Currently Bulgaria issues national visas only. Those visas do not give their holders the right to enter the Schengen area. Students from non-EU countries may need a visa to enter the territory of Bulgaria. A list of the countries whose citizens need a visa for Bulgaria is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Holders of valid Schengen visas have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without need to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. Anyway it is an option only for part-time students or doctoral degree students. For full time studies candidates need to obtain a visa type D. The types of visas issued to foreigners are as follows:
- Visa A for airport transit – NOT applicable for studies;
- Visa C for a short stay for the purpose of transit or a planned stay – NOT applicable for studies;
- Visa D for a long stay – applicable studies.