SGEM Conference on Earth & Planetary Sciences

VISA APPLICATION / INVITATION LETTER

There are many different requirements to obtain a Visa to enter a country. Most embassies may request an 'Invitation Letter' from the Conference Organizing Committee to verify that the exact person is going to participate in that specific conference (That is why, please DO NOT forget to write down your exact Passport number while filling out your PROFILE). It may also be necessary to verify that the requester has paid the registration fee in full. Therefore there are some requirements for providing an 'Invitation Letter' to be used for visa application.

'Invitation letters' should only be issued to:

Attendees who have made their complete Registration at the conference website and paid their Registration fee in full;
Committee members.

Visa applications are currently subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. Many applicants may be required to appear in person for an interview as a part of the visa process. Applicants affected by these procedures are informed of the need for additional screening at the time they submit their application and are being advised to expect delays. Therefore, attendees should be advised to apply no later than 1 month prior to the conference.

All questions concerning your visa application status should be pointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the respective Bulgarian Embassy in your country or/and to the Bulgarian Diplomatic Missions Abroad /more info here/

Conference Organizing Committee is not taking the responsibility if some attendant's visa request is granted or not. There is no tax refund.

No visas are required for the citizens of the European Union and EFTA member countries to enter Bulgaria.

If you are from a country (not a member of the EU) you shall need a visa to enter Bulgaria.

General Info

Required documents to apply for this Europe visa:

Passport: Valid for at least next 3 months and having at least two empty pages.

Schengen Visa Application: Complete and signed the form.

Photos: Size of these photos – 35mm (width) x 45mm (height). These passport-sized photos must display facial features clearly with light background.

Visa fee: As stated by the embassy.

Other Documents: Documents such as a copy of your return ticket reservation, travel visa insurance, a cover letter stating your purpose to visit, proof of civil status, etc may be asked to submit.

Short-Stay Visa (Type C Visa)

A short-stay visa is issued to an alien for single or multiple entries into Bulgaria and a cumulative duration of the stay not exceeding 90 days within any six-month period, reckoned from the date of first entry. A multiple entry short-stay visa maybe with a period of validity not exceeding 12 months, save in so far as otherwise provided in an international treaty in force for the Republic of Bulgaria or in an act of the Council of Ministers.....

Long-Stay Visa (National Visa) (Type D Visa)

Issued to an alien wishing to settle durably or permanently in Bulgaria on any of the grounds listed in Articles 24 and 25 of the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

A long-stay visa entitles the alien to a single entry into Bulgaria with a right to stay for a duration not exceeding 90 days. The period of validity of this type of visa may not exceed six months. This limitation on the duration of stay applies until receipt of a long-term residence permit from the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior....

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
There are 5 international airports in Bulgaria and two of them are very close to the SGEM Conference Center.
The biggest Bulgarian airport is Sofia Airport and the closest is Varna Airport.

The international airports of Varna and Bourgas are used for international flights, as well as for local flights from Sofia and for charter flights during the summer, serving the beach resorts on the Black Sea coast.

Sofia (capital city) the biggest airport - www.sofia-airport.bg
phone: +359 2/ 937 22 11
+359 2/ 937 22 12
+359 2/ 937 22 13
Varna airport (the nearest airport to the Conference SGEM venue) - www.varna-airport.bg
phone: +359 52/ 57 33 23
Bourgas airport - https://burgas-airport.bg
phone: +359 56/ 84 26 31

BORDER CROSSING POINTS YOU CAN USE FOR ENTER IN BULGARIA BY CAR
Bulgarian - Serbian Border, Kalotina - Motorway E-6, Vrushka Chuka - Belgrad-Zajcar-Koulata-Sofia Motorway, Strejimirovci - Tran-Silistra E-6, Otomansi;
Bulgarian - Macedonian Border, Gyueshevo - Sofia-Kyustendil-Skopje Motorway, Stanke Lisichkovo - Stip-Delchevo-Blagoevgrad-Sofia Motorway, Zlatarevo - Strumica-Petrich-Sofia Motorway;
Bulgarian - Greek Border, Koulata - Motorway E-20, Novo Selo - Motorway E-80;
Bulgarian - Turkish Border, Kapitan Andreevo - Motorway E-5, Malko Turnovo - Motorway E-95;
Bulgarian - Romanian Border, Rousse - Motorway E-97, Kardam - Constanta-Dobrich-Kula Motorway 14, Durankulak - Motorway E-95, Silistra – Motorway 7.