Visa applicants who wish to apply for a visa at the Embassy in Sofia may fill in the application form, pay the application fee and book an appointment on the secure Application Portal before submitting their supporting documents at the Embassy. It will still be possible to hand in paper applications. However, applicants who apply online will be given priority.
Booking
All applicants must book an appointment on the Application Portal before coming to the Embassy to hand in their supporting documents.
An appointment can be changed or cancelled (by the applicant) from 'Previous individual application(s)' / 'Previous group application(s)' (on the Application Portal). It is not possible to book an appointment without a visa application.
Cancellation of Application
To cancel an application, you must contact the Embassy in Sofia. It is not possible to cancel an application using the Application Portal.
No Internet access?
There is a number of Internet Cafes in Sofia. For more information, please click on the link below: http://www.world66.com/europe/bulgaria/sofia/internetcafes
It is also possible for the sponsor in Norway to complete all or part of the online process for the applicant (e.g. log on and pay the application fee).
Sponsors who complete the entire process for the applicant (and the applicant is unable to log on to the Portal him / herself) must send a copy of the completed application form to the applicant, so that he / she is fully aware of the information being submitted.
The application form may be viewed and / or printed out from 'Previous individual applications' on the Portal.
The applicant must also sign the cover letter (which can be printed out after an appointment has been booked or anytime after that from 'Previous individual applications' on the Portal) and submit at the Embassy along with his / her supporting documents.
The application form itself should not be submitted, as this is transferred electronically from the Application Portal to the Embassy.
How to apply - First time users
The first time you use the Application Portal, you must register as a user with a username and a password. Usernames and passwords should not contain any special characters such as @, %, &, etc. The password must contain at least 8 characters, at least one number and at least one CAPITAL letter (e.g. Sofia123). When you have registered yourself as a user on the Portal, you can fill in the application form (click on 'Apply for a visa'), pay the application fee (with a credit / debit card) and book an appointment at the Embassy.
How to apply - Existing users (who have previously used the Application Portal)
Applicants who have used the Application Portal before can simply log on, use the last application as a template and only change details such as travel dates, etc., pay the fee and book an appointment to hand in the supporting documents.
Applicants applying for an Entry Visa in connection with Family Reunification do not need to use the Application Portal or fill in any addition information. Instead, they can use the same application form and submit the same supporting documents as for the application for Family Reunification.
Group registration
Applications can be registered individually or in groups on the Portal. A group may consist of 1 - 15 applicants, however, it is a requirement that all applicants have the same nationality and are travelling on the same dates, with the same itinerary. Registering many applications as a group saves time. However, only individual applications may be copied for subsequent applications in the future. Families or people who always travel together to Norway may therefore want to register all applications individually.
Tickets
Applicants who have been informed that they have been granted a visa must produce the following: • Round trip tickets (E-ticket with e-ticket number or other proof that the ticket has been paid for) Applicants are advised not to buy any tickets before they know that the application has been approved. Unless there are technical problems, visas will be released the same day at 3pm. Tickets and passports must be handed in in the morning during Visa Hours (Mon-Fri, 09.00-11.15).
Processing time
The processing time of a visa depends on each individual case. However, applicants should always apply several weeks before the intended journey.
If the case is considered uncomplicated, it can be handled by the Embassy in Sofia, in which case the processing time as follows (counting from the day the Embassy receives all the requested documents) :
• Schengen visa (tourist, business, training) - 8 to 15 days (may be extended up to 30 days if the case requires further scrutiny) • Transit visa - 1 to 2 days
For applications not lodged using Visa Portal (normal paper application), processing time is :
• Schengen visa (tourist, business, training) - approximately 3 weeks
• Transit visa - 15 days
If the case is considered somewhat complicated, the case will be handled by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). For current processing times at the Directorate of Immigration, please click here.
Visa applications for Sweden that cannot be approved by the Embassy will be forwarded to the Swedish Immigration Service (DIS). Their Processing times can be found on their website.
Return of passport
The Embassy can also return the passports to the applicant if a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope (purchased from LBC, TNT or Air 21) is submitted with the application.
Application fee
The application fee must be paid electronically (by credit / debit card) on the secure Application Portal after filling in the application form online. The application will not be sent to the Embassy before the payment has been successfully processed (usually within a few seconds). Applicants (/ sponsors, etc.) may pay by Visa or MasterCard.
In order to avoid misuse of the Portal, all applicants who are exempt from paying must ‘pay’ the visa fee initially. However, the amount is only reserved on their bank account, not actually taken.
When the applicant appears at the Foreign Service Mission and submits documentation proving that he / she is exempted from paying the visa fee, the Foreign Service Mission can quickly release the money (refunded electronically).
Nevertheless, if the applicant has not appeared at the Foreign Service Mission within 14 days after paying the fee online, the money is transferred to the payment provider (DIBS) and later to the Foreign Service Mission’s bank account and a refund will thus take 2-3 weeks.
The application fee for short-stay visas to all Schengen states, including Norway, is EUR 60.
The fee is waived for visa applicants in the following categories:
• Children under 6 years
• School pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training
• Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research, as per specific rules
• Applicants related to (spouse, descendant or dependent ascendant of) EEA citizens who are exercising their right to free movement (on production of relevant certificates (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc)).
• Applications for D-visas • In certain cases, the fee may be waived or reduced in accordance with national legislation, when this would serve to promote cultural, foreign policy or development policy interests, other areas of vital public interest, or for humanitarian reasons.
Click here to access the Application Portal