VISA
TIMINGS
The Visa Section is open
from Monday to Friday between 10:00 hrs and 12:30 hrs for receiving documents
for service. Serviced documents may be collected only with receipt for paid fee
between 17:00 hrs and 17:30 hrs on the day advised. All telephonic enquiries
may be made from 14:30 hours to 15:30 hours
ONLINE
VISA SYSTEM
Embassy of India, Sofia
has implemented online visa application system from 10th
June, 2013.
All visa applicants are required to fill-in
and submit their visa applications online at http://indianvisaonline.gov.in. Applicants
are also advised to upload their photo while applying online.
When filling in the
application form online, applicants should select “Bulgaria-Sofia” in the field
“Indian Mission”. This applies to Bulgarians, Macedonians as also to the
nationals of other countries who are residing in Bulgaria or North Macedonia.
After filling-in and
submitting the application form online, applicants are requested to take a
printout of the application form and sign it. After the online submission, the
Embassy will inform the applicants about their appointment at the Embassy for
which the applicant will have to come personally for
interview.
The applicants would be
required to bring along with them the signed printout of the application form
submitted online, two photographs, the relevant documents required for each
type of visa and the requisite fee in cash. Appointments will be scheduled by
the Embassy from Monday to Friday between 1000 to 1230 hrs either on the next
working day after the date of submission of online application, or as soon as
possible thereafter. Visa applicants are advised to apply at least 14 working
days before the scheduled departure to India.
VISA
TYPES AND DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
The following types of
visas can be granted. For detailed information about visas contact Indian Embassy, Sofia.
·
Tourist: Air tickets for onward and inward journeys.
Tourist visas are issued to individuals whose sole objective of visiting India
is recreation, sight-seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives etc. Any
other purpose or activity like Business or Employment or any type of commercial
activity or shooting of Documentaries is not allowed. Please
note that continuous stay in India during each visit shall not exceed 90 days.
·
Transit: Confirmed onward ticket for entering India
/ sailing certificate. Letter from the Shipping Company of Bulgaria and letter
from the Shipping Company of India indicating: Name, Passport details, Name of
the Vessel, Name of the Port and Date of Sailing.
·
Student: Admission letter from the School / College
/ University in India, satisfactory evidence of financial support. For studies
in Yoga, Music, Dance, Vedic Culture etc., letter from recognized institutions
in India.
·
Business: Invitation letter from the Indian
counterpart, Sponsorship letter from the local company and the attached Business Information Sheet, duly
filled.
·
Employment: Employment contract
signed between Indian Employer and the employee. More details about Employment
visa may be accessed at http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/work_visa_faq.pdf
·
Diplomatic / Official: Note Verbale from
Respective Diplomatic Mission.
·
UN Official: Note Verbale from UN
Office.
·
Journalist: Details regarding the
supporting documents can be ascertained from the Embassy which will depend on
the nature of the visit.
·
Conference: Letter of invitation
from the organizers of the conference and confirmed return ticket and copies of
approval of Government of India.
·
Medical: Hospital’s recommendations and confirmed
return ticket for the period of the treatment.
REQUIREMENTS
FOR VISAS
·
Original
passport valid for at least 6 months more from the expected date of return from
India. Passport should have at least 2 blank pages for affixing the visa.
·
Two recent
colour photographs (front facing with white background), of size 2” x 2” / 5cm
x 5cm.
·
Correct
visa fee (in Cash and in Bulgarian Leva only).
·
Supporting
documents (Please see under type of visas & documents required).
·
Print out
of completed online application form, duly signed by the applicant.
TOURIST HELPLINE
To
facilitate visits of foreign tourist visiting India a 24x7 Toll Free Multi-Lingual Tourist Help Line is
available in 12 International Languages including Hindi & English. This service can be
availed at toll free number 1800111363 or
on a short code 1363 by
the visiting tourists while travelling in India.
Validity of visa starts
from the date of issue. Actual period of stay permitted to stay in India and
other instructions are endorsed on the Visa and should be read, checked &
complied with.
Visa
Fee
The current visa fees
applicable to a Bulgarian or North Macedonian Passport holder for
different categories of visitors are indicated below. The visa fees are subject
to change without notice. Other nationalities may
kindly ascertain the fee from the Embassy.
S.No
|
Type of Visa
|
Duration
|
Leva
|
1
|
Tourist Visa (T)
|
Up to 1 Year
|
190
|
More than 1 year up to 5 years
|
380
|
2
|
Business Visa (B)
|
Up to 1 Year
|
230
|
More than 1 year up to 5 years
|
475
|
3
|
Entry Visa (X)
|
Up to 6 months
|
155
|
More than 6 months up to 1 years
|
230
|
More than 1 year up to 5 years
|
380
|
4
|
Employment (E)
|
Up to 6 months
|
230
|
More than 6 months up to 1 years
|
380
|
More than 1 year up to 5 years
|
570
|
5
|
Student Visa (S)
|
Duration of course or 5 year (whichever is less)
|
155
|
6
|
Medical Visa (MED)
&
Medical Attendant (MED X)
|
Up to 6 months
|
155
|
More than 6 months up to 1 years
|
230
|
7
|
Conference Visas (C)
|
Up to 6 months
|
155
|
8
|
Journalist Visa (J)
|
Up to 6 months
|
155
|
9
|
Missionary Visa (M)
|
Up to 6 months
|
155
|
More than 6 months up to 1 years
|
230
|
More than 1 year up to 5 years
|
380
|
10
|
Mountaineering Visas (MX)
|
Up to 6 months
|
155
|
More than 6 months up to 1 year
|
230
|
11
|
Film Visas (F)
|
Up to 1 year (Maximum)
|
230
|
12
|
Transit Visas
|
Up to 15 days
|
40
|
IMPORTANT NOTICE : In addition to the fees specified on the
website, a compulsory service charge of Bulgarian Leva 5.00 per document will
be levied for Passport, Visa, OCI cards, attestation of documents and other
miscellaneous consular services rendered by the Mission with effect from
01/02/2013. Fee once accepted is not refundable. Fees to be paid in Cash only. For further
details please contact the Embassy.
|
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
Nationals of Afghanistan,
Argentina, Bangladesh, North Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mongolia, Mauritius,
South Africa and Uruguay are issued gratis visas.
Nationals of Nepal and
Bhutan do not require visa to enter India.
Holders of Bulgarian /
Indian Diplomatic / Official / Service Passports and holders of North
Macedonian / Indian Diplomatic Passports do not require Visas to visit each
other’s countries for the period of stay up to 3 months.