and other cities. But the drive to Sofia is almost 400 km from the sea, so tourists often do not have time to visit here.

There is a large selection of sea excursions and cruises - for one evening or several days. For those who like an unusual program, there is jeeping, a safari park, diving and visits to Bulgarian villages and villages with national music and dinners.

In summer, the Balkan National Park is attractive in Bulgaria. If you want to see Bulgaria from different angles on your own, be sure to visit the ecological trails and take a walk in the mountains. To live in small cozy villages, to taste real national food, to practically not hear Russian speech - that’s exactly how we rested and we were delighted!

Bulgarian the language is not so simple, as it seems. Even though they use the Cyrillic alphabet, many words are incomprehensible in writing and even more so in hearing.

It's practically don't drink tea and coffee. When it comes to coffee, Bulgarians recognize only espresso (cappuccino is also found, but much less frequently; you can completely forget the words “mocha” and “glaze”). Tea is drunk only in winter, and teapots are rarely found in homes and hotels.

Don't be surprised by nudists, if you see them on the beach. This is a common phenomenon in Bulgaria, and there are many nudist beaches here!

Bulgaria is an uncomplicated and friendly country. A holiday in Bulgaria, organized independently or packaged by a travel agency, will definitely be remembered by you for its warmth, simplicity and affordable prices. Have a nice trip!

Many tourists are interested in: do Russians need a visa to Bulgaria? The answer is clear - it is necessary. You will need any Schengen visa, or a national Bulgarian one.

Please pay attention! Currently, mandatory submission of biometric data has been introduced for all those applying for Schengen visas. It is necessary to undergo fingerprinting (fingerprinting) and photography at the consulate (or official visa center). The received data will be valid for 5 years (59 months). In this regard, the initial visa application implies the mandatory personal presence of the applicant when submitting documents. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from fingerprinting (but not photography).
Otherwise, the issuance procedure remains the same, which is discussed further in this material.

The news spread on the Internet that it is planned to cancel visas to Bulgaria for the entire summer season. It started with the fact that Bulgarian Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov gave an interview to one of the most influential Russian tabloids, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, in which he said that in order to attract tourists, Bulgaria would work according to the Turkish visa system, that is, issue them directly upon arrival to country. It is not known how Dyankov wanted to implement this idea, because, as is known, Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007, and visa-free entry into EU countries is not possible for Russians. Moreover, Bulgaria strives to get into the Schengen zone, and Schengen, as you know, does not allow issuing visas at the border. Therefore, Russians will have to obtain visas to Bulgaria in the same way as before.

Self-application of a visa to Bulgaria

Obtaining a Bulgarian visa by an applicant is conditionally divided into 2 stages:

Stage 1. Collection and execution of a package of personal documents

For each specific applicant, including children, it is necessary to collect a package of documents:

1. Application form.

Applying for a visa to Bulgaria begins with filling out an application form. The source of the questionnaire can be downloaded, instructions for filling out -.

The Bulgarian side has the following requirements for paperwork:

On the first page of the application form you need to paste a photograph 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. The photo must be in color, without white corners or other frames. The background should be light, preferably white, and the applicant's face should be free of glasses and straightened strands of hair. The photo must accurately correspond to the real appearance of the person, that is, be relevant.

2. Foreign (external) passport. The validity period of the passport is at least 90 days after completion of the trip. for which a visa is issued. The passport must be free of dirt or mechanical damage. You also need a photocopy of the page with the applicant’s personal data. On the first page of the application form you need to paste a photograph 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. The photo must be in color, without white corners or other frames. The background should be light, preferably white, and the applicant's face should be free of glasses and straightened strands of hair. The photo must accurately correspond to the real appearance of the person, that is, be relevant.

3. A valid internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and a photocopy of pages with registration and personal data.

4. Insurance policy with confirmation of medical coverage in the amount of at least 30,000 euros. An insurance policy can be obtained from any accredited insurance organization. To select the optimal insurance program, the agent must be informed that the policy is needed for a trip to Bulgaria and the purpose of the trip itself.

5. Tickets for travel (air, rail, other ground transport) or reservations for them. When applying for a visa, the visa center employee will be guided by the travel dates from the tickets. If the applicant is driving a car, then you need to provide documents for it (registration certificate and international insurance), as well as a driver’s license. If the applicant is traveling as a passenger, the visa center employee may request a letter of authorization from the driver-owner of the car, stating that he undertakes to take the applicant as a passenger. It is best to find out about the need for such a letter and its contents by calling the consulate in advance.

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