Bulgaria:Visa Requirements

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Bulgaria Visa Requirements Map

Bulgaria: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • The traveler must present a valid passport, travel document, or an equivalent document accepted according to their legal status. For short-term Schengen entries, the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen Area.
  • Visa-free short stays are limited to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. Time spent in Bulgaria is calculated together with time spent in other Schengen countries.
  • At border control, the purpose of travel and conditions of stay may be re-examined. The traveler may be asked to present a return or onward ticket, hotel reservation or other proof of accommodation, invitation letter, sufficient financial means, and, if required, travel health insurance. The number of months the bank statement must cover for visa-free travelers, the universal minimum bank balance, and the mandatory minimum coverage of health insurance are not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • The exact number of blank pages required in the passport for visa-free entry is not precisely specified in the central official source. The passport must be undamaged, with legible personal data, and verifiable electronically or physically at border control.
  • For third-country travelers entering for a short stay across the external Schengen border and not falling under one of the Entry/Exit System exceptions, the travel document information, entry and exit dates, facial image, and fingerprints are recorded electronically. Refusal to provide mandatory biometric data results in refusal of entry. For travelers whose fingerprints were recorded in the Visa Information System during a short-stay visa application, fingerprints are not re-stored in the Entry/Exit System.
  • Visa-free entry does not grant the right to work, long-term study, or residence. Persons traveling for these purposes must complete the relevant long-stay visa or residence permit procedure for the purpose of travel.
  • As the electronic travel authorization is not yet in force, visa-free travelers are currently not required to present an ETIAS document. A general vaccination certificate or medical report requirement is not precisely specified in the central official source.

Consular Visa Application Requirements — Short-stay Schengen visa type C

  • The short-stay visa application must be submitted to the competent diplomatic mission, consulate, or authorized visa application center of Bulgaria if Bulgaria is the single or main destination. If traveling to multiple Schengen countries and the main destination cannot be determined, the application is submitted to the competent authority of the country of first entry through the external border.
  • The application must be submitted no earlier than six months before the planned travel and, as a rule, no later than 15 days before travel. The requirement for the application to be submitted in person and for an appointment to be made may vary depending on the mission.
  • All applicable fields on the application form must be legibly completed. The surname and given name must be written in Latin letters as they appear in the passport; other information must be provided in English or Bulgarian. The form must be signed by the applicant. Applications for minors are submitted by their parents, legal representatives, or duly authorized persons.
  • The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen Area, and have at least two blank visa pages. The original passport and a copy of the page containing personal information must be submitted. Copies of previously issued Bulgarian and Schengen visas, as well as United Kingdom or United States visas, if available, may also be requested.
  • One recent color photograph must be submitted. The photograph must measure 35 × 45 millimeters, be taken within the last six months, and have a light-colored background. The face must be directly facing the camera and cover approximately 70–80% of the photo area. Images with dark glasses, of poor quality, or cut from another photograph are not accepted.
  • Travel health insurance must be valid in all Schengen countries and for the entire duration of the travel or transit. The policy must cover expenses that may arise due to repatriation for medical reasons, emergency medical assistance, emergency hospital treatment, and death, and must provide coverage of at least 30,000 euros.
  • Documents proving the purpose of travel must be submitted. For tourist travel, hotel reservation or other proof of accommodation, and round-trip transportation reservation may be requested. For organized tours, a travel document or tourist service voucher issued by the tour operator may be required.
  • For private visits, the original of an invitation declaration completed in the standard format may be requested. The invitation declaration must be notarized and verified by the relevant unit of the Migration Directorate of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior. A financial statement from the inviting party, an income certificate issued by the employer, or a tax return from the previous year may be requested.
  • For business travel, a standard invitation document issued by the legal or natural person in Bulgaria may be requested. A current commercial register certificate, tax return, or additional documents indicating the nature of the business relationship may be requested from the inviting business. For cultural, sporting, scientific, official, or educational travel, a letter of invitation or participation from the relevant institution, federation, club, municipality, or competent public authority must be submitted.
  • For persons traveling for medical treatment, documents from the healthcare institution accepting treatment, a treatment plan, and documents showing the current medical condition may be requested.
  • The applicant must demonstrate that they can cover their living expenses. The central short-stay visa document foresees financial resources of at least 50 euros per day and a total of at least 500 euros, or proof of prepaid tourist services. If accommodation is not prepaid, accommodation resources of at least 50 euros per day, a hotel reservation, or an approved invitation letter covering all expenses may be presented. The universal period the bank statement must cover is not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • A return or onward ticket, transportation reservation, or sufficient financial means to enable departure from Bulgaria must be shown. In the case of travel by private vehicle, a copy of the vehicle registration or technical document may be requested.
  • If a minor travels without their parents or legal representatives, a copy of the birth certificate and the original and photocopy of the notarized parental travel consent from the parents or legal representatives must be submitted. For travel with only one parent, custody, or other special family situations, the required documents may vary depending on the mission.
  • For short-stay Schengen visa applications, except for valid exceptions, a digital photograph and fingerprints are taken. The possibility of reusing previously provided biometric data is evaluated by the relevant consulate or application center. The current period for reuse of biometric data is not precisely specified in the central Bulgarian official source.
  • A short-stay visa may be issued for single entry, double entry, or multiple entries. In all cases, the total stay cannot exceed 90 days within any 180-day period. The validity period of a multiple-entry visa may be determined for up to five years, based on assessment of the applicant's travel history and need.
  • The basic application fee for an airport transit and short-stay Schengen visa is 90 euros. Fee reductions or exemptions may apply due to legal regulations, international agreements, age, or family status. For applications submitted through an external service provider, an additional service fee may be charged. The payment method and equivalent in local currency vary depending on the mission or application center.
  • The standard processing time for a type C visa is generally 15 calendar days. The time may be extended if additional examination, additional documents, or an interview is required. A single centralized time applicable to all applications for extended processing is not precisely specified on the Bulgarian official page.
  • The consulate may request additional documents or summon the applicant for an interview based on the purpose of travel, the applicant's country of residence, and personal circumstances. Requirements for document translation into Bulgarian or English, notarization, apostille, or legalization vary according to the type of document and the mission.

Long-stay national visa type D

  • As a rule, the type D visa application must be made in person to the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission responsible for the applicant's country of permanent residence. Application in another country may only be accepted if the applicant is legally present in that country and explains reasons justifying the application there.
  • A personal interview is mandatory for type D visa applications. No general exemption applies to this interview requirement.
  • The applicant must submit a fully completed and signed national visa form, a valid passport, copies of the passport's personal data pages and any existing visas or residence permits, a recent color photograph, and documents showing the legal basis for the long-term stay.
  • The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure, and have at least two blank pages. For the photograph, the dimensions of 35 × 45 millimeters and the technical requirements applied for short-stay visa photographs are applicable.
  • According to the purpose—work, education, family reunification, commercial activity, investment, research, internship, or other long-term purposes—a work permit, acceptance letter from an educational institution, documents proving family ties, company documents, investment documents, invitation, or decisions of competent authorities must be submitted. The precise list of documents specific to the person is compiled after the legal basis of the application is determined.
  • The applicant must prove that they have accommodation in Bulgaria, health insurance covering the entire duration of stay, and sufficient financial means. The financial sufficiency must be at least the level of the current Bulgarian minimum monthly wage or, in relevant cases, the minimum pension. As the fixed monetary amount changes periodically, it is not stated as an invariable figure on the central visa page.
  • For applicants over eighteen years of age, a criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship or habitual residence may be requested, depending on the basis of the application and the subsequent residence permit procedure.
  • A type D visa may generally grant a validity of up to six months and a right of stay of up to 180 days in total. For specific student, researcher, trainee, seconded employee, and other legal categories, validity of up to one year and a right of stay of up to 360 days may be granted. The type D visa is multiple-entry within its validity period.
  • The long-stay visa fee is 100 euros or 200 euros, depending on the legal basis of the application. Fee exemptions may apply according to law, international agreement, or special status. The payment method varies depending on the diplomatic mission.
  • A single centralized processing time for type D visas is not precisely specified. The basis of the application, opinions required from relevant Bulgarian authorities, security checks, and additional document requests may affect the processing time.
  • In type D applications, foreign documents may need to be translated into Bulgarian, notarized, apostilled, or legalized through a consulate. The exact procedure varies depending on the country of issuance, international agreements, and the type of document.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • An airport transit visa type A is issued for travelers who will continue to another country without leaving the international transit area of the airport. This visa does not grant the right to enter Bulgaria or the Schengen Area, and the traveler may not leave the international transit area.
  • The requirement for a type A visa varies depending on the applicant's nationality, travel document, and any valid visas or residence permits they hold. The applicant must submit a valid passport, copies of the passport's personal data pages, any visas or residence permits required for the final country and countries on the route, one recent photograph, and a confirmed onward flight reservation. A confirmed airline ticket or a copy thereof may be requested before the visa is issued.
  • The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, have at least two blank pages, and be valid for at least three months after the completion of the transit journey.
  • For an airport transit application, travel health insurance valid in all Schengen countries and for the transit period, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros, is required. The insurance must cover emergency medical assistance, hospital treatment, and medical repatriation expenses.
  • A type A visa may be issued for single, double, or, if necessary, multiple transits. A single maximum duration for type A visas applicable to all applications is not precisely specified in the central official source under current Schengen practice.
  • If transit through Bulgarian territory is by land or involves leaving the international transit area, a type C short-stay Schengen visa may be required. The applicant must present a visa, residence permit, or other document showing the right to enter the final country, and a transport ticket or route proof showing departure from Bulgaria.
  • For land transit, financial resources of at least 50 euros per transit may be requested for living expenses. For those traveling in their own vehicle, an additional financial resource of at least 200 euros and a copy of the vehicle registration or technical document may be required.
  • The transit visa application fee is 90 euros. Fee exemptions may apply due to age, family status, international agreements, or special legal status. The accepted payment method varies depending on the mission.
  • The transit visa or visa exemption may vary depending on the traveler's nationality, travel document used, any Schengen visa or residence permit held, and the transit arrangements of the airport. The traveler is responsible for carrying the entry and transit documents for all countries on the route.
Population
6,667,659(2026 est.)
Official language
Bulgarian
Government type
Parliamentary republic
Continent
Europe
Capital
Sofia
Currency
Euro
Area
110,994 km²
Phone code
+359

Bulgaria: Key Destinations

Sofia, the capital and largest city, is the primary international gateway for Bulgaria. Other major cities include Plovdiv, with its ancient Roman amphitheater, and the coastal hubs of Varna and Burgas.

Bulgaria offers a blend of cultural heritage, historic monasteries, and Black Sea coastline. The Rila Monastery and the wine regions of Thrace attract visitors, while the ski resorts in Bansko and Borovets draw winter sports enthusiasts.

Many travelers structure a trip starting in Sofia, then moving east to the Valley of Roses near Plovdiv, and finishing along the Black Sea coast. Domestic flights and intercity buses connect the main cities efficiently.