Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

U.S. Visas

English

U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country

Bulgaria

Bulgaria
Republic of Bulgaria

Reciprocity Schedule

Select a visa category below to find the visa issuance fee, number of entries, and validity period for visas issued to applicants from this country*/area of authority.

Explanation of Terms

Visa Classification: The type of nonimmigrant visa you are applying for.

Fee: The reciprocity fee, also known as the visa issuance fee, you must pay. This fee is in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV fee).

Number of Entries: The number of times you may seek entry into the United States with that visa. "M" means multiple times. If there is a number, such as "One", you may apply for entry one time with that visa.

Validity Period: This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used, from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel with that visa. If your Validity Period is 60 months, your visa will be valid for 60 months from the date it is issued.

Visa Classifications

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
 
Visa
Classification
Fee Number
of Entries
Validity
Period
A-1 None Multiple 60 Months
A-2 None Multiple 60 Months
A-3 1 None Multiple 24 Months
B-1 None Multiple 120 Months
B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
B-1/B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
C-1 None Multiple 120 Months
C-1/D None Multiple 120 Months
C-2 None Multiple 12 Months
C-3 None Multiple 12 Months
C-W-1 11 None Multiple 12 Months
C-W-2 11 None Multiple 12 Months
D None Multiple 120 Months
E-1 2 No Treaty N/A N/A
E-2 2 $52.00 Multiple 60 Months
E-2C 12 None Multiple 24 Months
F-1 None Multiple 60 Months
F-2 None Multiple 60 Months
G-1 None Multiple 60 Months
G-2 None Multiple 60 Months
G-3 None Multiple 60 Months
G-4 None Multiple 60 Months
G-5 1 None Multiple 24 Months
H-1B None Multiple 60 Months
H-1C None Multiple 60 Months
H-2A None Multiple 60 Months
H-2B None Multiple 60 Months
H-2R None Multiple 60 Months
H-3 None Multiple 60 Months
H-4 None Multiple 60 Months
I None Multiple 15 Months
J-1 4 None Multiple 60 Months
J-2 4 None Multiple 60 Months
K-1 None One 6 Months
K-2 None One 6 Months
K-3 None Multiple 24 Months
K-4 None Multiple 24 Months
L-1 None Multiple 60 Months
L-2 None Multiple 60 Months
M-1 None Multiple 60 Months
M-2 None Multiple 60 Months
N-8 None Multiple 60 Months
N-9 None Multiple 60 Months
NATO 1-7 10 None Multiple 60 Months
O-1 None Multiple 60 Months
O-2 None Multiple 60 Months
O-3 None Multiple 60 Months
P-1 None Multiple 60 Months
P-2 None Multiple 60 Months
P-3 None Multiple 60 Months
P-4 None Multiple 60 Months
Q-1 6 None Multiple 15 Months
R-1 None Multiple 60 Months
R-2 None Multiple 60 Months
S-5 7 None One 1 Month
S-6 7 None One 1 Month
S-7 7 None One 1 Month
T-1 9 N/A N/A N/A
T-2 None One 6 Months
T-3 None One 6 Months
T-4 None One 6 Months
T-5 None One 6 Months
T-6 None One 6 Months
T-D 5 N/A N/A N/A
U-1 None Multiple 48 Months
U-2 None Multiple 48 Months
U-3 None Multiple 48 Months
U-4 None Multiple 48 Months
U-5 None Multiple 48 Months
V-1 None Multiple 120 Months
V-2 None Multiple 120 Months 8
V-3 None Multiple 120 Months 8

Country Specific Footnotes

Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply if you believe this information is in error or if you have further questions.

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Visa Category Footnotes

  1. The validity of A-3, G-5, and NATO 7 visas may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the person who is employing the applicant. The "employer" would have one of the following visa classifications:

    • A-1
    • A-2
    • G-1 through G-4
    • NATO 1 through NATO 6

  2. An E-1 and E-2 visa may be issued only to a principal alien who is a national of a country having a treaty, or its equivalent, with the United States. E-1 and E-2 visas may not be issued to a principal alien if he/she is a stateless resident or national of a country without a treaty.  *When the spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 principal alien are accorded derivative E-1 or E-2 status and are themselves a national of a country that does not have a treaty with the United States – the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the principal alien’s country of nationality should be used.  **Spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 visa principal applicant, where the spouse and children are also nationals of a country that has a treaty with the United States – the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the spouse and children’s country of nationality should be used.  

    *Example 1: John Doe is a national of Country A that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. however his wife and child are nationals of Country B which has no treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the same reciprocity as John Doe, the principal visa holder.

    **Example 2:  Mike Doe is a national of Country Y that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. however his wife and child are nationals of Country Z that also has a treaty with the U.S. The wife and child would, therefore, be entitled to derivative status and receive the reciprocity issued to nationals of Country Z.

  3. The validity of H-1 through H-3, O-1 and O-2, P-1 through P-3, and Q visas may not exceed the period of validity of the approved petition or the number of months shown, whichever is less.

    Under 8 CFR §214.2, H-2A and H-2B petitions may generally only be approved for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as participating countries. The current list of eligible countries is available on USCIS's website for both H-2A and H-2B visas. Nationals of countries not on this list may be the beneficiary of an approved H-2A or H2-B petition in limited circumstances at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security if specifically named on the petition.  

    Derivative H-4, L-2, O-3, and P-4 visas, issued to accompanying or following-to-join spouses and children, may not exceed the validity of the visa issued to the principal alien.

  4. There is no reciprocity fee for the issuance of a J visa if the alien is a United States Government grantee or a participant in an exchange program sponsored by the United States Government.

    Also, there is no reciprocity fee for visa issuance to an accompanying or following-to-join spouse or child (J-2) of an exchange visitor grantee or participant.

    In addition, an applicant is eligible for an exemption from the MRV fee if he or she is participating in a State Department, USAID, or other federally funded educational and cultural exchange program (program serial numbers G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-7).

    However, all other applicants with U.S. Government sponsorships, including other J-visa applicants, are subject to the MRV processing fee.

  5. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican nationals coming to engage in certain types of professional employment in the United States may be admitted in a special nonimmigrant category known as the "trade NAFTA" or "TN" category. Their dependents (spouse and children) accompanying or following to join them may be admitted in the "trade dependent" or "TD" category whether or not they possess Canadian or Mexican nationality. Except as noted below, the number of entries, fees and validity for non-Canadian or non-Mexican family members of a TN status holder seeking TD visas should be based on the reciprocity schedule of the TN principal alien.

    Canadian Nationals

    Since Canadian nationals generally are exempt from visa requirement, a Canadian "TN' or "TD" alien does not require a visa to enter the United States. However, the non-Canadian national dependent of a Canadian "TN", unless otherwise exempt from the visa requirement, must obtain a "TD" visa before attempting to enter the United States. The standard reciprocity fee and validity period for all non-Canadian "TD"s is no fee, issued for multiple entries for a period of 36 months, or for the duration of the principal alien's visa and/or authorized period of stay, whichever is less. See 'NOTE' under Canadian reciprocity schedule regarding applicants of Iranian, Iraqi or Libyan nationality.

    Mexican Nationals

    Mexican nationals are not visa-exempt. Therefore, all Mexican "TN"s and both Mexican and non-Mexican national "TD"s accompanying or following to join them who are not otherwise exempt from the visa requirement (e.g., the Canadian spouse of a Mexican national "TN") must obtain nonimmigrant visas.

    Applicants of Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somalian, Sudanese, Syrian or Yemeni nationality, who have a permanent resident or refugee status in Canada/Mexico, may not be accorded Canadian/Mexican reciprocity, even when applying in Canada/Mexico. The reciprocity fee and period for "TD" applicants from Libya is $10.00 for one entry over a period of 3 months. The Iranian and Iraqi "TD" is no fee with one entry over a period of 3 months.

  6. Q-2 (principal) and Q-3 (dependent) visa categories are in existence as a result of the 'Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998'. However, because the Department anticipates that virtually all applicants for this special program will be either Irish or U.K. nationals, the Q-2 and Q-3 categories have been placed only in the reciprocity schedules for those two countries. Q-2 and Q-3 visas are available only at the Embassy in Dublin and the Consulate General in Belfast.

  7. No S visa may be issued without first obtaining the Department's authorization.

  8. V-2 and V-3 status is limited to persons who have not yet attained their 21st birthday. Accordingly, the period of validity of a V-2 or V-3 visa must be limited to expire on or before the applicant's twenty-first birthday.

  9. Posts may not issue a T-1 visa. A T-1 applicant must be physically present in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or a U.S. port of entry, where he/she will apply for an adjustment of status to that of a T-1. The following dependents of a T-1 visa holder, however, may be issued a T visa at a U.S. consular office abroad:

    • T-2 (spouse)
    • T-3 (child)
    • T-4 (parent)
  10. The validity of NATO-5 visas may not exceed the period of validity of the employment contract or 12 months, whichever is less.

  11. The validity of CW-1 and CW-2 visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (12 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.

  12. The validity of E-2C visas shall not exceed the maximum initial period of admission allowed by DHS (24 months) or the duration of the transition period ending December 31, 2014, whichever is shortest.

 

 

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General Documents

Please check back for update.

Birth, Death, Burial Certificates

Birth

Available

Fees: 5 BG leva for a regular service (7 days); 7,50 BG leva for an expedited service (3 days); 10 leva for an express service (1 day)

Document Name: Удостоверение за раждане (Udostoverenie za razhdane)

Issuing Authority: the local municipality

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: round seal of the municipality, the clerk’s signature, the color and the format may vary.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Civil Registry Office clerk

Registration Criteria: The parents register the birth of their child with their IDs

Procedure for Obtaining:  1. Request for issuance, 2. ID (or a power-of-attorney), 3. Receipt for the paid fee.

Certified Copies Available: Duplicates of birth certificates are issued according to the same procedures.

Comments:  Bulgaria is signatory to the Vienna convention of 1976. In addition to the regular birth certificates, Bulgarian civil authorities issue birth certificates in three languages: Bulgarian, French and English. The form is two-sided and bares the seal of the Civil Registry Office.
 

 

Death/Burial

Available

Fees:  5 BG leva for a regular service (7 days); 7,50 BG leva for an expedited service (3 days); 10 leva for an express service (1 day)

Document Name:  Препис-извлечение от акт за смърт (Prepis-izlvlechenie ot akt za smurt)

Issuing Authority: the local municipality

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format:  round seal of the municipality, the clerk’s signature

Issuing Authority Personnel Title:  Civil Registry Office clerk

Registration Criteria: The death is registered on the basis of a notification of death issued by a medical doctor

Procedure for Obtaining: 1. Request for issuance, 2. ID (or a power-of-attorney), 3. Receipt for the paid fee.

Certified Copies Available: Yes

Comments:  Bulgaria is signatory to the Vienna convention of 1976. In addition to the regular death certificates, Bulgarian civil authorities issue death certificates in three languages: Bulgarian, French and English. The form is two-sided and bares the seal of the Civil Registry Office.

 

Marriage, Divorce Certificates

Marriage Certificate

Available

Fees: 5 BG leva for a regular service (7 days); 7,50 BG leva for an expedited service (3 days); 10 leva for an express service (1 day)

Document Name:  Удостоверение за сключен граждански брак(Udostoverenie za sklyuchen grazhdanski brak)

Issuing Authority:  the local municipality

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: round seal of the municipality, the clerk’s signature

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Civil Registry Office clerk

Registration Criteria: The marriage certificate is registered by the local municipality. If the marriage was contracted abroad, to register the marriage in Bulgaria, the original marriage certificate has to be legalized and translated in Bulgarian language.

Procedure for Obtaining:  1. Request for issuance, 2. ID (or a power-of-attorney), 3. Receipt for the paid fee.

Certified Copies Available: Duplicates of marriage certificates are issued according to the same procedures.

Alternate Documents:

Exceptions:

Comments:  Bulgaria is signatory to the Vienna convention of 1976. In addition to the regular marriage certificates, Bulgarian civil authorities issue marriage certificates in three languages: Bulgarian, French and English. The form is two-sided and bares the seal of the Civil Registry Office.

 

Divorce

Available

Fees: 5 BG leva application fee, 2 BG leva for the first page and 1 lev for each additional page.

Document Name: Решение (Reshenie)

Issuing Authority:  a regional court

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Round seal of the court, signature of the regional judge and the jury

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: regional judge

Registration Criteria: The court decision (for divorce) is issued, registered and archived by the regional court

Procedure for Obtaining: 1. Request for issuance, 2. ID (or a power-of-attorney), 3. Receipt for a paid fee

Certified Copies Available: Yes. The certified copy bares an additional seal which says TRUE COPY and is signed by the court secretary.

Alternate Documents: If the Court Decision is archived, the court may issue a certificate that shows the decision’s entry number and date, as well as the names of the parties of the divorce.

Identity Card

Available

Fees: the fees may vary  from no fee to 90 BG leva according to the age of the person applying and the type of service

Document Name:  Лична карта (Lichna karta)

Issuing Authority: local office of the Ministry of Interior

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: small plastic card, pink, bares the seal of the Republic of Bulgaria, machine readable zone on the back

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: N/A

Registration Criteria: all Bulgarian citizen over the age of fourteen must obtain an ID card

Procedure for Obtaining:  1. Request for issuance; 2. Birth certificate; 3. Previous ID card (if any); 4. Receipt for the paid fee

Certified Copies Available: No

Alternate Documents: No

Exceptions: No

 

Police, Court, Prison Records

Police Records

Unavailable

Comments:  Court records are requested as a substitute.

 

Court Records

Available for Bulgarian citizens or foreigners who are legal permanent residents in Bulgaria in possession of either a Bulgarian Unified Civil Number (EGN) or a Foreigner Personal Number  (LNCH)

Fees: 5 BG leva for 2 copies

Document Name: Свидетелство за съдимост (Svidetelstvo za sudimost)

Issuing Authority: a regional court

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: round seal of a regional court, signatures of the court records office clerk and the chairman

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: court records office clerk and the chairman

Registration Criteria: There are no registration criteria.

Procedure for Obtaining:

1. Request for issuance
2. ID (or a power-of-attorney)
3. Receipt for the paid fee

Certified Copies Available: None

Alternate Documents:  Electronic Court Certificate. (Note: The electronic court certificate may be obtained by Bulgarian citizens for whom there is no record of convictions or administrative penalties under Art. 78a of the Penal Code. Applications are made with electronic signatures at the specialized site of the Ministry of Justice:  cs.mjs.bg

Exceptions:  None

Comments: The court certificate is valid for 6 months. It shows only the convictions that are not purged. It does not show arrests, charges or purged records. If the document shows that the person has been convicted, the actual court record may be requested. You are required to bring the original court certificate to your interview. Please send a copy of this document to NVC.

 

Prison Records

Available

Fees: 5 BG leva for 2 copies

Document Name: Свидетелство за съдимост (Svidetelstvo za sudimost)

Issuing Authority:  a regional court

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: round seal of a regional court, signatures of the court records office clerk and the chairman

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: court records office clerk and the chairman

Procedure for Obtaining: 1. Request for issuance, 2. ID (or a power-of-attorney), 3. Birth certificate, 4. Receipt for the paid fee.

Comments: The court certificate is valid for 6 months. It shows only the convictions that are not purged. It does not show arrests, charges or purged records. If the document shows that the person has been convicted, the actual court record may be requested.

Military Records

Unavailable

Passports & Other Travel Documents

Types Available: regular, diplomatic, official and seaman’s passport

Fees: the fees may vary from 10 BG leva to 200 BG leva according to the applicant’s age and the type of service

Document Name:  Паспорт (Passport)

Issuing Government Authority: local office of the Ministry of Interior

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The Regular Passport has a maroon cover and is issued by the Ministry of Interior. The Diplomatic Passport has a dark blue cover and is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Official Passport has a green cover and is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Seaman passport has a light blue cover and is issued by the Ministry of Transport. All four passports have gold lettering on the front that says “Republic of Bulgaria” and the type of passport in both Cyrillic and Latin alphabet.

Registration Criteria: any Bulgarian citizen may apply and obtain a regular passport

Procedure for Obtaining: 1. Request for issuance; 2. Birth certificate; 3.Previous passport (if any); 4. Receipt for the paid fee

Comments: Bulgarian passports are issued for 5 years

Other Records

Marriage Status Certificate

Available for Bulgarian citizens or foreigners who are in possession of a Bulgarian Unified Civil Number (EGN).

Fees: 5 BG leva for a regular service (7 days); 7,50 BG leva for an expedited service (3 days); 10 leva for an express service (1 day)

Document Name: Удостоверение за семейно положение, съпруг и деца  (Udostoverenie za semeyno polozhenie, suprug I detsa)

Issuing Authority: the local municipality

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: round seal of the municipality, the clerk’s signature

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Civil Registry Office clerk

Procedure for Obtaining:  1. Request for issuance, 2. ID (or a power-of-attorney), 3. Receipt for the paid fee.

Certified Copies Available: No.

Alternate Documents: Marital Status certificate – short version which does not show any information about the spouse and the children

Comments: This document is requested from all applicants over the age of 18 regardless of their marital status (single, married, divorced or widowed).

Visa Issuing Posts

Sofia, Bulgaria (Embassy)

U.S. Embassy Sofia
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20521-5740

Post Contact Information

Address: 16, Kozyak St., 1408 Sofia, Bulgaria

Phone Number: +359-2-5100

Visa Services

All visa categories for all of Bulgaria.

Additional Information for Reciprocity

Although care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information provided, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply if you believe this information is in error or if you have further questions.