The situation with Bulgaria issuing visas to Russian citizens and how best to travel to Bulgarian resorts in 2022

Several European countries, including the Czech Republic and Estonia, have stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens. At the beginning of August 2022, many media outlets reported that the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow was also suspending the issuance of visas to property owners and tourists. However, this information was later corrected. The experts at Bulgaria Avenue examine what is currently happening with visas to Bulgaria for Russian citizens who want to buy or sell property, or simply come for a holiday.

At the beginning of August, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia issued an official notice stating that the Bulgarian Embassy in the Russian Federation was suspending the issuance of visas to Russian property owners and tourists. According to the Association, this information had been obtained from the Bulgarian Embassy.

Is Bulgaria issuing visas to Russian citizens?

The reason for suspending visa activities was the expulsion from Russia of 14 diplomats and consular staff. A note about this was delivered to the Bulgarian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mr A. Krastin, on 5 August 2022.

As a result of declaring the diplomats persona non grata, the consular departments were left without sufficient personnel to receive documents and process tourist visas.

The Bulgarian Embassy, however, did not confirm the Association's information. Already on 6 August, many media outlets published a clarification – visas to the Republic of Bulgaria will still be issued to property owners and tourists, but processing times will increase. How long one will have to wait for the long-awaited permission to enter this sunny country is currently not reported.

Thus, Russian citizens who own an apartment or house in Bulgaria, want to buy a flat in Varna or Burgas, or sell property, can rest assured. They will receive a visa for their trip. 

The experts at Bulgaria Avenue would also like to note some alternatives to obtaining a Bulgarian visa in Russia:

• If you are travelling or currently in another country, contact the local consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria. The documents you will need to submit are no different from those required in Russia.
• Entry into Bulgaria is permitted for holders of a multiple-entry Schengen visa. The only condition is that if you have just received this visa, you must first visit the country that issued it.
• Bulgaria admits holders of multiple-entry visas issued by Cyprus, Croatia and Romania. In this case, you must first travel to those countries.

How to travel to Bulgaria from Russia in 2022

We hope that the situation with visa processing has become clearer. But Russian owners of property in Bulgaria are also faced with another question – how to get from Russia to Bulgaria. Planes are not flying, and there are no ferries or trains, which were once so popular.

Bulgaria Avenue suggests using several options:

• The most popular way is to fly to Istanbul and from there travel on to Burgas, Varna and other cities on the Black Sea coast. Planes fly and buses run daily. If you wish, you can use a private or group transfer. This option is available at any time of year. Even if you decide to sell or buy a flat in Bulgaria in autumn or winter, you can always choose a suitable way to travel. 
• Travel to Bulgaria by car via Georgia and Turkey.
• There are flights from Moscow to Varna or Burgas via Yerevan. 
• A ferry runs from Batumi to Burgas. You can reach this beautiful Georgian city with a connection in Minsk or Istanbul.
• Travel by bus to the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, and from there take a charter flight to Bulgaria.

The last three options are only suitable if you are travelling in summer.

What should a property owner in Bulgaria do if they cannot travel?

If for some reason you cannot obtain a visa to Bulgaria or find a convenient route, you can always resolve issues related to Bulgarian property remotely. 

Bulgaria Avenue offers the following services:

• The opportunity to buy a flat, townhouse or cottage in Burgas, Varna, Pomorie, or at the Saint Constantine and Helena or Sunny Beach resorts. We will select the best options for you, send videos and photographs, and offer to walk you through the apartment and grounds online.
• Remote sale of property at Bulgaria's seaside and ski resorts. We will find clients, prepare the documents and formalise the sale with a notary.
• Renting out apartments in Balchik, Obzor, Sveti Vlas or Pomorie on a daily and long-term basis.
• Consultations on the payment of support fees, taxes and utility bills.

Property owners in Bulgaria and tourists can obtain a visa to this country without leaving Russia. Despite a number of difficulties, there are many routes that can be used for the trip. Bulgaria Avenue staff, for their part, will help you buy, rent out or sell your house or flat in Bulgaria.