Bulgaria proposes 20% increase for long-term Type D visa fees

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed a 20% increase in the fee for processing long-term residence visas (Type D). The proposal suggests raising the current fee from 100 euros to 120 euros.

The Ministry cited rising material, technical, and administrative costs as primary reasons for the adjustment. Additionally, the Ministry noted that the current fee is below the European Union average of 113 euros, with nearly half of EU member states charging 120 euros or more.

Officials stated that the lower fee creates regulatory risks by making Bulgaria an attractive ‘entry point’ for migration pressure and potential abuse of rights. The current pricing structure reportedly increases the administrative burden on consular and migration services by attracting a higher volume of applications that may ultimately be rejected but still require processing. The proposed increase will not affect family members of Bulgarian citizens, who remain exempt from the fee.