Bulgaria Visa Requirements
After being accepted into a recognized Bulgarian university, the students must plan for their trip to Bulgaria and one of such very crucial steps is to acquire the necessary visa if at all the need one.
A visa permits an individual entrance into a foreign country. This visa type is called a ‘D Visa’ and it allows students to stay in Bulgaria for up to six months.
Students from countries in the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa to come into Bulgaria for up to 90 days. If they plan to stay for longer (study periods longer than 90 days) then they must go to the immigration office after they arrive and get a temporary residence card that is valid for a five-year period.
Students from countries that are not part of the European community, must obtain a student ‘D Visa’ to be able to gain entry into Bulgaria. The student must apply for this visa in the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their home country. Otherwise, in the absence of one, they can apply at the embassy in a neighboring country.
Please note that all documents presented for the visa must be translated into the Bulgarian language. Also, many of the documents requested must have the Apostille stamp on it. An Apostille is a universal standard that several countries adopt to make documents valid in more than one country.
Documents required for the D-visa include;
- A valid travel document e.g international passport or ID. This document must be valid for at least one year.
- Letter of acceptance from a recognized Bulgarian higher institution
- Proof of accommodation provided by the university in any of their campus housing schemes.
- Proof of payment of academic fees or tuition for at least a semester
- Health and Travel Insurance valid for the period of stay stipulated on their visa
- Passport photographs detailing their facial profile with size specifics like 3.5cm x 4.5cm over a white background.
- Copy of other visas obtained on their passport
Students under 18 years of age must present a letter of consent from their parents, wards or trustee stating that they give consent to their child traveling alone.
Lastly, after arriving in Bulgaria and completing their registration in their respective universities, students must apply for permanent residency in Bulgaria. This permit is valid for a year and can be renewed annually.
Note: Other documents may be required upon request by the embassy and an in-person interview may also be requested with the applicant.
After all formalities have been carried out, successful students are then given a student, with a copy being inserted in the student’s passport
Upon arrival, all international students are required to obtain a residence permit and this is often done with the assistance of university international students office, however, students are also encouraged to contact the RocApply Team is they require assistance.
All incoming international students are expected to report and register with the police within their first week along with their identification, police clearance and medical certificates from their home country.
Bachelors
