There is still plenty of outdated information online about the Bulgarian visa: that Bulgaria issues a national visa, that you cannot enter on a Schengen visa, that the fee is different. All of that is in the past. Since 1 January 2025 Bulgaria has been a full member of the Schengen zone and for citizens of Azerbaijan the process is the same as for the other Schengen countries.
That change has turned Bulgaria into an interesting destination for those travelling from Azerbaijan: ski resorts many times cheaper than the Alps, the Black Sea coast and a direct flight from Baku. In this article we explain the new rules, the documents and the costs.
Bulgaria visa: what has changed?
Although Bulgaria had been a member of the European Union for years, it was not inside the Schengen zone and issued its own national visa. It joined the Schengen zone for air and sea borders in March 2024 and fully from January 2025. Three things have now changed:
- The Bulgarian embassy issues a type «C» Schengen visa and that visa is valid in all Schengen countries.
- You can enter Bulgaria on a visa issued by another Schengen country.
- Days spent in Bulgaria count towards the overall Schengen 90/180 limit. They did not before.
| Visa type | Type «C» Schengen visa |
| Consular fee | 35 euros, free under 12 |
| Where are documents handed in? | The VFS Global centre in Baku |
| Processing time | 5–15 working days |
| How long can you stay? | 90 days within 180 |
| Direct flight | Baku–Sofia, AZAL and Bulgaria Air, about 3.5 hours |
How is a Bulgarian visa obtained?
Since October 2024 the Bulgarian embassy has delegated the acceptance of documents to VFS Global. So the process goes like this: you take an appointment on the VFS site, hand in the documents at the centre on the appointed day, give fingerprints, and the passport is sent to the embassy. The same centre also accepts visas for Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway.
Under the Azerbaijan–EU agreement the fee is 35 euros, and the visa centre’s service charge of about 21 euros is paid separately. The official visa types and requirements are set out on the page of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Documents for obtaining a Bulgarian visa
There is one subtlety with Bulgaria. Some people consider the Bulgarian visa easy and apply there while actually travelling to Italy or Greece. Under the Schengen rule the visa must be obtained from the country where the most nights are spent. When the Bulgarian embassy sees that mismatch it refuses, and the refusal is recorded in the visa system.
Read next: How is a German visa obtained? A detailed guide for citizens of Azerbaijan
Why do people go to Bulgaria?
There are two reasons. The first is skiing. At the Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo resorts a week’s ski holiday comes out two or three times cheaper than in Austria or Switzerland, and the pistes are entirely adequate for beginner and intermediate level. The second is summer. On the Black Sea coast, Varna, Burgas and Golden Sands are growing steadily more popular as an alternative to Turkey.
Bulgaria is often travelled not alone but together with Romania, Serbia and North Macedonia. For such routes there are ready-made Balkan group tour options. Bear in mind that Serbia and North Macedonia are not in Schengen: Serbia admits citizens of Azerbaijan without a visa, while North Macedonia requires a separate visa.
How do you get from Baku to Sofia?
AZAL and Bulgaria Air operate the direct Baku–Sofia flight jointly, and the flight takes about 3.5 hours. There are several flights a week and the timetable changes with the season, so check the current schedule before buying a ticket. Transit options via Istanbul run every day. Baku–Sofia ticket prices are among the best value of the European destinations. To Varna and Burgas you can fly on a domestic flight from Sofia or direct from Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions about the Bulgarian visa
How many days does a Bulgarian visa take?
The embassy states 5–15 working days. Adding the wait for a VFS appointment, the whole process takes 3–4 weeks. In the winter season it can be longer.
Is an old Bulgarian national visa still valid?
National visas issued before Bulgaria joined Schengen are valid only for Bulgaria until they expire and do not give entry to the other Schengen countries.
Can you cross overland into Turkey on a Bulgarian visa?
Yes. Turkey admits citizens of Azerbaijan without a visa, and the Bulgaria–Turkey border is Schengen’s external border. On exit the passport is recorded in the electronic system and your Schengen days stop.
In closing
A Bulgarian visa is now an ordinary Schengen visa: a 35-euro fee, VFS Global, 5–15 working days. The most important things are not to be misled by old information and to make sure the main country of the trip really is Bulgaria. The Viza.az team helps with preparing the document file, taking the VFS appointment and checking the documents for ski tours.
You can read more about the Bulgaria destination and the service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The fees, the visa centre and the flight timetable can change, so look at the official pages once more before applying.
