6

I am Ukrainian and in early stages of planning trip to conference in Bulgaria later this year.

Strangely there seems to be no direct flights from Kiev to Sofia. From quick search the most affordable routes seem to go through Schengen area (Paris, Vienna, etc), both directions.

Is Bulgarian visa sufficient to make such a trip or would I need anything extra to transit through airport in Schengen area?

Does it count as "international" airport area, since Bulgaria is part of European Union, however not of Schengen area?

Improve this question
3
  • I gathered that much. Diplomatic/Official/Biometric?
    – Karlson
    Jun 5, 2014 at 17:21
  • @Karlson The regular "international passport" kind, the biometric ones are still not getting issued I think (from next year or something, unless it gets postponed again).
    – Rarst
    Jun 5, 2014 at 17:25
  • 3
    Generally as a Ukrainian citizen, you don't need a transit visa for airside transit at an airport in the Schengen area. Depending on the airport, the facilities may however not allow you to remain in the transit area when changing planes, e.g. if you arrive to and depart from different terminals.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Jun 5, 2014 at 17:44

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

According to Timatic you don't need a visa to transit through (picked Austria as a transit point).

TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Holders of onward tickets in transit. *Note: TWOV is not possible when arriving from a non-Schengen Member State AND departing to a Schengen Member

Improve this answer
17
  • You write one thing (no visa required) and quote something else ("... except for Holders of onward tickets in transit"). As I wrote in the comment to the question, depending on the airport, it is not at all self-evident, that he can stay in the airside transit area between flights.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Jun 5, 2014 at 18:39
  • @Tor-EinarJarnbjo I don't see the conflict: Visa Required, except for Holders of onward tickets in transit. If you want to pick a different transit point on Timatic you're welcome to try. Same applies to connection through Germany except for a limited number of airports. timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/…
    – Karlson
    Jun 5, 2014 at 18:52
  • I think part of the issue is definition of "in transit", especially how it applies to specific situation with Bulgaria as EU, but non-Schengen.
    – Rarst
    Jun 5, 2014 at 19:06
  • 2
    @Rarst when you're flying from non Schengen to non Schengen country you will stay in the transit area meaning you don't need a visa. It makes no difference that Bulgaria is in EU.
    – Dirty-flow
    Jun 5, 2014 at 19:41
  • @Dirty-flow: The problem is exactly, that you may not be able to stay in the transit area even if you come from and fly to a non-schengen country. Not all airports offer such facilities and it may even depend on the airline and/or if you have to change terminals.
    – Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
    Jun 5, 2014 at 20:11

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .