Visas

– Visas

Pursuant to Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria, a visa constitutes permission for entry and stay, for transit through the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, or for airport transit. Visas are issued as a uniform visa sticker according to the European Union template and are valid only in conjunction with a regular travel document or another substituting document in which or to which it is affixed.
Visa Bulgaria requirements | Law office Alexandrov

The categorisation of visas, based on the purpose for which they are issued, is in alignment with that of the Schengen Agreement, specifically:

Types of visas

  • Type “A” visa – for airport transit
  • Type “B” visa – for transit passage
  • Type “C” visa – for short-term stay
  • Type “D” visa – for long-term stay

Visas are granted by the diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Bulgaria. Applications for visas must be submitted in a specified form no earlier than three months and no later than three days before the scheduled travel, personally. For applications for a type D visa, no exceptions from the personal interview requirement are permitted.

Instances where a visa application is denied are not uncommon. Often, visa issuance refusals are unlawful and incorrect. There is a failure to adhere to the legislation, particularly the practices of the Court of Justice of the European Union, whose judgments are mandatory for all member states.

Additionally, numerous recognised rights under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms are overlooked. This represents a valid opportunity and basis for appealing against a visa refusal decision within the preclusive period. 

Appeals are frequently related to infringed rights such as:
  • The right to personal and family life
  • The right to marry
  • The right for families to live together
  • The right to education
  • The right to work
  • The right to protection of property, among others.
To lodge a permissible complaint against a visa refusal decision and to prevail in such a case, it is highly recommended to seek advice from a specialist in this legal field, knowledgeable about both Bulgarian and European laws and the practices of the Court of Justice of the European Union. If you have suffered damages due to the refusal, you may seek compensation. The state is accountable for all damages caused by unlawful acts or actions of its bodies and officials.
Should you require legal advice or need assistance in preparing a complaint, I would be delighted to assist.

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