# Is Bulgaria Visa-Free for Indians in 2026? > Bulgaria is not visa-free for Indian passport holders in 2026. Since joining Schengen, it accepts Schengen visas, but US and UK visas do not count. Fees, timing and transit rules. _Published: 2026-11-05 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1050_ ## TL;DR Bulgaria is not visa-free for Indians: ordinary-passport holders need a visa, according to Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Because Bulgaria has issued Schengen visas since 31 March 2024, a valid Schengen visa can be used there, while a short-stay visa applied for in India costs INR 9900 and takes around 15 working days. ## Key takeaways - Indian ordinary-passport holders need a visa for Bulgaria; only diplomatic and service passports are exempt. - Bulgaria has issued uniform Schengen visas since 31 March 2024, so a valid Schengen visa can be used there. - US and UK visas do not exempt Indians from Bulgaria's visa or transit visa rules. - A short-stay (C) visa from India costs INR 9900 plus a VFS logistics fee of INR 2530. - There is no Bulgarian eVisa or visa on arrival for Indians. **No. Bulgaria is not visa-free for Indians in 2026. According to the visa-regime table of Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (updated 2 July 2026), Indian ordinary-passport holders need a visa. Since Bulgaria joined Schengen on 31 March 2024, a valid Schengen visa also works there; a short-stay visa applied for in India costs INR 9900.** ## Article The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Confusion about Bulgaria usually comes from its Schengen accession, so it is worth separating the three questions people actually ask. ### Do Indians need a visa for Bulgaria in 2026? Yes. Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) lists Indian citizens holding ordinary passports as visa-required. India also sits on the EU's visa-required list, in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. Only Indian diplomatic and service passports are visa-exempt. There is no shortcut on arrival: - Visa on arrival: not available. The visa must be obtained before travel. - eVisa: not available. A signed form is lodged with a photo and ten fingerprints at a VFS Global centre or at the Embassy. - Visa-free entry: not available for ordinary passports. ### Can you enter Bulgaria on a visa from another Schengen country? Yes. This is the change that causes the confusion. Bulgaria has issued uniform Schengen visas, valid for the whole Schengen area, since 31 March 2024. Checks at its internal land borders, including with Romania, were lifted on 1 January 2025. A valid Schengen (uniform) visa can therefore be used in Bulgaria. That does not make Bulgaria visa-free. It means the visa you need can be a Schengen visa, whether issued by Bulgaria or by another Schengen state. MFA Bulgaria applies the Schengen stay limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, and days in Bulgaria count towards it. ### What about US or UK visa holders and transit passengers? US and UK visas do not help here. Bulgaria's MFA lists the documents that waive its transit visa, and neither a US nor a UK visa is on those lists. For Indians, the transit rules work like this: SituationVisa needed?Staying airside in the international transit area of a Bulgarian airportNo visa needed (India is on neither the EU common nor Bulgaria's airport-transit-visa list)Transiting Bulgaria with a valid Schengen visa, or a long-stay visa or residence permit of a Schengen countryTransit visa waived by MFA BulgariaTransiting with a valid Cyprus national visa or residence permitTransit visa waived by MFA BulgariaHolding only a US or UK visaNot on MFA Bulgaria's waiver lists, so it does not replace a Bulgarian or Schengen visaVisiting Bulgaria as a tourist with an Indian ordinary passportYes, a short-stay (C) or Schengen visa ### How much does a Bulgaria visa cost from India? VFS Global handles Bulgarian short-stay visas in India for the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi, which decides the applications. The published charges are: - Short-term (C) visa fee: INR 9900 for Indian citizens. No fee for children aged 12 and below or for family members of Bulgarian and EU citizens. - VFS Logistics fee (short term): INR 2530, including GST. - Long-term (Type D) visa fee: INR 11000, plus VFS Logistics INR 3080. Visa fees are not refundable. They can be paid by card, cash or UPI. ### How long does it take, and when should you apply? VFS gives around 15 working days for a short-term visa. MFA Bulgaria says a decision is taken within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, extendable up to 45 calendar days in individual cases. Apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before the trip. First-time applicants to Bulgaria or the Schengen area must apply in person. On later trips, a representative can submit your file with an authorization letter. Your file will need travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 and proof of funds of at least EUR 50 per day of stay, with a minimum of EUR 500. You also need a return ticket or confirmed booking; a verifiable flight reservation serves for the application. ### What will the Bulgarian Embassy want to see? If you apply for a Bulgarian short-stay visa from India, the VFS checklist centres on these documents: - The application form completed in English or Bulgarian and signed in two places (field 37 and the last field). - A passport issued within the previous 10 years, valid at least three months after you leave Bulgaria, with at least two empty pages back to back. - A cover letter explaining the purpose and duration of the stay. - For employees: an employer letter with position, years of service and leave, plus a salary certificate for the last three months. - Three months of bank statements and ITR-V acknowledgements for the last three years. - Your current passport copy with previous visas, plus the originals of any previous passports. ### Why Bulgaria's refusal figure deserves attention European Commission data for 2025 shows a 37.9% refusal rate for Schengen visa applications lodged at Bulgarian consulates in India: 1,270 visas not issued; 3,435 applications lodged. The figure measures past decisions by the Commission's method. It is not a prediction for your file, but it is a reason to send a complete, well-documented application. For the full document checklist, see our Bulgaria visa guide for Indians, or read MFA Bulgaria's Visa for Bulgaria page. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I get a multiple-entry visa for Bulgaria? Yes, under the EU 'cascade' rule. Indian nationals living in India who have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years can be issued a two-year multiple-entry visa, ending three months before passport expiry if the passport runs out sooner. #### Where can I apply for a Bulgaria visa in India? MFA Bulgaria's table lists 15 cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Jaipur. Long-stay (D) visas have been handled at VFS since 1 November 2025, starting with New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. #### What photo size does a Bulgaria visa need? 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. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not allowed. #### Can a Bulgaria visa refusal be appealed? 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. ## FAQ ### Can I get a multiple-entry visa for Bulgaria? Yes, under the EU 'cascade' rule. Indian nationals living in India who have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years can be issued a two-year multiple-entry visa, ending three months before passport expiry if the passport runs out sooner. ### Where can I apply for a Bulgaria visa in India? MFA Bulgaria's table lists 15 cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Jaipur. Long-stay (D) visas have been handled at VFS since 1 November 2025, starting with New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. ### What photo size does a Bulgaria visa need? 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. Sunglasses and tinted lenses are not allowed. ### Can a Bulgaria visa refusal be appealed? 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. ## Sources 1. [MFA Bulgaria - Visa regime for foreigners with ordinary passports (updated 02.07.2026)](https://www.mfa.bg/upload/161580/02_07_2026_EN_VisaRegime_for_foreigners_ordinary_passports-1.pdf) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria 2. [MFA Bulgaria - Visa for Bulgaria (Schengen accession, how to apply, fees, visa centres)](https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria 3. [VFS Global - Apply for Visa to Bulgaria in India](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/bulgaria/india/english/) — VFS Global 4. [European Commission - Schengen visa statistics by consulate (2025)](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_en) — European Commission