Bulgaria visa: application centre, fees and documents
When applying for a short-term Bulgarian Schengen visa from Türkiye, the correct official channel, fee items, main destination and file consistency should be considered together.
The channel shown in Türkiye for short-stay Bulgaria visa applications VFS Global. Bulgaria is now a Schengen country; Short-term Schengen application and national visa processes are evaluated separately. It is
How much is the Bulgaria visa fee?
Standard Schengen short-term fee €90 for adults, €45 maximum for ages 6–12; The center fee is shown separately.
Do not read the amount payable for Bulgaria as a single total: the consular fee, the mandatory VFS Global service charge and optional extra services are separate items.
Compare the fee items of all 29 countries in one table
Where do you apply for a Bulgaria visa?
Official redirect in applications from Türkiye VFS Global / authorized authority page applies. Do not trust sites using a domain name similar to VFS Global, people asking for payment to a personal account, or anyone selling “guaranteed appointments” for Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is now a Schengen country; Short-term Schengen application and national visa processes are evaluated separately.
What should you watch for in a Bulgaria application?
Bulgaria is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen area, and the euro is used there. Showing your Bulgaria travel budget in euro makes the link between the cost plan and your financial documents easier to read.
Bulgaria became a full member of the Schengen area on 1 January 2025; national short-visit information from before that date is no longer current.
Bulgaria refusal rate in 2025
According to European Commission data, Bulgaria received 82 033 short-stay visa applications from Türkiye in 2025; 73 150 visas were issued and 8 240 applications were refused. The overall Bulgaria refusal rate for Türkiye is calculated as %10,1.
By consulate, the Bulgaria refusal rate was: Istanbul %14,1 · Edirne %2,8 · Bursa %6,2 · Ankara %21,2. You cannot choose which consulate to apply to; jurisdiction is set by your province of residence.
This figure is the aggregate result of a past calendar year and is not a prediction of the outcome of your application.
Compare the figures for every country and consulate
Common rules of a Bulgaria application
Four rules work the same way in every Schengen application, Bulgaria included:
Niche questions and answers
Can I book an appointment for Bulgaria in another Schengen country?
Another country may be used only if Bulgaria is not the real main destination. If the main purpose or the longest stay is Bulgaria, choosing a different country because appointments are easier there creates a contradiction between the file and the declaration.
Does VFS Global influence the visa decision?
No. VFS Global is the external service channel that accepts the application; the decision on a Bulgaria visa is taken by the competent consular section of the Bulgaria representation. Premium or optional services purchased through VFS Global do not affect that decision.
Can I travel to other Schengen countries with a Bulgaria visa?
A short-stay Schengen visa issued by Bulgaria is as a rule valid throughout the Schengen area; visas with limited territorial validity are the exception and are stated on the visa sticker. For the application to be made through Bulgaria, however, Bulgaria must be the real main destination.
Where do I pay the Bulgaria visa fee?
The Bulgaria fee and the mandatory service charge are paid only on the official payment screen of the VFS Global channel. Do not pay channels that ask for money to a personal bank account on behalf of Bulgaria, sell guaranteed appointments on social media, or use a domain name similar to VFS Global.
Which currency should I use for the budget in a Bulgaria application?
Because Bulgaria uses the euro, the euro equivalent of accommodation, transport and daily costs in Bulgaria can be read directly. If your bank documents are in Turkish lira, a consistent calculation showing the euro equivalent of the Bulgaria trip makes the file easier to understand.
I cannot find an appointment for Bulgaria, what can I do?
Appointment pressure for Bulgaria depends on the current calendar of the VFS Global channel and changes seasonally. The answer is not to apply to another country while the real route stays the same; it is to check the VFS Global calendar regularly, confirm the Bulgaria jurisdiction that matches your province of residence, and plan the Bulgaria application months before the trip.
Is the document list for a Bulgaria application different from other Schengen countries?
The common framework is the same; the category-specific checklist changes according to the instructions of the Bulgaria representation. The current Bulgaria checklist on the VFS Global channel is what counts, and another country's list is not used in a Bulgaria file.
Where do I appeal if my Bulgaria visa is refused?
An appeal is conducted against the Member State that took the final decision and under the national law of that State; so if the decision was taken by Bulgaria, the appeal procedure follows Bulgaria law. The time limit and the competent authority are stated on the Bulgaria refusal form and on the official page of the Bulgaria representation.
Official sources
- EU Delegation to Türkiye — Schengen application guide
- EU Delegation to Türkiye — authorized providers in Türkiye
- Official application and fee channel for Bulgaria
Variant information checked from primary official sources on September 12, 2026. InterPASS is independent consultancy; It is not a consulate or application centre. It offers file preparation and process support, but does not guarantee appointment-specific access or results.
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