🇧🇬Bulgaria

Typically bring

• Passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and at least two blank pages for visas and entry/exit stamps.
• Recent passport-size photographs meeting the typical size and background requirements.
• A completed visa application form, signed and dated.
• Proof of travel insurance covering the Schengen area for the entire stay.
• Evidence of accommodation – hotel reservations or an invitation letter from a host.
• Return or onward flight ticket showing your exit from Bulgaria.

Watch out for

• Submitting an incomplete application or missing photos can lead to automatic rejection.
• Failing to book the appointment well ahead of your travel date may delay visa processing.
• Using an unverified or non-authorised visa centre can result in extra charges or a rejected application.
• Assuming a visa is automatically issued for Schengen entry; you still need the Bulgarian visa if you intend to stay in Bulgaria for longer periods.
• Traveling with an expired passport or a passport that has too few blank pages will cause problems at the border.

Good to know

• Currency is the Euro (€); cards are widely accepted but it helps to carry some cash for small vendors.
• The official language is Bulgarian; English is common in tourist areas and large cities.
• Internet and mobile coverage are reliable in cities; in rural areas connectivity can be spotty.
• Sofia and most tourist destinations are relatively safe; common sense precautions against pickpocketing are advised.
• Bulgaria offers good public transport and affordable travel options within Europe.