Bulgaria is the land where mist-topped mountains neighbor breathtaking beaches, where art and nightlife are always thriving. It's a land where no visitor leaves it unimpressed. Religious art is galore and could be a defining characteristic of this nation. For all those in The UAE and dream of visiting this exciting country, a Bulgaria visa from Dubai will be a perfect arrangement. The first important factor for a Bulgaria visa is the originating country of the applicant's passport. Depending on that we can decide if you need a pre-arrival visa or are eligible for an on-arrival visa. For answers to these and many other questions keep reading the blog.
The countries eligible for a Cyprus on-arrival visa are:
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1. Australia |
22. Israel |
43. Saint Vincent and grenadines |
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2. Argentina |
23. Japan |
44. Samoa |
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3. Andorra |
24. Kiribati |
45. Serbia |
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4. Antigua and Barbuda |
25. Marshal Island's |
46. Singapore |
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5. Albania |
26. Macau |
47. Seychelles |
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6. Brunei |
27. Macedonia |
48. San Marino |
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7. Barbados |
28. Malaysia |
49. Solomon Island's |
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8. Bahamas |
29. Micronesia |
50. South Korea |
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9. Bosnia and Herzegovina |
30. Monaco |
51. Trinidad and Tobago |
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10. Brazil |
31. Mauritius |
52. Taiwan |
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11. Costa Rica |
32. Mexico |
53 . Timor Leste |
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12. Chile |
33. Moldova |
54. Tonga |
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13. Canada |
34. Montenegro |
55. Tuvalu |
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14. Columbia |
35. New Zealand |
56. Ukraine |
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15. Dominica |
36. Nicaragua |
57. UAE |
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16. El Salvador |
37. Peru |
58. USA |
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17. Georgia |
38. Panama |
59. Uruguay |
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18. Grenada |
39. Paraguay |
60. Vatican city |
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19. Guatemala |
40. Palau |
61. Venezuela |
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20. Hong kong |
41. Saint Kitts and Nevis |
62. Vanuatu |
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21. Honduras |
42. Saint Lucia |
63. Switzerland |
What is the permitted stay duration for travelers eligible for a Bulgaria on-arrival visa?
The permitted stay duration for individuals eligible for a Bulgaria on-arrival visa is 90 days within any 180 day period.
Pre-arrival Visa
If the applicant is the holder of a Schengen visa they are allowed to travel to Bulgaria as it is a part of European country.
Since UAE is one of the countries eligible for an on-arrival countries, UAE nationals don't require a visa to visit Bulgaria. But expatriates living in UAE whose passport is not listed under the countries eligible for an on-arrival visa need to take a Bulgaria Visa from Dubai to visit the country. Getting a pre-arrival visa is easy with the right guidance. Get in touch with our visa consultants for our assistance throughout the visa process.
Bulgaria visas are divided into 3 categories to cater to different visa requirements. They are:
Business
The business pre-arrival visa is suitable for businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs visiting Bulgaria for business or investment purposes.
Tourism
Tourists or individuals visiting relatives, family or friends in Bulgaria should apply for the tourism visa.
Airport transit
Individuals having a layover at Bulgaria need to apply for a transit visa.
The Bulgaria visa price depends on two factors; the applicant's age and the type of visa they are applying for. Due to these factors, the price might fluctuate slightly. The visa fee is compulsory to obtain a Bulgaria visa from UAE. This fee should be paid with an additional amount of AED 200 for our visa assistance. Once paid, neither of the fees are refundable.
To make sure that your Bulgaria visa from UAE gets approved, the Bulgarian Embassy requires the applicant to hand over these supporting documents along with the visa application form.
Required documents for Bulgaria pre-arrival visa when applying from UAE
Please note that if any of these documents are in Arabic, they need to be translated in to English.
having at least 2 blank pages and a validity period of at least 6 months from date of return and not older than 10 years.
A photocopy of the last Bulgarian and Schengen visas or visas for the UK and the US, if any
with white background, not older than 6 months .
from applicant's employer stating the applicant’s designation, monthly salary, start date of employment and the company has no objection for the travel (Stamped and Signed from the company on the company's letterhead)
if applicant is travelling to multiple countries with varied stay duration, the country with the longest stay should be mentioned. If the individual is visiting multiple countries with similar stay duration, first country of visit should be mentioned
valid for at least 3 months from return date
3 months bank statement Of (original or bank-stamped copies)
Confirmed air ticket including return ticket
valid for all the Europe and the whole length of the journey, with minimum coverage of 30,000 euro
What is the usual procedure when applying for a Bulgaria visit visa from UAE?
The supporting documents listed above should be submitted to the Al qaswa visa consultant who is incharge of your Bulgaria visa. After that, the below mentioned procedures will be observed to ensure accuracy and approval of Bulgaria visa.
The supporting documents listed above should be submitted to the Al qaswa visa consultant who is incharge of your Bulgaria visa. After that, the below mentioned procedures will be observed to ensure accuracy and approval of Bulgaria visa.
Primary check of supporting document by the visa consultant. Depending on your travel requirements the visa consultant will suggest the best visa type and clear any questions you have.
The Bulgaria visa application form will be typed out and the supporting documents rechecked.
You will receive an appointment date with the Bulgarian embassy to submit the visa application and supporting documents. Biometric procedures will also be carried out on this day.
The visa issue procedure begins which can take 7 working days.
You will receive a visa-ready notification.
Collect your passport with the stamped Bulgaria visa.
The processing duration may vary anywhere between 7 to 10 working days.
To be able to charge your phone while in Bulgaria make sure to carry a two-pin power extension. If you dont have mobile internet, head to any public place to get access to wifi. When you exit from the airport, dont catch any random taxi unless you want to fork out a fortune.
Carry Bulgarian Leva
Payment with cards are accepted. However, small shops and boutiques will ask for payment in cash so its best to carry some spare Leva. Some hotels accept card payments some dont so think one step ahead and have some cash in hand.
Don't Bargain
In Bulgaria prices are fixed so leave your bargaining hat at home. Dont even think of bargaining as it is considered disrespectful and might get you thrown out of the shop.
Nod for no and shake head for yes
This is confusing, so whenever you see someone nod their head ask them if they meant a yes or no before you continue the conversation.
Electric use
The UK output with 3 pins is used in Bulgaria and the standard is 240 V. Make sure to carry a 3 prong adapter to be able to use electricity.
Most signs are in Bulgarian
Most shop names, street signs and other boards are written in Bulgarian. Try and learn some Bulgarian before you visit Bulgaria. But, if you do have a problem locating some place you can qlways stop someone and ask because majority of the youngsters speak English.
Always carry your ID
According to Bulgarian law if a policeman stops you, you should be able to show your identification wth either an ID or passport. Its not a common occurence for a policeman to stop you, but make sure to carry either of the personal identification documents with you.
Smoking is not permitted in closed areas
Although most Bulgarians break this rule, we suggest you not to smoke in restaurants, pubs andother closed public areas as you can get fined by the police if you are caught.
Drinking in public
Drinking in public is considered shameful and disrespectful because part of the island are Turkish Muslim and other part are Greek orthodox. The island also has zero tolerance for drug use.
Spoken language
Bulgarians speak Greek, Turkish and also English because it was a British colony. Most street signs are in English, Greek or Turkish depending on whether you are on the south or north.
Attire etiquette
Bulgarians follows European attire conventions. However, while visiting religious or sacred places women should wear long skirts or trousers and cover their arms, whereas men should wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts.
Can I apply for a visa even if my passport is older than 10 years?
No, you can't apply for a Bulgaria visa if your passport was issued more than 10 years ago because the embassy cannot enter it in the system.
Can I pull back my passport during the visa process?
Yes, you can if you are a pilot, cabin crew personnel or frequent flier. This will be approved only if you provide proof of travels in the form of itinerary. The passport has to be resubmitted when the visa is ready for stamping.
Can I travel to other Schengen countries with my Bulgaria Visa?
No, you can't. To be able to travel to other schengen countries you need to apply for a Schengen visa.
Can I travel to any other countries with a Schengen visa?
Yes, in addition to Bulgaria you can also travel to Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Romania with a Schengen visa.
What is the duration of the visa process?
The visa process duration might vary between 7 to 15 working days.
Is hotel booking and insurance mandatory for getting a Bulgaria visa?
Yes, both are mandatory. Insurance is neccesary for the traveller’s safety and to compensate for sudden injuries or natural disasters while in Bulgaria. Hotel booking is an important factor for your visa to enter the processing stage.
What do I do if the visa gets delayed by the embassy?
Refer the embassy’s number on the receipt you get when submitting documents. Call that number and enquire.
Can the visa fee be refunded if the visa gets rejected?
No, it won't be refunded.
Do minors need to be accompanied by parents while travelling to Bulgaria?
Yes, individuals below 18 years (minors) have to be accompanied by a parent or adult unless both parents have issued a NOC letter stating their approval for the child to travel alone. The NOC and both parents passport copies have to be submitted with the other supporting documents.
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