Bulgaria Streamlines Long-Term Visa for Indians with New Centers

(NEW DELHI, INDIA) Bulgaria will open long-term Bulgaria visa services for Indian citizens across six Indian cities from November 1, 2025, ending the need for applicants to travel to the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi and bringing D visa appointments closer to home. Managed by VFS Global, the new Bulgaria Visa Application Centres will start with New Delhi on November 1, 2025, with appointment slots in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai going live by mid-November 2025.

The launch follows an agreement signed on October 24, 2025, at the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi by H.E. Dr. Nikolay Yankov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to India, and Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia at VFS Global. The change marks a significant shift in how Indian students, workers, and families apply for the D visa, which is Bulgaria’s long-term entry visa for study, employment, and family reunification. Under the new arrangement, applicants will submit their documents and biometrics through VFS Global centres that coordinate with Bulgarian authorities, rather than appearing at the embassy.

“The launch of Bulgaria’s long-term visa services across India marks an important step in strengthening the people-to-people and business ties between our two countries. This initiative will make the application process simpler and more accessible for Indian citizens planning to travel to Bulgaria for study, work, or family reasons, further deepening the connections between our nations,” said H.E. Dr. Nikolay Yankov.

The ambassador’s remarks underscore Bulgaria’s goal of drawing more students, professionals, and families from India by removing logistical hurdles and expanding access to the D visa.

“Our long-standing association with the Government of Bulgaria since 2008 has been built on trust and service excellence. And we are honoured to further strengthen our partnership by extending our support to long-term visa services in India. The introduction of Bulgaria’s long-term visa services through our centres across India will greatly enhance convenience for applicants, who can now complete the process closer to home,” said Yummi Talwar of VFS Global.

The company is responsible for document intake, biometric enrolment, and secure transfer of applications, with centres designed to standardize procedures and reduce bottlenecks.

Indian applicants in the capital will be able to book and attend appointments at the New Delhi centre from November 1, 2025. For the other five cities—Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai—appointment slots will open by mid-November 2025. All bookings must be made online via the dedicated VFS portal, which provides step-by-step instructions for the D visa and other service options; appointments can be scheduled at the VFS Global – Bulgaria in India portal. The operator will also offer add-on services at these centres, including Visa At Your Doorstep, Premium Lounge, Prime Time collection and submission, courier return of passports, SMS updates, and form filling support.

For Indian residents outside the capital, the shift is practical and immediate: applicants no longer have to plan a trip to New Delhi simply to file a D visa application. The new centres in six major cities are intended to save time, reduce travel costs, and make the process more accessible for people preparing to study, work, or join family in Bulgaria. Officials expect the expanded network to ease queues, smooth document submission, and lead to faster processing, especially for students with tight academic timelines and professionals facing employer start dates.

The rollout follows a formal agreement between Bulgaria and VFS Global that extends their cooperation beyond short-term visa handling to long-term categories. According to the companies and the embassy, the partnership builds on existing infrastructure and procedures developed since 2008, allowing D visa applicants to benefit from standardized checklists, biometric capture, and real-time application tracking via SMS. While decisions on visas remain the responsibility of Bulgarian authorities, the decentralised intake platform is designed to move applications more efficiently from Indian cities to the competent consular decision-makers.

The centres will initially focus on D visa categories and related services that historically required personal presence at the Embassy of Bulgaria in New Delhi. By opening doors in New Delhi first and then going live in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai, VFS Global and Bulgarian officials aim to space out demand and broaden access. The embassy and service provider said the appointment system will be handled entirely online, encouraging applicants to check slot availability in their nearest city as the phased schedule comes into effect.

Bulgarian officials framed the expansion as part of a broader effort to strengthen educational and business ties with India. For universities in Bulgaria, easier access to the D visa could encourage more Indian students to accept offers, arrive on time, and comply with documentation requirements without last-minute travel. Employers recruiting from India may also find that staff can complete visa formalities locally, including biometrics, which previously could require an additional trip to the capital. Families pursuing reunification stand to benefit from proximity and the added convenience of courier services and premium lounges for sensitive or time-bound applications.

VFS Global’s service menu is pitched at applicants seeking flexibility. Visa At Your Doorstep allows document collection and biometrics from a chosen location, which can be useful for large families, students in exams, or employees working to tight schedules. Premium Lounge appointments offer a quieter setting with personalized assistance, and Prime Time options extend collection and submission beyond standard hours. Courier return and SMS updates reduce the need for repeat visits, while form filling support helps applicants align closely with document checklists and reduce errors that can trigger delays.

The embassy and VFS Global emphasized that all appointments must be pre-booked online and that walk-ins will not be accepted. Applicants can monitor dates and slot availability on the VFS Global – Bulgaria in India portal, which will display the status of each city as it opens. Prospective travellers planning to study, work, or join family are being encouraged to check their eligibility for the D visa and assemble required documents ahead of November 1, 2025, if they intend to apply in New Delhi, or mid-November 2025 for the other cities.

Bulgaria’s decision to decentralize D visa intake in India comes against a backdrop of rising mobility for students and skilled workers seeking European study and employment opportunities. By removing the need to travel to New Delhi for submission and biometrics, the new arrangement lowers the practical barriers for applicants in western, southern, and eastern India. The embassy expects this to widen the pool of applicants and help align application timelines with academic admission windows and employer onboarding schedules.

For official information about visas, eligibility, and long-stay categories, applicants can consult Bulgaria’s government guidance on long-term visa (D) requirements. The embassy notes that while VFS Global will handle intake, biometrics, and document forwarding, the assessment and decision remain with Bulgarian consular authorities. Applicants are advised to follow official checklists carefully, ensure their passports and supporting documents meet Bulgarian standards, and use the online appointment system to avoid delays.

In India, the new centres will anchor the D visa process in six cities that already host strong visa application infrastructure for multiple countries, allowing applicants to combine planned travel with local scheduling. This helps families cut down on incidental costs like domestic flights and overnight stays that previously accompanied a trip to the capital. For students and professionals who must manage admissions, job offers, and relocation timelines, the ability to file locally and track updates by SMS may reduce uncertainty during peak seasons.

The embassy confirmed that the first wave will be limited to the six cities listed, with New Delhi starting on November 1, 2025 and the rest offering appointment slots by mid-November 2025. While no fees were announced in connection with the launch, applicants will continue to pay visa fees as required under Bulgarian regulations and may choose paid add-on services like Premium Lounge or Visa At Your Doorstep through VFS Global. The operator’s role is to provide consistent intake, with additional customer service offerings designed to improve the applicant experience.

With the agreement signed on October 24, 2025, the timeline sets Bulgaria on course to open long-term visa (D visa) access for Indian applicants just ahead of year-end, giving students targeting spring intakes and professionals with early-2026 start dates the option to begin formalities without a trip to New Delhi. For families, the ability to submit documents locally and receive courier return of passports may simplify planning around school calendars and caregiving duties.

“The launch of Bulgaria’s long-term visa services across India marks an important step in strengthening the people-to-people and business ties between our two countries,” H.E. Dr. Nikolay Yankov said, pointing to a strategic goal of deepening connections.

“The introduction of Bulgaria’s long-term visa services through our centres across India will greatly enhance convenience for applicants, who can now complete the process closer to home,” Yummi Talwar said.

Together, the embassy and VFS Global say the phased rollout across New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai will make Bulgaria’s D visa more accessible to Indian applicants seeking to study, work, or join family—an administrative change that could quietly shift travel plans for thousands in the coming months.