Bulgarian Consulate General in Istanbul

The Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul is listed as open Monday to Friday, 08:30–13:00.

Turkish citizens need a visa for Bulgaria, obtained before travel. Check with the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul whether visas are handled at its counter or by an appointed visa centre.

In 2025, Bulgaria’s consulate general in Istanbul received 34,048 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 28,957. 4,769 applications were refused, a refusal rate of 14.1%. In 2024 it had been 10.3%: the rate rose by 3.8 points. Applications rose by 55% compared with 2024 (21,981).

Bulgaria issues Schengen visas at 4 locations in Turkey; this office handled 42% of their 82,033 applications in 2025. Refusal rates elsewhere: Edirne 2.8%, Bursa 6.2% and Ankara 21.2%. Each office serves the applicants who live in its own consular district, so the rates also reflect who applies where, not only how strictly files are assessed.

Across all Schengen consulates in Turkey, 14.6% of applications were refused in 2025; Bulgaria’s rate worldwide was 12.5%. Bulgaria received the 5th largest number of applications of the 27 Schengen states represented here.

Multiple-entry visas made up 86.5% of those issued. Bulgaria only began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, so its 2024 figures cover part of the year. The statistics count applications, not people, and include every nationality that applies here, not only citizens of Turkey.

For matters it cannot handle, the Bulgarian embassy in Ankara (349 km) is responsible. The Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul is one of 4 missions of Bulgaria in Turkey. Consulates: Edirne and Bursa. Turkey in turn has 4 missions in Bulgaria, its embassy being in Sofia.

About the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul

It appears in official lists as Consulate General of Bulgaria in Istanbul. It is headed by Vassi̇l Petkov Valchev, according to the records. Consulates handle passports, civil registration and, for many countries, visa applications for their district.

Address and contact

Address: Ahmet Adnan Saygun Caddesi 34, 34340 Istanbul. The record for the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul includes a phone number, an e-mail address, a fax number and an official website.

Bulgarian citizens travelling to Turkey

Bulgarian citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days.

When the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul is closed

Expect the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul to be shut on New Year's Day (Yılbaşı) on Friday 1 January 2027 and Eid al-Fitr First Day (Ramazan Bayramı 1. Gün) on Wednesday 10 March 2027 (date provisional), and often on Christmas Eve on Thursday 24 December 2026, a holiday in Bulgaria.

Before visiting the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul

Current procedures for the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul, including any appointment system, are on its official website, linked on this page.

Near the Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul

The Bulgarian consulate general in Istanbul has 3 other foreign missions within 1 km.