Bulgaria family visit visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Bulgaria family visit Schengen visa when you apply from Canada.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇧🇬 Bulgaria·····✈·····🇨🇦 from Canada
To
Bulgaria
Type
C · FAMILY
Apply at
CANADA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededVisiting family / friends — short stay (Type C) · applying from Canada.
Documents ready00 / 11
Competent authority
Embassy of Bulgaria in Ottawa and Consulate General in Toronto, by province/jurisdiction
Application centre
none / applies directly at the embassy or consulate
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
CA$0
Est. total (adult)
CA$135
Long stay (Type D)
—
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in CAD · centre: direct_consulate.
Fee notes
Embassy Ottawa handles visas directly, no VAC. D unverified.
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–9 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Not published; email-then-Calendly booking. Assume ~1-3 weeks (baseline estimate).
Application centre
Consulate-direct (NO VAC in Canada). Type C applications handled directly by the Bulgarian Consulate General in Toronto and the Embassy in Ottawa. Applicants email the Toronto consulate, then book via Calendly.
Timeline notes
Bulgaria began issuing uniform Schengen visas 31 March 2024. Jurisdiction split between Consulate General Toronto and Embassy Ottawa; no VFS/TLS/BLS centre in Canada.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
Per day
€50
Minimum
€500
In EUR ≈
as shown
Floor
subsistence funds must be at least EUR 50/day but not less than EUR 500 total (floor), or proof of prepaid tourist services
Notes
Figures are officially denominated in EUR (Art. 17 of the Visa Ordinance, Decree 198/2011, last amended 13.05.2022). National currency was the lev (BGN, fixed peg 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN); Bulgaria adopted the euro on 01/01/2026. Extra: EUR 100 required if entering by self-driven vehicle; transit visa needs >= EUR 50/transit (+ EUR 200 for self-driven land transit).
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- Canadian citizensVisa-exempt for short visits up to 90/180 days; Type C visa generally not required.
- Spouse/child of a Bulgarian citizenUse sample form Apl.3 with marriage/birth certificate and the Bulgarian citizen's passport.
- Non-Canadian residents of CanadaApply at the mission covering the province of residence; status valid beyond return.