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Schengen visa, applied for from the UK

Bulgaria visa from the UK for non-UK passport holders

If you live in the UK on a non-UK passport, you apply for a Bulgaria Schengen visa through VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. The visa fee is €90 (£77), plus a £29.70 VFS fee, and children under 12 pay no visa fee. Allow at least 15 calendar days.

Checked against official sourcesLast reviewed · sources at the foot of the page
Consulate fee, adult. Free for ages 6 to 11, free under 6.
€90
VFS Global service charge, paid at the centre.
£29.70
Standard processing after the appointment.
15 days
The earliest you can apply before you travel.
3 months

Who can apply from the UK

You need a valid UK residence permit. VFS accepts an endorsement in your passport, a card or a Home Office share code, valid at least one month after you return from the Schengen area. A UK visitor visa is not accepted, so visitors apply in their country of residence.

Bulgaria's own pages say you can apply no earlier than 3 months before you travel, which is shorter than the 6 months in EU rules. Apply at least 15 calendar days before your trip.

Bulgaria must be your main destination, the Schengen country where you spend the longest.

VFS lists three centres and sets no rule on which one you use.

Documents for a Bulgaria visit visa

You provide

  • Passport Valid at least 3 months after you leave Bulgaria, issued in the last 10 years, with at least 2 empty pages. Bring copies of the data pages and of your current and previous visas.
  • UK immigration status A Home Office share code, card or passport endorsement, valid at least one month after your trip. A UK visitor visa is not accepted.
  • Photo One recent colour photo, no older than 6 months, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, on a plain light background.
  • Bank statements Three months of statements showing at least €50 for each day of your stay, and never less than €500 in total.
  • Job or study evidence Employees: a signed letter on headed paper with the employer's UK registration number, plus 3 months of payslips. Self-employed: an accountant's, banker's or solicitor's letter plus a letter from the tax authorities. Students: a letter with your weekly hours and attendance record.
  • Invitation from your host Family or friend visits: an invitation-declaration from your host on Bulgaria's form Apl.2, stamped by the police in Bulgaria. Spouses and children of Bulgarian citizens add the marriage certificate and the Bulgarian's passport.
  • Children's documents A consent declaration signed by both parents, both parents' passports with copies (or a custody order or power of attorney), and the birth certificate with a certified translation.

We provide

  • Application form Completed in English and signed in two places, field 37 and the last field. Children's forms are signed by both parents.
  • Cover letter Sets out your dates, plans, who pays and your ties to the UK.
  • Return flight ticket VFS asks for confirmed, paid tickets from the UK to Bulgaria and back, not just a reservation. We book them with you once your plans are fixed.
  • Hotel booking A confirmed booking in your name for your whole stay, at a hotel or through a platform such as Booking.com or Airbnb.
  • Travel medical insurance Valid in Bulgaria and every EU state for your whole trip, with at least €30,000 of cover for repatriation and emergency care.
  • VFS appointment We book your slot online at the VFS centre that suits you. The VFS contact centre cannot book for you.

Where and when to apply

Bulgaria takes UK short-stay applications through VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. Apply no earlier than 3 months and no later than 15 days before you travel.

VFS Global runs the UK centres for the Embassy of Bulgaria in London, which takes Schengen (type C) visas only through VFS. Every application also needs clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia.

Appointments in London →Appointments in Manchester →Appointments in Edinburgh →

Worth knowing about this consulate

  • Children under 12 pay no visa fee. Bulgaria's foreign ministry exempts children from 6 to under 12, and children under 6 are free in any case.
  • VFS shows the €90 visa fee as £77 and adds a £29.70 service fee including VAT. Fees are paid by debit or credit card, with no cheques or bank transfers, and are not refunded.
  • Every application needs clearance from Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia, so VFS gives a minimum of 15 calendar days. Files lodged in Manchester or Edinburgh take 2 extra days.
  • Bulgaria's ministry, embassy and VFS all say you can apply no earlier than 3 months before you travel.
  • Optional VFS extras, including VAT, include courier return (£27), SMS updates (£4), photos (£10), form filling (£15) and the Premium Lounge (£75).
  • Within 48 hours of arriving you must register your address with the local police. Hotels and hosts do this for their guests.

Notes by passport

Pakistani passport holders

  • Pakistan is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Bulgarian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Pakistani national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Bulgaria confirms otherwise.

Bangladeshi passport holders

  • Bangladesh is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Bulgarian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Bangladeshi national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Bulgaria confirms otherwise.

Nigerian passport holders

  • Nigeria is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Bulgarian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Nigerian national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Bulgaria confirms otherwise.

Sri Lankan passport holders

  • Sri Lanka is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Bulgarian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Sri Lankan national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Bulgaria confirms otherwise.

Ghanaian passport holders

  • Only changing planes at a Bulgarian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Ghanaian national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Bulgaria confirms otherwise.

Gambian passport holders

  • EU restrictions on The Gambia (Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1781) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

Somali passport holders

  • EU restrictions on Somalia (a Council decision of 25 June 2026) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

Guinean passport holders

  • EU restrictions on Guinea (a Council decision of 10 July 2026) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

How a Bulgaria application runs, day by day

  1. Day 0Eligibility and checklistA yes, a no or a “not yet, because”.
  2. Days 1–5File builtYou send documents on WhatsApp; we do the rest.
  3. VariesAppointment waitWe watch releases daily and book the first that fits.
  4. 15 daysConsulate decisionFingerprints at VFS Global, then we track the file.
  5. DonePassport backThen we confirm your real flights and hotel.

What it costs, and who you pay

Separate payments to separate people. Only ours is set by us, quoted in writing before you commit.

Consulate visa feePaid to the consulate. Free for children aged 6 to 11. Not refundable if refused.
€90
VFS Global service chargePaid at the centre. Extras are optional.
£29.70
Fast Travellers, file and appointmentEverything from eligibility to decision, quoted in writing before you commit.
Fast Travellers, urgent or after a refusalAdds a daily slot search and a refusal review, quoted in writing before you commit.

Bulgaria visa questions from UK residents

Can I apply for a Bulgaria visa on a BRP?

BRPs have been replaced by eVisas. VFS accepts a Home Office share code as proof of your status, valid at least one month after you return from the Schengen area.

Where do I apply for a Bulgaria visa in the UK?

At VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. The Bulgarian Embassy takes Schengen visas only through VFS.

How long does a Bulgaria visa take from the UK?

VFS gives a minimum of 15 calendar days, as every file needs clearance in Sofia. Add 2 days if you apply in Manchester or Edinburgh.

How much is a Bulgaria Schengen visa from the UK?

The visa fee is €90 (£77) for adults, and children under 12 pay nothing. VFS adds a £29.70 service fee per application.

How early can I apply for a Bulgaria visa?

Bulgaria's own pages say no earlier than 3 months before you travel, although EU rules allow 6 months. Apply at least 15 calendar days before your trip.

What invitation do I need to visit family in Bulgaria?

Your host fills in Bulgaria's invitation-declaration form Apl.2 and has it stamped by the police in Bulgaria.

Will my passport be stamped when I enter Bulgaria?

No. Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System records your entries and exits digitally instead of stamping your passport. As a visa holder, the system stores a photo of your face taken at the border; your fingerprints are already on file from your visa application.

Can I visit other Schengen countries on a Bulgaria visa?

Yes. Bulgaria has issued Schengen visas since 31 March 2024, valid in all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180, as long as Bulgaria is your main destination.

Where these facts come from

Fees and rules are checked against official and visa-centre pages. Last reviewed . Rules change: we confirm everything again before you pay.

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