Who Can Apply for a Bulgaria Family or Friend Visit Visa?
Turkish citizens travelling from Türkiye to visit relatives or friends in Bulgaria may need a short-stay Schengen visa. The application should explain the personal visit, identify the host and describe the accommodation arrangements. Staying in a hotel rather than with the host does not change the purpose, but the itinerary should reflect the visit.
Ordinary Turkish passport holders generally require a visa. Special, service and diplomatic passport holders may qualify for short-stay exemptions; check current conditions before travelling. Travellers holding a valid Schengen visa should check its territorial validity, remaining entries and permitted stay. A visitor visa does not replace the procedures required for family reunification or long-term residence.
Application Requirements
Bulgaria is part of the Schengen area. Short visits are subject to the shared limit of 90 days within any 180-day period, counting time spent throughout Schengen. Apply through Bulgaria when it is your only or main destination. For multi-country trips, the main destination depends on the purpose of travel and length of stay.
Your passport should have been issued within the previous ten years, remain valid for at least three months after your intended departure from Schengen and contain sufficient blank pages. You must explain how the trip will be funded and provide evidence supporting your intention to return to Türkiye. Employment, studies, family responsibilities and regular income may be relevant.
The host’s identity, address, residence status and relationship to you should be documented. An invitation approved by the competent Bulgarian authorities may be required. Check the current official checklist for its format, certification requirements and whether an original is necessary. An invitation does not remove the need to demonstrate sufficient funds and credible travel arrangements.
Application Steps
- Define the visit: Confirm the host, dates, accommodation and any onward travel within Schengen.
- Check jurisdiction: Identify the Bulgarian consular office and any authorised application centre serving your residence in Türkiye.
- Collect documents: Prepare the invitation, financial records, employment or study evidence, insurance and travel arrangements.
- Complete the form: Ensure that personal details and dates match the supporting documents, then arrange an appointment.
- Submit the application: Pay applicable fees, provide biometrics where required and respond to additional document requests.
- Check the outcome: On passport collection, inspect the visa dates, number of entries and authorised duration of stay.
If your host will pay for the visit, explain which expenses are covered and provide evidence of their ability to do so. Accommodation details should match the invitation or hotel booking. Avoid non-refundable purchases before a decision, as an application may take longer than expected or be refused.
Appointments and Biometrics
Appointment availability varies by location, season and demand. Confirm the submission channel using current instructions from the relevant consular office or authorised centre. An appointment does not guarantee that the file will be accepted as complete. The authorities may request an interview, clarification or further documents.
Fingerprints are generally required for Schengen applications. Suitable biometric records collected within the previous 59 months may be reused, although fresh fingerprints can still be requested. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. This exemption does not automatically remove attendance requirements or the need for parental consent and custody documents.
Processing Time
A complete, admissible Schengen application is normally decided in approximately 15 calendar days. Cases requiring closer examination may take up to approximately 45 calendar days. Appointment waiting times, document preparation and passport delivery are additional. Public holidays and seasonal demand can also affect the overall schedule.
Applications can generally be lodged up to six months before travel and should normally be submitted at least 15 calendar days before departure. Leaving more time is advisable. An approaching travel date does not establish an entitlement to expedited processing.
Common Reasons for Refusal
Applications may be refused where the visit is insufficiently explained, host details cannot be verified, funds are inadequate or documents contradict each other. Weak evidence of an intention to return, previous overstay issues and unsuitable travel medical insurance can also affect the decision. Financial records should make the source and availability of funds understandable.
If refused, consult the decision notice for the reasons and applicable appeal procedures and deadlines. A fresh application should address the identified problems with relevant evidence. An issued visa does not itself guarantee admission at the border; carry documents supporting your visit and funding arrangements.
Applying with Hermes Vize
Hermes Vize can help organise a document checklist and review the application for consistency. Confirm the scope and cost of assistance beforehand. Decisions and processing times remain with the competent authorities.
Gerekli Evraklar
- Passport meeting the validity, issue-date and blank-page requirements, with copies of relevant pages.
- Completed Schengen visa application form signed by the applicant or their legal representative where required.
- Recent biometric photograph meeting the current application specifications.
- Copy of the Turkish identity card and any required proof of residence in Türkiye.
- Invitation meeting the current official checklist, including approval by the competent Bulgarian authorities and the original document where required.
- Copy of the host’s identity document or passport and, where applicable, valid Bulgarian residence documentation.
- Civil registration records establishing family ties, or a statement and supporting information explaining the friendship and purpose of the visit.
- Evidence of the host’s address and accommodation arrangements, or hotel reservations covering the visit.
- Return travel reservation, or an itinerary and required vehicle documents for travel by private car.
- Travel medical insurance valid throughout Schengen for the entire trip, with at least EUR 30,000 in coverage for the required risks, including emergency medical care and medical repatriation.
- Recent bank statements, income evidence and, if sponsored, the sponsor’s undertaking and supporting financial records.
- Evidence appropriate to the applicant’s status, such as an employer letter, leave approval, social security records, business documents, student certificate or pension records.
- For minors, birth or civil registration records and parental consent or court orders as required by the travel and custody arrangements.
Ücret Bilgisi
The total cost may include the current consular fee, an application centre service charge and any optional services selected. Exemptions may depend on age, applicant status or applicable family-member rules; visiting relatives alone does not automatically qualify for a waiver. Confirm the current amount, payment currency and accepted payment method through the official channel before submission. The visa application fee is generally non-refundable after refusal, while other services have their own refund terms.
Application Process
5 steps- 1Step 1
Confirm the visa requirement and purpose
Check your passport category, any existing Schengen visa and the shared stay limit. Confirm that Bulgaria is the correct country for your application.
- 2Step 2
Prepare the invitation and supporting evidence
Obtain the host’s documents and gather evidence of funding, accommodation, insurance and your circumstances in Türkiye.
- 3Step 3
Complete the form and book an appointment
Identify the submission channel serving your place of residence. Complete the form consistently with your documents and arrange an appointment.
- 4Step 4
Submit documents and provide biometrics
Lodge the application, pay the applicable charges and provide fingerprints if required. Keep your submission and payment receipts.
- 5Step 5
Follow the review and collect your passport
Respond to further evidence requests within the stated deadline. After the decision, collect your passport and review the visa details or refusal notice.
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