Bulgaria is currently receiving Schengen visa applications in 60 cities located across nine countries.

Here are the main points:

• Bulgaria has outsourced its Schengen visa application process to centers in 60 cities across nine countries.
• The majority of these visa application centers are situated in Russia.
• Additionally, Bulgaria has a significant number of application centers in Turkey and China.

Bulgaria officially became a part of the Schengen Area via air and sea routes on March 31, 2024, granting the country authority to issue Schengen visas. To streamline the application process for Bulgarian Schengen visas, Bulgaria has initiated the acceptance of applications through outsourcing centers managed by VFS Global. Currently, Bulgaria has established visa application centers in several countries, with plans to expand to more locations in the near future.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that visa application centers are presently operational in various strategic locations, including Russia, India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and China, among others. Notably, Russia hosts the highest number of visa application centers for Bulgaria, with a total of 20 centers located across different cities in the country.

Apart from Russia, Bulgaria is also receiving Schengen visa applications through outsourcing centers in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and China. These centers are distributed across key cities in each respective country to facilitate the application process for Bulgarian Schengen visas.

For instance, Indians can submit their visa applications in cities such as New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. Indonesia hosts visa application centers in Jakarta and Bali, while Malaysia and Singapore each have a single center in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore City, respectively.

In the UK, visa applicants can utilize centers located in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester. Similarly, in Kazakhstan, visa application centers are available in Nur-Sultan and Almaty. Turkey hosts centers in cities like Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Gaziantep, and Izmir, whereas Chinese citizens can apply for Bulgarian Schengen visas in various cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, among others.

Additionally, with Bulgaria's partial accession to the Schengen Area, travelers flying from Bulgarian airports to other Schengen member states no longer undergo passport checks. This also applies to foreigners holding valid Schengen visas issued by Bulgaria, allowing unrestricted travel within the entire Schengen zone. Conversely, travelers entering Bulgaria from other Schengen countries are also exempt from checks, but it's essential to note that Bulgaria can no longer serve as a reset base for the Schengen stay.