Source-backed scope
Adult employed ordinary Indian-passport holder resident and applying in India for ordinary conference attendee with a self-funded hotel stay. Invited by a Bulgarian university, Academy of Sciences or other Bulgarian legal person; personally funds hotel and trip. Applicant retains three-month bank and salary evidence, three-year tax records and own means at least EUR 50 per day and EUR 500 per stay; no host/institution financial exemption is used. Excludes minors, self-employed/retired applicants, accompanying-person eligibility, EU-family facilitation, work or professional duties even unpaid and residence. Current Schengen 90 days in 180 and actual visa dates control. Supporting-language/translator requirements remain visibly subject to confirmation.
- Jurisdiction
- Bulgaria
- Purpose
- Conferences / events
- Destination
- Bulgaria
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Use this guide in the plannerRoute scope
Adult employed ordinary Indian-passport holder resident and applying in India for ordinary conference attendee with a self-funded hotel stay. Invited by a Bulgarian university, Academy of Sciences or other Bulgarian legal person; personally funds hotel and trip. Applicant retains three-month bank and salary evidence, three-year tax records and own means at least EUR 50 per day and EUR 500 per stay; no host/institution financial exemption is used. Excludes minors, self-employed/retired applicants, accompanying-person eligibility, EU-family facilitation, work or professional duties even unpaid and residence. Current Schengen 90 days in 180 and actual visa dates control. Supporting-language/translator requirements remain visibly subject to confirmation.
Bulgaria Embassy New Delhi / designated VFS India requirements checked 2026-10-26. Only the category and stage stated above are covered.
How to use this checklist
Start with the route facts first: citizenship, residence, application country, destination and purpose. Then review the document rows and order processing only where the row says it is required or optional.
Document requirements
| Document | Status | Scope | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original passport and copies of current data, visa and travel pages | required | visa application | Issued within ten years, with at least two empty pages and valid at least three months beyond intended final Schengen departure. No handwritten biodata alterations. Include current data pages and previous valid/expired visa and travel evidence. |
| Original previous passports or proof of loss | required | visa application | The currently linked India purpose checklist requires originals of previous passports or loss evidence. Copy the relevant visa/travel pages as well; do not create nonexistent travel records. |
| English or Bulgarian application, signed as instructed | required | visa application | Complete the current official Schengen form legibly, using Latin-letter names as in the passport and other information in English or Bulgarian. Follow current required signatures. Form language does not establish accepted languages for every supporting document. |
| One recent colour photograph, 35 by 45 mm | required | visa application | Light/white background, full face with the face occupying 70 to 80%, clearly visible eyes and no red-eye effect. The old linked purpose PDF incorrectly says eyes must be red; current national MFA expressly says they must not be red. VFS photo guidance prefers an up-to-date photograph within six months; no paid photo service is mandatory. |
| Personal purpose and itinerary letter | required | visa application | State actual purpose, duration, any subsequent visits, accommodation, travel arrangements and who pays. Bulgaria must be the main/sole Schengen destination; actual granted dates and 90 days in 180 control. |
| Return ticket or confirmed reservation | required | visa application | Provide the round-trip ticket or confirmed air/surface/sea booking appropriate to the actual itinerary. Do not treat a reservation as a universal requirement to buy non-refundable tickets. |
| Original three-month personal bank statements, stamped and signed | required | visa application | The current common Commission India annex, explicitly addressed to Bulgaria, requires original private bank statements showing three-month movements, duly stamped and signed by the bank. The older local purpose PDF did not state this format; its silence is not a waiver of the current common list. |
| Three years of Indian tax returns and ITR acknowledgements | required | visa application | Provide the last three years of personal income-tax returns/ITR-V or acknowledgement evidence required by the current linked India purpose checklist. These remain additional to bank and employment evidence; no generic two-year waiver is assumed. |
| Employer letter, approved leave and three-month salary certificate | required | visa application | Provide an official-letterhead employer letter establishing current position, years in service, approved leave and salary evidence for the last three months. Do not substitute only an invitation or bank balance. |
| Subsistence reference: EUR 50 per day, minimum EUR 500 per stay | required | visa application | The current European Commission table dated 8 June 2026 lists Bulgaria at EUR 50 per day per person with a minimum EUR 500 per stay. Retain sufficient lawful funds for the actual trip and return alongside bank/tax/employer evidence. This scope does not use an institution or host’s all-expenses undertaking to waive applicant financial evidence. |
| Whole-trip Schengen/EU insurance, minimum EUR 30,000 | required | visa application | Use cover for all Schengen states and EU member states in the actual itinerary, throughout the intended trip, including emergency medical assistance, hospital treatment, medical repatriation and repatriation of remains. Follow the current India approved insurer list. Older purpose-PDF Bulgaria-only territorial wording does not suffice for current Schengen travel. Follow first-trip and signed future-cover declaration rules for multiple entry. |
| Confirm supporting-document languages and translator certification | required | visa application | English/Bulgarian is established for completing the application form. Current India C-visa supporting-document languages, translator qualifications and certification declaration remain unconfirmed. General public-document apostille/legalisation guidance is not a blanket mandate for bank, employer and every C-visa attachment. Confirm actual requirements before commissioning services. |
| Official VFS India appointment and New Delhi assessment | required | visa application | Follow current VFS India appointment, personal attendance, biometric, checklist and fee instructions for the Bulgarian mission in New Delhi. This guide assumes personal submission and does not claim current slots or approval. No BLS provider or Indian regional decision-post split is assumed. |
| Current Schengen filing and assessment periods | required | visa application | The national MFA page permits filing up to six months ahead, normally at least 15 days before travel. Assessment normally takes 15 calendar days from an admissible application, exceptionally up to 45 calendar days. The linked older purpose PDFs’ three-month filing and 30/60-day extensions are superseded here; centre transport and appointment time remain separate. |
| Signed and officially stamped conference-organiser invitation | required | visa application | Provide the invitation from a Bulgarian university, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences or other Bulgarian legal person, signed by an authorised representative and certified by official stamp. State venue, organiser, participant accommodation, Bulgarian contact name/phone/email and who covers accommodation/subsistence. The current India event checklist expressly names conferences; do not impose the separate business Invitation–Declaration’s dual certification on this branch. |
| Personally funded hotel booking matching the invitation | required | visa application | Provide hotel lodging throughout the actual itinerary and ensure the invitation accurately records that accommodation and subsistence are personally funded. This ordinary-attendee scope excludes institution-sponsored lodging, paid presentation, professional duties even unpaid, exchange programmes, work and residence. |
| Three-month payslips and employment contract, in addition to approved leave | required | visa application | The current common India annex requires three months of payslips, the employment contract and employer holiday approval. Keep these alongside the local purpose checklist’s employer letter and salary certificate; a single salary certificate is not used to waive the contract/payslip evidence. |
Processing route
- Original passport and copies of current data, visa and travel pagesIssued within ten years, with at least two empty pages and valid at least three months beyond intended final Schengen departure. No handwritten biodata alterations. Include current data pages and previous valid/expired visa and travel evidence. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Original passport and copies of current data, visa and travel pages in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Original previous passports or proof of lossThe currently linked India purpose checklist requires originals of previous passports or loss evidence. Copy the relevant visa/travel pages as well; do not create nonexistent travel records. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Original previous passports or proof of loss in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- English or Bulgarian application, signed as instructedComplete the current official Schengen form legibly, using Latin-letter names as in the passport and other information in English or Bulgarian. Follow current required signatures. Form language does not establish accepted languages for every supporting document. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare English or Bulgarian application, signed as instructed in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- One recent colour photograph, 35 by 45 mmLight/white background, full face with the face occupying 70 to 80%, clearly visible eyes and no red-eye effect. The old linked purpose PDF incorrectly says eyes must be red; current national MFA expressly says they must not be red. VFS photo guidance prefers an up-to-date photograph within six months; no paid photo service is mandatory. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare One recent colour photograph, 35 by 45 mm in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Personal purpose and itinerary letterState actual purpose, duration, any subsequent visits, accommodation, travel arrangements and who pays. Bulgaria must be the main/sole Schengen destination; actual granted dates and 90 days in 180 control. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Personal purpose and itinerary letter in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Return ticket or confirmed reservationProvide the round-trip ticket or confirmed air/surface/sea booking appropriate to the actual itinerary. Do not treat a reservation as a universal requirement to buy non-refundable tickets. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Return ticket or confirmed reservation in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Original three-month personal bank statements, stamped and signedThe current common Commission India annex, explicitly addressed to Bulgaria, requires original private bank statements showing three-month movements, duly stamped and signed by the bank. The older local purpose PDF did not state this format; its silence is not a waiver of the current common list. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Original three-month personal bank statements, stamped and signed in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Three years of Indian tax returns and ITR acknowledgementsProvide the last three years of personal income-tax returns/ITR-V or acknowledgement evidence required by the current linked India purpose checklist. These remain additional to bank and employment evidence; no generic two-year waiver is assumed. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Three years of Indian tax returns and ITR acknowledgements in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Employer letter, approved leave and three-month salary certificateProvide an official-letterhead employer letter establishing current position, years in service, approved leave and salary evidence for the last three months. Do not substitute only an invitation or bank balance. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Employer letter, approved leave and three-month salary certificate in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Subsistence reference: EUR 50 per day, minimum EUR 500 per stayThe current European Commission table dated 8 June 2026 lists Bulgaria at EUR 50 per day per person with a minimum EUR 500 per stay. Retain sufficient lawful funds for the actual trip and return alongside bank/tax/employer evidence. This scope does not use an institution or host’s all-expenses undertaking to waive applicant financial evidence. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Subsistence reference: EUR 50 per day, minimum EUR 500 per stay in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Whole-trip Schengen/EU insurance, minimum EUR 30,000Use cover for all Schengen states and EU member states in the actual itinerary, throughout the intended trip, including emergency medical assistance, hospital treatment, medical repatriation and repatriation of remains. Follow the current India approved insurer list. Older purpose-PDF Bulgaria-only territorial wording does not suffice for current Schengen travel. Follow first-trip and signed future-cover declaration rules for multiple entry. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Whole-trip Schengen/EU insurance, minimum EUR 30,000 in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Confirm supporting-document languages and translator certificationProcessing route needs confirmation for the actual document language, type and location. English/Bulgarian is established for completing the application form. Current India C-visa supporting-document languages, translator qualifications and certification declaration remain unconfirmed. General public-document apostille/legalisation guidance is not a blanket mandate for bank, employer and every C-visa attachment. Confirm actual requirements before commissioning services. Form: English or Bulgarian. General supporting-language, translator and certification rules require confirmation; no paid processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Confirm supporting-document languages and translator certification in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Official VFS India appointment and New Delhi assessmentFollow current VFS India appointment, personal attendance, biometric, checklist and fee instructions for the Bulgarian mission in New Delhi. This guide assumes personal submission and does not claim current slots or approval. No BLS provider or Indian regional decision-post split is assumed. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Official VFS India appointment and New Delhi assessment in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Current Schengen filing and assessment periodsThe national MFA page permits filing up to six months ahead, normally at least 15 days before travel. Assessment normally takes 15 calendar days from an admissible application, exceptionally up to 45 calendar days. The linked older purpose PDFs’ three-month filing and 30/60-day extensions are superseded here; centre transport and appointment time remain separate. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Current Schengen filing and assessment periods in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Signed and officially stamped conference-organiser invitationProvide the invitation from a Bulgarian university, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences or other Bulgarian legal person, signed by an authorised representative and certified by official stamp. State venue, organiser, participant accommodation, Bulgarian contact name/phone/email and who covers accommodation/subsistence. The current India event checklist expressly names conferences; do not impose the separate business Invitation–Declaration’s dual certification on this branch. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Signed and officially stamped conference-organiser invitation in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Personally funded hotel booking matching the invitationProvide hotel lodging throughout the actual itinerary and ensure the invitation accurately records that accommodation and subsistence are personally funded. This ordinary-attendee scope excludes institution-sponsored lodging, paid presentation, professional duties even unpaid, exchange programmes, work and residence. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Personally funded hotel booking matching the invitation in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Three-month payslips and employment contract, in addition to approved leaveThe current common India annex requires three months of payslips, the employment contract and employer holiday approval. Keep these alongside the local purpose checklist’s employer letter and salary certificate; a single salary certificate is not used to waive the contract/payslip evidence. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Three-month payslips and employment contract, in addition to approved leave in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
Official citations
- Bulgaria Embassy New Delhi / designated VFS IndiaBulgaria Embassy New Delhi / designated VFS India: India to Bulgaria: ordinary conference attendee with a self-funded hotel stayvisa.vfsglobal.comLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version india-bulgaria-conference-employed-scoped-2026-10-26
Actual current India VFS purpose link directly read: private3pages/event4pages, no printed revision date inferred fromfilename. Current national Schengen page overrides old3month/60day/nationalexemption/Bulgaria-onlyinsurance. ECtable08June2026 confirmsEUR50/day500/stay. One35x45photo/currentMFAno-redeye corrects oldPDF typo; 3monthbank+3yearITR+employerpositionserviceleave3monthsalary cumulative. Private notaryANDMigrationcertifiedAnnex3 alreadyheld/hosthome; conference authorised signedofficialstamp university/Academy/legalpersoninvitation notbusinessdeclaration. Bankformat/supportingtranslationqualificationsunknown; invitationcopy/validityunknownwhereapplicable. Noautopaidprocessing. Current complete Commission decision C(2025)4379, expressly addressed to Bulgaria, subsequently directly recovered from Romania current linked /media/3415: original bank stamp/sign and employee contract/payslips established; local omission not waiver.
- Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Embassy New Delhi / designated VFS IndiaBulgaria India current Schengen and linked purpose instructionsmfa.bgLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version bulgaria-national-schengen-20261026
Current national MFA page directly read: Schengen short stay since 31 March 2024, internal land checks lifted 1 January 2025. Filing six months to 15 days; normal 15 calendar, maximum 45. Current photo 35x45 with eyes NOT red; insurance EU-wide EUR30,000, emergency/repatriation. Purpose, accommodation, funds and return evidence required. Old India PDF timing/exemptions not adopted.
- Romania Ministry of Foreign Affairs / General Inspectorate for Immigration / European CommissionRomania eVisa and current Commission India supporting-document listeviza.mae.roLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version romania-india-annex-20261026
Direct current Romanian Decisions live HTML India target /media/3415 followed: accessible sixteen-page C(2025)4379 dated 4 July 2025. Article2 expressly addresses Romania and Bulgaria. India annex: original3monthbankstamp/sign +2assessmentITR +employee3monthpayslip/contract/approvedleave, copiesbioIndianlastoldSchengenstamps; conferencebothletters/privatehostinviteandstatus. Not Morocco annex or another member-state local checklist.
- Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Embassy New Delhi / designated VFS IndiaBulgaria India current Schengen and linked purpose instructionshome-affairs.ec.europa.euLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version bulgaria-ec-means-20261026
Direct European Commission three-page reference table dated 08/06/2026: Bulgaria EUR50 per day per person and EUR500 per stay. Reference amount does not waive applicant bank/tax/employment or actual lodging/return costs.
Exceptions
- Requirements and accepted document formats can change. Follow the linked authority for your exact purpose and application stage.
- Use row-level processing labels: translation, notarisation, apostille, embassy attestation and MEA or HRD attestation are not interchangeable.
Relevant Enuncia services
- Document checklist review
FAQs
Are all documents for Bulgaria conferences / events automatically translated?
No. Translation is shown per document row because official sources may accept some documents as issued while requiring translation for others.
Can I order document processing from this checklist?
Build your checklist using the route facts first. A processing option can be selected only where supported by the document row. Rows needing language or authentication confirmation remain under review before pricing.
Related guides
- Bulgaria destination guide
Destination overview for all published source-backed routes.