Bulgaria family visit visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Bulgaria family visit Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇧🇬 Bulgaria·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
Bulgaria
Type
C · FAMILY
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededVisiting family / friends — short stay (Type C) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 11
Competent authority
Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington, D.C. and Consulates General in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, by state of residence
Application centre
none / applies directly at the mission
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
$35
Est. total (adult)
$135
Long stay (Type D)
—
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: VFS Global.
Fee notes
Full Schengen member (land borders Jan 2025). VFS Global. D not confirmed.
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–8 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Days to a few weeks normally; 2-6 weeks in high-demand cities/peak season. Summer and holidays fill fastest.
Application centre
VFS Global (US centres opened 8 May 2024: Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, San Francisco). Consular authority at the Bulgarian Embassy Washington DC. Jurisdiction-by-state routing to nearest centre.
Timeline notes
Relatively new US VFS network (2024), so few US-specific published averages. Appointment wait is separate from and additional to the decision window.
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
- Spouse/child of a Bulgarian citizenUse sample form Apl.3 with marriage/birth certificate and the Bulgarian citizen's passport.
- Non-US citizens resident in the USAApply at the mission covering the state of residence; status valid beyond return.