Embassy of India

Sofia, Bulgaria
Concurrently accredited to Republic of North Macedonia

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Timings: The Consular Section is open on all working days from 10:00 hrs to 12:30 hrs for receiving the documents for service. Serviced documents may be collected between 17:00 hrs to 17:30 hrs on the day advised.
All telephonic enquiries may be made from 14:30 hours to 15:30 hours

PUBLIC ADVISORY

Indian citizens living in Bulgaria and Macedonia are advised to apply for urgent re-issuance of their passports in the following cases:- (i).      HANDWRITTEN PASSPORTS The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of 24th November 2015 for globally phasing out of all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From 25th November 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny Visa or entry to any person travelling on a non-Machine Readable Passport. Indian citizens residing in Bulgaria & Macedonia and holding such non- Machine Readable (hand written) passports with validity beyond 24th November 2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of their passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining valid visa or international travel.                    (ii)      PASSPORTS VALID FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS Many international travellers may not realise that having an unexpired passport is sometimes not enough to obtain Visas or to enter certain foreign countries. Indian citizens residing in Bulgaria & Macedonia travelling on Passports which may expire in less than six months should renew their passports before any upcoming international travel. It is especially important to check the passports needs of any minor who may be accompanying their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period (5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal practice in vogue now is; “Once your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get new passport”. (iii)    EXHAUSTION OF VISA PAGES Some countries do not accept passports which may have fewer than two pages remaining. Please check your passport to ensure that you have enough visa pages. There is no provision of additional booklets/pages and you will be required to apply reissuance of passport following standard procedures. Frequent travellers may opt for Jumbo Passport containing 64 pages. 2.We have instituted a simple and fast-track procedure for renewal of passports. For more details kindly visit the Embassy’s website www.indembsofia.org.

 

 Passport Services
The Embassy of India in Sofia provides passport services to Indian nationals who are ordinarily resident in Bulgaria and Macedonia including issue of:

• New Passport
• Duplicate Passport
• Passport to Minor below the age of 18
• Emergency Certificate
• Passport Renewal
• Change of Name after Marriage
• Change of any other particulars
• Change in appearance

Passports are usually issued with validity for 10 years after completion of required formalities. In respect of children up to the age of 18 years passports are issued for period of 5 years or eighteen years of age whichever is earlier.

*NEW CENTRALISED INDIAN PASSPORT PRINTING SYSTEM
Introduction of Machine Readable Passports by Government of India
In accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, Government of India has introduced Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) in all passports offices in India and Embassies abroad. Embassy of India, Sofia (Bulgaria) has also introduced MRPs w.e.f. 26th August, 2007.
As the issuance of MRPs involve uploading of data, photograph, signature etc. to the central website and the passports are printed at the centralized printing unit of the Ministry of External Affairs, Delhi and then couriered to the Embassy, all the passport seeking applicants are hereby advised to apply for their passports well in advance as it may take Ministry upto 10 days to dispatch the passport from the date of approval of the passport by the Mission. Therefore, after the launch of the project on 26th August, 2007, this Embassy would not issue any hand written passport except in emergency cases.
With effect from 02 June, 2020 the Embassy has been integrated into the Global Passport Seva Project (GPSP) of the Ministry of External Affairs. Accordingly, for passport and related services, applicants are required to register and apply online at the following site: https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/. After filling up details, a web file number and application form shall be generated and can be printed by the applicant. In case applicants are unable to get the printout of the filled-up form due to any reason, the same can be printed later by entering web file number and date of birth. The printed application from along with required documents and fee should be submitted at the Embassy. 
 

PHOTOGRAPHS:

Three recent photographs with the following specifications should be submitted along with application:

• The photograph should be in colour and of the size of 35mm x 45mm
• The photo-print should be clear and with a continuous-tone quality
• The photograph should have full face, front view, eyes open
• The photograph should present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
• Centre head within frame
• The background should be a plain white or off-white
• There should not be any distracting shadows on the face or on the background
• Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from top of forehead to bottom of chin and both edges of the face must be clearly shouwn
• The expression on the face should look natural

Please note that photographs in uniforms or with dark glasses are not accepted. (Sample photo requirement may be seen at the following link: https://www.indembsofia.gov.in/news_detail/?newsid=200)

Minors are issued passport for 5 years or upto the date of attaining 18 years, whichever is earlier.

Applicants are advised to ensure that their application the prescribed format is complete is all respects, that all columns are correctly and legibly filled in and no column is left blank or unfilled/not responded to or vaguely filled with a dash, tick etc.  All signature in the application form should be with BALL POINT PEN only.

It is an offence under the Passport Act 1967 to furnish false information in the application. Passport facilities could be denied on grounds of suppression material information, submission of incorrect particulars, willful damage/loss of passport or for unauthorized alterations/tampering.  The Passport can be impounded or revoked for violation of one or more of the provisions of the Passport Act.

It is an offence to hold more than one valid passport at a time.
An application for renewal of a passport which has expired more than 6 months prior to the date of application should be supported with a Sworn Affidavit explaining the circumstances and spelling out the reasons for late submission of application for renewal.
For change of address, attach documentary evidence such as tax receipt, utility bill or residence certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the State concerned.
Indian citizens acquiring citizenship/passport of another country should immediately submit a declaration of renunciation of Indian citizenship and obtain a Surrender Certificate.
    
 Attestations
All documents for attestation have to be duly certified by the Directorate of Consular Relations of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


NOTE: The Embassy does not attest any certificate issued in India. Such attestations are done within India only through the process of apostille. The procedure of apostilling/legalising a document in India is explained at URL https://mea.gov.in/apostille.htm
  A document apostilled in India does not need attestation by the Embassy of India.

Passport Services Fees (for Indian citizens)
Schedule of fees payable in respect of applications for passport and travel documents with effect from 01/10/2012
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This is to notify that in addition to the fees specified in the website, a compulsory service charge of Leva 5 per document will be levied for Passport, Visa, PIO cards, attestation of documents and other miscellaneous consular services rendered by the Mission with effect from 01/02/2013.

Fee for Passport services (w.e.f. 01.04.2024)

IMPORTANT NOTICE : In addition to the fees specified on the website, a compulsory service charge of Bulgarian Leva 4.00 per document will be levied for Passport, attestation of documents and other miscellaneous consular services rendered by the Mission with effect from 01.04...2024.  

Fee for Consular Service (W.e.f. 01.04.2024)

IMPORTANT NOTICE : In addition to the fees specified on the website, a compulsory service charge of Bulgarian Leva 4.00 per document will be levied for Passport, attestation of documents and other miscellaneous consular services rendered by the Mission with effect from 01.04.2024.