In anticipation of the beach season, many vacationers from the CIS countries are interested, but do I need a visa to Bulgaria? There are many different conflicting rumors on this score. Say, the country has joined the European Union, so you need to open a "Schengen". Or, on the contrary, in order to attract the tourist flow, Bulgaria has simplified the entry conditions, a visa can be obtained there, as in Turkey or Egypt, upon arrival. Let's try to understand the intricacies of access to this southern country.
The fact remains that Bulgaria joined the
European Union. Therefore, the citizens of the EU, as well as Canada, the USA, Australia, Israel and some other states, the path to this country is open. But to the question: “Do Russians need a visa to Bulgaria?” The answer will be: “Yes, definitely.” The same applies to citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. For permission to enter, they need to contact the consular departments at embassies in their countries, the visa centers of Bulgaria or apply for it through travel agencies. What is the difference? Each person needs to contact the embassy individually, even if you are traveling with your family. The package of documents is also collected independently. But this “pleasure” is somewhat cheaper. Only a visa fee of 35 or 70 euros is paid (the last price is for quick paperwork).
The advantage of contacting intermediaries - authorized centers in Bulgaria - is that only one family member can appear at such a point. There he will receive advice on the dossier. But the cost of the cherished paste increases in this case by 1000 Russian rubles. Contacting a travel agency greatly simplifies the process of applying for an entry permit. One can even answer the question whether a visa to Bulgaria is needed - with the intermediary services of a travel company, almost no efforts are required to obtain it. You just buy a ticket, bring passports and other papers, and at the appointed time (with a visa) go on a trip.
But here there are pitfalls. Travel agencies accredited by the Bulgarian Embassy often issue group visas. And this means that the quantitative and nominal composition of people entering the package must coincide with the list of people leaving. Thus, you cannot change the departure date and will be “tied” to the rigid framework of the tour of the whole group. To prevent excesses from lagging along the road, agencies select passports from their customers, so self-guided tours of the country also become problematic. Therefore, you need to think three times, but do you need a visa to Bulgaria of this kind? After all, it costs a lot of money: about 130 euros for 15 days.
It should also be borne in mind that the European Union and the Schengen area are not the same thing. So far, neither Romania nor Bulgaria have entered the latter. Do I need a
Schengen visa to enter these countries? No, Bulgaria puts so far only national brands. And they do not give any right to enter the Schengen zone. However, there are tricks. If you have a valid "Schengen" with a multi-entry, you do not need to specifically issue a Bulgarian national visa. There is one more plus. Staying in this southern European country is not counted in those 90 days that you can spend in the Schengen area.
Many resort countries, whose state budget largely depends on the tourist flow, introduce measures to simplify the visa regime. Bulgaria is no exception. Do I need a visa? 2013 has not brought any pleasant surprises to the Russians and other CIS citizens. But it is up to the future. At least, even now, obtaining permission to enter Bulgaria is much easier than in any Western European country.