How to Write a Bulgaria Visa Cover Letter from India (Sample)

The checklist details below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Applications are lodged at VFS Global centres and decided by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in New Delhi. Since 31 March 2024, Bulgaria issues uniform Schengen visas valid for the whole Schengen area.

What does Bulgaria officially require in a cover letter?

Two lines in the VFS checklist set the rule. The general list asks for a 'cover letter explaining purpose and duration of stay'. The tourist section goes further: a cover letter with itinerary and detailed location(s) for the duration of the stay.

That gives your letter four jobs: say why you are going, say for how long, say where you will be each day, and show the officer where in the file the proof sits. A letter that only says 'I want to see Bulgaria' does none of these.

Which documents should each part of the letter point to?

Sample cover letter for a Bulgaria tourist visa

Replace every bracketed part with your own details. Do not copy the wording unchanged, and never write anything your documents cannot prove.

To,
The Visa Section
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, New Delhi

Subject: Application for a short-stay (Type C) tourist visa – [Full name as in passport], Passport No. [number]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I, [full name], an Indian citizen living at [address in India], am applying for a short-stay tourist visa to visit Bulgaria from [arrival date] to [departure date], a stay of [number] days.

My itinerary: [dates] in [city 1], staying at [hotel name and address]; [dates] in [city 2], staying at [hotel name and address]. A day-wise plan and the accommodation bookings in my name are enclosed. I will enter and leave by air on the flights shown in the enclosed booking.

I have worked as [designation] at [company] since [year]. My employer has approved my leave from [date] to [date], as stated in the enclosed letter, and I will resume work on [date].

I will pay for the trip myself. My bank statements for the last three months and my ITR-V for the last three assessment years are enclosed; my funds cover at least EUR 50 for each day of the stay. My travel medical insurance from [insurer] covers EUR 30,000 and is valid from [date] to [date].

Enclosures: application form, passport and copies, photograph, insurance, flight and hotel bookings, itinerary, employer letter, salary certificates, bank statements, ITR-V.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Name], [date], [phone], [email]

How do you adapt the letter for a business or family visit?

• Business visit: your letter should be a visa request letter on your company letterhead, backed by company registration papers. The inviting Bulgarian person or company signs and stamps an Invitation–Declaration (Enclosure No 4 or No 6 form), certified by a Notary Public and by the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
• Private visit to family or friends: name your host and your relationship. The host signs the Invitation–Declaration for a private stay (Enclosure No 3 form), certified by a Notary Public and the Migration Directorate, and can provide your accommodation in it.
• Spouse or children travelling with you: they follow the tourist visa procedure, so list them and their passport numbers in your letter.

How should the letter mention money?

The checklist sets a floor: at least EUR 50 per day of stay, but not less than EUR 500 in total. Instead, you can show an inviting organisation's letter covering expenses, or a document of prepaid tourist services. Do not invent a budget your statements cannot support; refer to the enclosed three-month bank statement and three years of ITR-V. If a parent or relative pays, say so and include their documents.

Which mistakes weaken a Bulgaria cover letter?

• Dates that disagree between the letter, the form, bookings and insurance.
• A missing itinerary on a tourist application, which the checklist specifically asks for.
• No mention of leave or return, which leaves the employer letter unexplained.
• Applying in the wrong window: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepts short-stay files no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before the trip.
• Assuming someone else can submit a first application. First-time applicants to Bulgaria or Schengen must apply in person; later trips can go through a representative with an authorisation letter.

European Commission data show that 37.9% of Schengen visa applications lodged at Bulgarian consulates in India were not issued in 2025 (1,270 of 3,435). The figure covers all short-stay purposes and is not a forecast for any applicant. The visa fee is INR 9900, VFS Logistics costs INR 2530, and VFS quotes around 15 working days for a decision. More details are in our Bulgaria visa guide for Indians and on the VFS Bulgaria India page.

If you would rather have the letter drafted from your documents, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram writes cover letters and prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings and itineraries for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Who should a Bulgaria visa cover letter be addressed to?

Address it to the visa section of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in New Delhi. The Embassy decides all short-stay (C) and long-stay (D) applications lodged at VFS centres across India.

Does a Bulgarian visa let me visit other Schengen countries?

Yes. Since 31 March 2024 Bulgaria has issued uniform Schengen visas valid for the whole Schengen area, and checks at its internal land borders were lifted on 1 January 2025. Stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Can I appeal if my Bulgaria visa is refused?

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

Which photo do I attach to a Bulgaria visa application?

One recent colour photograph of 3.5 x 4.5 cm on a light background, with the face taking up 70-80% of the photo. Avoid sunglasses, tinted lenses and head coverings unless worn for religious reasons.