The Bulgarian government is moving to simplify and accelerate visa procedures for tourists and seasonal workers from non-EU countries through coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two institutions are launching joint measures aimed at improving the processing of visa applications in order to attract more visitors and labor from outside the European Union. A working group is expected to be co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Georgi Todorov, bringing together representatives from the State Agency for National Security, the Interior Ministry’s Migration Directorate, the Employment Agency, and the Finance Ministry.
“We are concerned about both tourists and workers for the sector from markets outside the EU. We need to see where the difficulties are and how we can overcome them,” Todorov said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hristo Polendakov noted that consular services are the first point of contact for applicants and are currently operating under significant pressure due to rising demand and limited staffing. He stressed that the priority is to speed up procedures while maintaining security standards, adding that Bulgaria aims to remain a reliable and predictable destination for both tourism and employment.
