Bulgaria has quietly become one of the European Union’s most popular gateways for Indian professionals and students looking for a cost-effective Schengen-adjacent base. On 3 November 2025, Sofia took a decisive step to capture that demand by inaugurating six dedicated Bulgaria Visa Application Centres (VACs) in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Until now, Indians seeking a Bulgarian long-term ‘D’ visa (required for study, intra-company transfer, local employment or family unification) had to submit biometric files at just two centres, resulting in long wait times and multi-city travel. The new facilities, run by outsourcing specialist VFS Global in partnership with the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will accept applications for stays of up to 180 days and allow walk-in biometrics as well as priority processing for an additional fee.
![Bulgaria Opens Six New Visa Centres Across India for Long-Term ‘D’ Visas]()
Officials say the roll-out is timed with record Indian demand: student enrolments in Bulgarian universities are up 27 % year-on-year, and tech outsourcing firms have ramped up hiring in Sofia’s fast-growing IT corridor. By expanding physical capacity, Bulgaria hopes to shorten average processing to 15 calendar days—critical for January-semester university intakes and winter project mobilisations.
For Indian employers, the bigger footprint removes a logistical obstacle to relocating talent to southeast Europe’s lowest-tax EU economy (10 % flat corporate and personal income tax). Immigration advisers note that once a ‘D’ visa holder registers locally, they can convert to a Bulgarian residence permit that allows visa-free travel across most of the Schengen area—an attractive mobility perk for project teams covering multiple EU clients.
Practical tips: applicants must book appointments via the VFS portal, present proof of accommodation covering their intended stay, and show bank balances of roughly €50 per day (minimum €500). The embassy warns that forged bank statements are grounds for a five-year entry ban, so employers should coach staff on compliant documentation.
Until now, Indians seeking a Bulgarian long-term ‘D’ visa (required for study, intra-company transfer, local employment or family unification) had to submit biometric files at just two centres, resulting in long wait times and multi-city travel. The new facilities, run by outsourcing specialist VFS Global in partnership with the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will accept applications for stays of up to 180 days and allow walk-in biometrics as well as priority processing for an additional fee.
Officials say the roll-out is timed with record Indian demand: student enrolments in Bulgarian universities are up 27 % year-on-year, and tech outsourcing firms have ramped up hiring in Sofia’s fast-growing IT corridor. By expanding physical capacity, Bulgaria hopes to shorten average processing to 15 calendar days—critical for January-semester university intakes and winter project mobilisations.
For Indian employers, the bigger footprint removes a logistical obstacle to relocating talent to southeast Europe’s lowest-tax EU economy (10 % flat corporate and personal income tax). Immigration advisers note that once a ‘D’ visa holder registers locally, they can convert to a Bulgarian residence permit that allows visa-free travel across most of the Schengen area—an attractive mobility perk for project teams covering multiple EU clients.
Practical tips: applicants must book appointments via the VFS portal, present proof of accommodation covering their intended stay, and show bank balances of roughly €50 per day (minimum €500). The embassy warns that forged bank statements are grounds for a five-year entry ban, so employers should coach staff on compliant documentation.
