Type D Visa: Requirements: how it works in Bulgaria — first-hand
Short answer
Bank statements for a Bulgarian D visa must be official, issued within one month of your application date, and include a wet stamp or electronic signature. Additionally, ensure your criminal record certificate is at least one month old but no more than six months old at the time of submission.
From real experience
For a Bulgarian Visa D application, bank statements are crucial.
A certificate from the bank is typically valid for only one month. If your application is in November and your visa validity is until August, a bank statement from August will likely not be accepted. It is strongly recommended to obtain a fresh bank statement no more than a month before your visa application submission date. Relying on a printout from a mobile app alongside an old certificate might not be sufficient. It's best to obtain an official bank statement with a wet stamp or electronic signature close to your application date.
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Processing times for Bulgarian Schengen (Type C) and National (Type D) visas typically range from 40 to 45 days.
The duration for Type D visas can be highly variable, dependent on the application's basis and submitted documentation. Current appointment availability for Type D visa applications is reportedly as late as December. Tourist visa applications are currently accepted only in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
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For a Bulgarian work visa application, providing two documents confirming employment is acceptable: one detailing position, salary, and employment duration, and a separate document showing monthly income for the past six months (similar to a 2-NDFL form).
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For a Bulgarian D visa application, the criminal record certificate is valid for 6 months.
It must be no less than 1 month old at the time of application submission.