How to Get a Bulgaria Study Visa from India (2026)

This guide is based on VFS Global's Bulgaria pages, its October 2025 media release on long-term visa services and the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi. Fees and processing times are as published on the official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. For tourist and business visas, see our Bulgaria visa guide for Indian applicants.

Which visa a Bulgarian degree needs

Bulgaria lists university study among its long-term (Type D) categories, under Art. 15(1) FRBA read with Art. 24v(1). The short-term (C) categories cover tourism, business, private and medical visits, transit and sports, cultural, artistic and scientific trips, but not a degree programme.

VFS Global manages Bulgaria's short-term visa services in India and, from 1 November 2025, long-term (D) applications too, at centres in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. The Embassy of Bulgaria at 16/17 Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, still decides every application. Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes no exception from the personal interview requirement for long-stay visas, so every study applicant must attend in person.

The Art. 24v(1) document checklist

The study category has its own list, separate from the tourist checklist. Every item below comes from it:

The Ministry and university letters are both on the required list, and everything else in the file refers back to the course they confirm. Start the visa process only once both are in hand.

Showing that your studies are funded

The checklist asks for proof of financial means plus a notarised declaration from your parents that they will cover education and stay expenses, backed by your parents' bank or financial documents. It also asks for three months of bank statements for both the supporting person and you.

A few practical points for families in India:

• Get the parental declaration notarised, and make sure the names match the passports and bank accounts exactly.
• Use statements from the same accounts named in the declaration. A declaration from one parent and statements from an unrelated account weaken the link.
• Keep the statements recent and complete for the full three months, with no missing pages.

The official study checklist does not state a minimum amount for student funds, so do not rely on a figure from a forum. Ask the university or VFS what level of funding they expect to see.

Legalisation, translation and the police certificate

The study checklist states that all documents issued abroad must bear the necessary certifications, legalisations and translation. From Bulgaria's point of view, your Indian documents are issued abroad. That covers, for example, the parental declaration and the police certificate.

• Plan time for the attestation and legalisation route your documents need. Confirm the exact requirement with VFS or the Embassy before you start.
• Arrange translation where a document is not in a language Bulgaria accepts.
• Order the police certificate early; it is on the list for study applicants and cannot be produced overnight.

This step is easy to underestimate, because it involves offices in India and cannot be fixed at the VFS counter.

What the study visa costs in INR

The VC Interview charge appears in the long-term fee list; confirm with VFS whether it applies to your appointment. Translation, notary and legalisation costs in India are separate and depend on how many documents you need processed.

Timeline and mistakes to avoid

Long-term processing is around 15 working days, excluding the day of submission. Work backwards from your semester start, leaving room for the confirmation letters and legalisation before that clock even starts. As every long-stay applicant must attend in person, you will also need to travel to one of the six centres, so fit that journey into your plans, especially if you live far from New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata or Mumbai.

• Booking a VFS slot before the Ministry and university letters arrive.
• Submitting Indian documents without the certifications and translations the checklist demands.
• Bank statements for only one of the two people the checklist names.
• Applying on a short-term (C) visa for a degree course.
• Leaving the police certificate to the last week.

If you need a flight reservation or a cover letter for the file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares visa paperwork, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter together. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Bulgaria on a short-term (C) visa?

University study is listed under the long-term Type D categories (Art. 24v(1)). The short-term C types listed by VFS cover visits such as tourism, business, medical treatment and sports, cultural or scientific trips, not a degree programme.

Does a minor need anything extra for a Bulgaria student visa?

Yes. Applicants under 18 need a notarised parental consent to study in Bulgaria, in addition to the parental declaration covering education and stay expenses.

Can my parent submit my Bulgaria study visa application for me?

No. Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that no exception is made from the personal interview requirement for a long-stay (Type D) visa, so the student must attend; VFS lists a VC Interview charge of INR 1650 for long-term applications.

Where is the Bulgarian Embassy in India?

The Embassy of Bulgaria is at 16/17 Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. It decides visa applications, and consular appointments can be requested through consular.delhi@mfa.bg.