Question 1

Is Bulgaria part of the Schengen Area?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in March 2024, and extended to full land border Schengen membership in January 2025. This means internal border checks between Bulgaria and other Schengen states have been lifted. For visa purposes, third-country nationals travelling to or through Bulgaria should check whether their nationality requires a Schengen visa or a Bulgarian national visa for their specific situation.

Question 2

Who needs a visa to enter Bulgaria?

Accepted Answer

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and many other nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays in Bulgaria. Non-EU nationals from countries without a visa-waiver agreement must apply for a Schengen visa (Type C for short stays, Type D for long stays) through a Bulgarian embassy, consulate, or an authorised VFS Global application centre. The Министерство на външните работи (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, МВнР) maintains the current list of visa-required nationalities.

Question 3

What are the photo requirements for a Bulgarian visa application?

Accepted Answer

Visa photos for Bulgarian embassies and VFS Global application centres must be 35×45mm, in colour, with a plain white background. The face must be centred and clearly visible, with a neutral expression, mouth closed, and eyes open looking directly at the camera. The head height (chin to crown) must be approximately 32–36mm within the frame. No glasses are permitted. The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months. These requirements align with Schengen C-visa biometric photo standards.

Question 4

Are glasses allowed in a Bulgarian visa photo?

Accepted Answer

No. Bulgarian embassies and VFS Global centres follow ICAO biometric guidelines consistent with Schengen requirements, which do not permit glasses in visa photos. Glasses can cause reflections that obscure the facial features required for biometric processing. Remove your glasses before taking your visa photo.

Question 5

What background colour is required for a Bulgarian visa photo?

Accepted Answer

The background must be plain white. There must be clear contrast between the background and your face and hair. Patterned, textured, or coloured backgrounds are not accepted for Bulgarian visa applications. ID Wizard automatically applies a clean white background to your photo.

Question 6

How recent must my Bulgarian visa photo be?

Accepted Answer

Your photo must have been taken within the last 6 months at the time of submission. Using an older photo may result in your visa application being rejected at the Bulgarian embassy, consulate, or VFS Global centre. ID Wizard produces your photo immediately, so it will always satisfy the recency requirement.

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