Bulgaria Visa Photo Rules Set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), acting through its consular network and Bulgarian embassies abroad, sets the photo standard used for every Type A airport-transit, Type C Schengen short-stay, and Type D national long-stay visa. A single specification covers all three categories. Since Bulgaria’s Schengen accession on 31 March 2024, the MFA standard is applied alongside live VIS biometric enrollment at the appointment.
Bulgaria operates no e-visa portal and no applicant-facing digital upload channel. The photo must be supplied as a physical print and handed in at a Bulgarian consulate or, in jurisdictions with VFS Global coverage, at a VFS Visa Application Centre. The print is glued (not stapled) to the application form, and bringing two identical copies is common practice even though one is the official minimum.
Consular officers and VFS intake staff reject photos that fail to match MFA criteria for pose, expression, eyewear, and recency, and a rejected photo means the file is returned and the appointment is rescheduled. Photos older than six months are refused on sight under VFS operational standards, so a fresh, fully compliant print is the only way to keep the application moving.
Bulgaria visa photo requirements at a glance
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets the subject-side rules below. Consular officers and VFS Global intake staff apply them strictly when reviewing the printed photograph.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionThe applicant must hold a neutral expression with the mouth closed. Smiling, frowning, and raised eyebrows are not accepted.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be fully open and looking straight at the camera. Eyes must not appear red in the final print.
- Frontal head positionThe face must be square to the camera with both sides of the face equally visible. Profile and three-quarter views are rejected.
- Shoulders squareShoulders should sit level and face forward so the head is not tilted or turned.
Eyewear & lenses
- Sunglasses and tinted lensesThe MFA explicitly prohibits dark glasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses. They must be removed before the photo is taken.
- Prescription glassesClear prescription glasses are tolerated only if both eyes remain fully visible with no reflections and no frame crossing the eyes. Removing them is recommended to avoid rejection.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not cover the eyes or eyebrows. Bangs that fall over the forehead and obscure features are not permitted.
- Facial features visibleThe full face from chin to crown must be visible. Long hair may fall behind or beside the face but must not hide the jawline or ears in a way that obscures features.
Headwear
- General ruleHats, caps, and other head coverings are not permitted in Bulgarian visa photos.
- Religious or medical exceptionHead coverings worn daily for religious or medical reasons are accepted, provided the full face from chin to forehead is clearly visible and no shadows fall across the features.
Jewelry & accessories
- Subtle jewelry onlySmall, non-reflective jewelry is acceptable. Large earrings, ornate piercings, or any item that obscures or alters the appearance of facial features must be removed.
- No reflectionsAccessories must not produce glare or reflections that interfere with the biometric capture of the face.
Cosmetics
- Natural appearanceEveryday makeup is permitted, but heavy cosmetics that alter the natural shape or tone of the face are not. The photo must show the applicant as they normally appear.
Clothing
- Everyday civilian clothingUniforms, including military and work uniforms, are not accepted. Religious clothing worn daily is permitted.
- Contrast with the backgroundAvoid white, cream, or very pale tops, which blend into the light background used for Bulgarian visa photos. Choose a darker or mid-tone garment.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 33 mm and 36 mm (roughly 73–81% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 25 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Photos for infants and young children.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs applies the same 35 x 45 mm print size to every applicant, but relaxes the expression and pose rules for the youngest children.
Infants (under 1 year)
Children under one year of age follow the adult print size but are not held to the adult expression and pose standards.
- Eyes and expressionInfants do not need to have their eyes fully open and are not required to hold a neutral expression.
- Head positionA small amount of head tilt or turn is tolerated, since infants cannot reliably hold a frontal pose.
- Subject alone in frameNo hands, arms, pacifiers, toys, blankets, or supporting persons may appear anywhere in the photo. Only the infant must be visible.
- Same print sizeThe standard 35 x 45 mm print applies, including for children entered in a parent’s passport.
Other things to know.
A few Bulgaria-specific practicalities sit outside the standard subject rules.
No e-visa upload channel
Bulgaria does not operate an e-visa or applicant-facing digital upload portal. The photograph must be supplied as a physical print at a VFS Global Visa Application Centre or a Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
Glue, do not staple
The printed photograph is affixed to the paper application form with glue. Stapling the photo to the form is not accepted, since staple holes damage the biometric image.
Schengen VIS capture on-site
Since Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area on 31 March 2024, short-stay applicants also undergo live VIS biometric enrollment (facial image and ten fingerprints) at the appointment. The printed 35 x 45 mm photo is still required for the paper file.
Six-month recency
VFS Global and Bulgarian consular posts will not accept a photograph older than six months, even though the MFA text does not name a recency limit. A fresh photo is also required after any material change in appearance.
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Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.