Bulgaria Visa Bank Statement Rules for Indian Applicants

The rules below come from VFS Global's Bulgaria checklist for India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, categories and centres, see our Bulgaria visa guide for Indian applicants.

How is the Bulgaria funds minimum calculated?

Two numbers work together. You must show at least EUR 50 for each day of your stay, and the total can never be less than EUR 500.

The arithmetic is simple. Ten days at EUR 50 a day reaches exactly the EUR 500 floor. So for any trip of up to 10 days, EUR 500 is the figure that counts. For a longer trip, multiply your days by EUR 50 and show at least that much.

What should your bank statement and ITR show?

The VFS checklist asks for a three-month bank statement and income tax papers for three years: the Income Tax Acknowledgement or ITR-V for each of the last three years. Note that this means three years of returns, so download all three acknowledgements before the appointment.

Funds alone do not complete the financial picture. The checklist also asks for proof of social and professional status, which explains where the money comes from:

• Employed: an employer letter with your position, years of service and approved leave, plus a salary certificate for the last three months.
• Business owner or self-employed: a visa request letter on company letterhead with the company registration papers.
• Student: a leave letter from the school or university and a copy of your student ID.

Keep the documents consistent. The salary on your certificate, the credits on your statement and the income in your ITR should tell the same story as the trip described in your cover letter, which the checklist also requires.

Can a sponsor or host's money count instead of yours?

Yes, in defined ways. For business trips, a letter from the inviting organisation covering your expenses can replace personal funds. The business invitation itself is an Invitation-Declaration (Enclosure No 4 or No 6), signed and stamped by the inviting person or company and certified by a notary public and by the Migration Directorate of Bulgaria's Ministry of Interior.

For a private visit, your host signs an Invitation-Declaration for a private stay (Enclosure No 3), certified the same way. The host can provide accommodation in that declaration instead of a hotel booking. Spouses and children travelling with you follow the tourist visa procedure.

For minors, the file adds the birth certificate or guardianship decision and the original notarised consent of the parent who is not travelling, or of both parents if the child travels alone, with copies of their passports or IDs.

Do long-stay (D) visas have different money rules?

Yes. The Type D checklists move away from the daily rate:

• Family (Art. 24(1) item 18): proof of financial means not less than the minimum monthly salary for the period of residence, plus secured accommodation.
• University studies (Art. 24v(1)): a notarised declaration from the parents covering education and stay expenses, with their bank and financial documents, and three months of bank statements for both the supporting person and the applicant. No minimum amount is stated on the VFS study checklist.
• Work: after arrival, the residence permit stage requires funds of at least the minimum monthly wage for the period of residence.

The Type D visa fee is INR 11000, with VFS logistics of INR 3080 and a VC interview charge of INR 1650. MFA Bulgaria makes no exception from the personal interview for long-stay visas.

What does a short-stay application cost and how long does it take?

Visa fees are not refundable. Since 31 March 2024 Bulgaria issues uniform Schengen visas valid for the whole Schengen area.

How often are Bulgaria visas refused, and can you appeal?

European Commission data show a refusal rate of 37.9% for short-stay Schengen applications lodged at Bulgarian consulates in India in 2025: 1,270 visas not issued; 3,435 applications lodged. That figure covers all purposes at the Bulgarian post in India; it is not a prediction for your file.

A refusal can be appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia, as the higher administrative authority, or to the Administrative Court Sofia-City.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for Bulgaria files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a Bulgarian visa to visit other Schengen countries?

Yes. Since 31 March 2024 Bulgaria issues uniform Schengen visas valid for the whole Schengen area, and checks at its internal land borders were lifted on 1 January 2025.

Can an agent submit my Bulgaria visa application?

Not on a first application. First-time applicants to Bulgaria or the Schengen area must apply in person; later trips can be submitted by a representative with an authorisation letter.

Is travel insurance part of the proof of funds?

No, it is a separate requirement. You need travel medical insurance for the entire stay with at least EUR 30,000 cover, including repatriation and emergency treatment. Multiple-entry applicants prove insurance for the first visit and sign a statement for later stays.

Do children pay the Bulgaria visa fee?

No. VFS lists no visa fee for applicants aged 12 and below, and for members of Bulgarian and EU citizens' families. The VFS logistics fee is charged separately.