New Rules for Applying for a Bulgarian Schengen Visa: Children Must Be Present

What changed in the Bulgarian visa application rules?

Since 29 October 2024 Bulgaria has required all applicants, regardless of age, to show up in person at the visa centre when they submit a Schengen‑visa request. Before, a parent or an authorised representative could hand in the paperwork for a child, but now centre staff must verify each person’s identity.

How does the process look for kids?

• Personal appearance – mandatory for everyone, even toddlers under 12.
• Fingerprints – taken only from children who are 12 years old or older. Younger kids are not asked for biometric data.
• Consular fee – children under 12 are exempt.

These points reflect the official stance of the Bulgarian consulate, although VFS Global’s website still hasn’t posted a formal notice.

Why does it matter for family trips?

For parents it means the appointment at the visa centre has to be booked for the whole family at once. In Moscow, tour operators report that free biometric slots are almost nonexistent until the end of December, so you’ll need to plan well ahead.

One operator warned that the compulsory appearance of tiny children could push some families to abandon the visa process altogether. Considering that Bulgaria issued roughly 26 000 visas to Russians in 2025, such limits could dent the overall tourist flow.

How to get ready for the visa appointment?

1. Book early – with the shortage of slots, the sooner you secure a date, the better.
2. Gather documents for every family member – even if a child doesn’t give fingerprints, you still need a passport and a completed form.
3. Note the lack of biometrics for little ones – the form will state that fingerprints aren’t required, but the child’s presence is still compulsory.
4. Check the consular fee – it’s waived for kids under 12, but adults still pay.

What does a Bulgarian Schengen visa give you?

Bulgaria is part of the Schengen area, so a visa issued by its consulate lets you move freely across the other Schengen states. That makes it a handy option for anyone planning a multi‑country European tour.

Bottom line

The new rules force families to prepare more thoroughly: every child, even a newborn, must be physically present at the visa centre. The bottleneck in Moscow may force travelers to rethink dates or even skip the visa altogether. Still, the Bulgarian Schengen visa remains a convenient gateway to a long list of European countries, and kids under 12 don’t pay the consular fee. Book early, collect paperwork for each family member and keep the limited appointment slots in mind to avoid unnecessary delays.

Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.