Do I Need a Visa for Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and, as of 2024, a full member of the Schengen Area. This is a crucial point for any international traveller to understand: because Bulgaria is part of the Schengen Area, it applies the Schengen Area visa policy in full. This means the same rules that govern entry into France, Germany, or Spain also govern entry into Bulgaria.

The Schengen Area is a zone comprising 25 EU member states and four non-EU members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland — within which internal border checks have been abolished. Citizens of the EU and EEA have full freedom of movement and may live and work in Bulgaria without restriction. For everyone else, visa requirements depend on your nationality.

This guide covers who needs a visa to enter Bulgaria, who is exempt, how long you can stay, what a Schengen visa costs and how to apply, airport transit rules, special categories of travellers, and upcoming changes to the system you need to be aware of.

Table of Contents

Bulgaria and the Schengen Area

Bulgaria joined the European Union on 1 January 2007. After years of preparation, Bulgaria became a full Schengen member, meaning that land, sea, and air border controls between Bulgaria and other Schengen states have been lifted. Travellers crossing from another Schengen country into Bulgaria no longer pass through passport control.

As a Schengen member, Bulgaria is bound by EU Regulation 2018/1806, which divides all third countries into two lists: Annex I (visa required) and Annex II (visa not required). These lists apply uniformly across all Schengen states, including Bulgaria. A Schengen visa issued by any member state is valid for Bulgaria, and a visa issued by Bulgaria is valid across the entire Schengen Area.

Quick Reference Summary

Category	Who	Requirement	Max Stay
EU / EEA Citizens	All EU member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland	No visa — freedom of movement	Unlimited (right of residence)
Schengen Annex II — Visa-Free	~60 countries including USA, UK, Australia, Japan, Canada, UAE, Brazil, South Korea, and more	No visa required	90 days within any 180-day period
Schengen Annex I — Visa Required	All countries not in Annex II or EU/EEA	Schengen visa required in advance	Per visa granted
Airport Transit Visa (ATV)	12 specific countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka	ATV required even airside	Transit only
Long Stay / Residence	Any nationality	National D-Visa or residence permit	Over 90 days

EU and EEA Citizens: Freedom of Movement

Citizens of all European Union member states and the four EFTA Schengen states have the right to enter and reside in Bulgaria freely. They do not need a visa, and there is no maximum stay limit applied to them. Their right to freedom of movement is enshrined in EU treaties and Directive 2004/38/EC.

EU Member States

Citizens of all of the following EU member states may enter and live in Bulgaria without restriction:

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Note: Ireland has opted out of the Schengen Agreement but Irish citizens, as EU nationals, retain full freedom of movement rights in Bulgaria under EU law.

EFTA / Schengen Non-EU States

Citizens of the four non-EU Schengen EFTA states also enjoy freedom of movement in Bulgaria:

Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland

Family members of EU/EEA nationals, regardless of their own nationality, are also exempt from the requirement to hold a visa when accompanying or joining their EU/EEA family member. They must carry their residence card indicating their status as a family member of an EU national.

Visa-Free Entry: Annex II Countries (90 Days)

Nationals of the following countries and territories holding ordinary passports may enter Bulgaria — and the entire Schengen Area — without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This rule applies whether you arrive by air, land, or sea.

The 90/180-day rule is a rolling window, not a calendar year reset. It means that at any given moment, you may not have spent more than 90 days in the entire Schengen Area (including Bulgaria) during the preceding 180 days. Time spent in any Schengen country counts toward this total — it is not 90 days per country.

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
El Salvador
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong (SAR passport holders)
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Macau (SAR passport holders)
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Taiwan (passport with identity card number)
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Ukraine (biometric passport holders)
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom (including all classes of British nationality)
United States
Uruguay
Vatican City
Venezuela

Important notes for specific nationalities:

Hong Kong: Visa-free access applies to holders of a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport only.
Macau: Visa-free access applies to holders of a Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) passport only.
Taiwan: Visa-free access applies to holders of passports containing an identity card number.
Ukraine: Visa-free access applies to holders of biometric passports only.
United Kingdom: Includes all classes of British nationality, meaning British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Citizens, British Subjects, and British Protected Persons.
Serbia: Note that Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Koordinaciona uprava) are excluded.

Additional Rules for Visa-Free Travellers

Existing Visas and Residence Permits

Even if your nationality is not on the Annex II list, you may still enter Bulgaria without an additional visa if you already hold a valid document issued by a Schengen state or Monaco. Specifically:

Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by any Schengen state or Monaco may travel to other Schengen states, including Bulgaria, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without an additional visa.
Short-stay Schengen visas issued by one Schengen state are valid for all other Schengen states, including Bulgaria, unless the visa is marked otherwise.

Family Members of EU Nationals

Individuals of any nationality who are family members of EU single market nationals and hold a residence card indicating that status are exempt from the visa requirement when accompanying or joining their EU family member in Bulgaria. This is a significant exception that can benefit nationals of countries that would otherwise require a Schengen visa.

United Nations Laissez-Passer

Holders of a United Nations laissez-passer, regardless of nationality, do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen Area, including Bulgaria.

School Pupils

There are specific rules for school pupils who are legally resident in an EU/Schengen member state or in an Annex II country. These pupils may benefit from simplified entry arrangements when travelling on organised school trips.

Refugees and Stateless Persons

Refugees and stateless persons who are legally resident in Ireland or in an Annex II country and territory may also benefit from certain visa-exemption arrangements.

Visa Required: How to Apply for a Schengen Visa

If your nationality does not appear in the Annex II list above and you are not an EU/EEA citizen or the family member of one, you will need a Schengen visa to enter Bulgaria. The Schengen visa is a standardised short-stay visa that allows entry into all Schengen member states, including Bulgaria.

Which Embassy to Apply To

Schengen visas can be issued by any member state of the Schengen Area. The rules for which embassy you apply to are:

If you are visiting Bulgaria only, apply to the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, apply to the embassy of your main destination — the country where you will spend the most time.
If you cannot determine a main destination, apply to the embassy of the Schengen country you will enter first.
Many embassies use external service providers such as VFS Global, BLS International, or TLScontact to process applications. Check whether this applies to the Bulgarian mission near you.

Application Process and Timing

The following requirements apply to all Schengen visa applications, including those for Bulgaria:

Applications may not be submitted more than six months before your planned entry date.
First-time applicants must apply in person at the embassy or visa application centre and will be subject to an interview with a consular officer.
All applicants may be required to provide biometric identifiers — ten fingerprints and a digital photograph — to be stored on the EU’s Visa Information System (VIS). Children under 12 are exempt from biometric collection.
If biometric identifiers have been provided within the past 59 months, you may not need to provide them again.
A decision on your application must be provided within 15 calendar days of the date on which the application was lodged, provided it is admissible and complete.

Visa Fees

Applicant Category	Standard Fee
Adults (general)	EUR 90
Children aged 6–12	EUR 45
Children under 6	Free
Students, educational trainees, scientific researchers	Free
Applicants under 25 representing non-profit organisations	Free
Nationals of countries deemed non-cooperative on readmission of irregular migrants	Up to EUR 180 (except children under 12)
Applications via external service provider (additional service fee)	Up to EUR 120 extra

Fees may also be waived for children under 18, holders of diplomatic and service passports, and applicants under 25 participating in events by non-profit organisations, as well as for cultural, sporting, foreign policy, development policy, humanitarian, or international obligation reasons.

Visa Validity and Number of Entries

Schengen visas, including those for Bulgaria, may be issued for one, two, or multiple entries, with a validity period of up to five years. The standard progression for multiple-entry visas is:

New applicants receive visas valid only for their intended trip.
After using three visas in the previous two years, applicants qualify for a one-year multiple-entry visa.
This progresses to two years, then five years with further qualifying use.
Applicants who can justify their need for frequent travel may be granted a multiple-entry visa with longer validity without meeting the standard usage thresholds.

Special rules apply for certain nationalities:

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia nationals are granted five-year multiple-entry visas even on first application.
Algeria and Iran: maximum multiple-entry visa validity is two years.
Ghana: maximum multiple-entry visa validity is three years.
India: nationals who used two visas in the previous three years qualify for a two-year multiple-entry visa, then five years.
Indonesia: nationals who used a visa in the previous three years qualify for a five-year multiple-entry visa.
Russia: multiple-entry visas are subject to significantly stricter conditions following the suspension of the EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement in 2022.
Turkey: nationals who used a visa in the previous year progress through six-month, one-year, three-year, and then five-year multiple-entry visas.

Visa Issued at the Border

In exceptional circumstances only, a single-entry Schengen visa valid for up to 15 days may be issued at the border for individuals who can prove they were unable to apply in advance due to unforeseeable and imperative reasons, and who meet all normal Schengen visa criteria. This is a rare exception, not a reliable alternative to applying in advance. Airlines may deny boarding to passengers relying on obtaining a visa at the border.

Limited Territorial Validity Visas

In specific exceptional cases, Schengen states may issue visas with limited territorial validity (LTV) — visas valid for one or more specific Schengen states only, not the entire area. These may be issued to overcome the standard 90-day limitation in a 6-month period, to address pressing circumstances, or in urgent cases. An LTV visa for Bulgaria only would not permit entry to other Schengen states.

Airport Transit Rules

Bulgaria, as a Schengen member, applies the Schengen airport transit visa (ATV) requirements. Understanding these rules is essential if you are transiting through a Bulgarian airport without entering Bulgaria.

General Transit Privilege

In general, a passenger transiting through a single airport in the Schengen Area — including Bulgarian airports — while remaining airside in the international transit area for less than one day does NOT require a visa. This is the standard transit privilege and applies to most nationalities, provided the transfer is possible without leaving the international transit area.

Airport Transit Visa (ATV) Required

However, nationals of the following 12 countries are required to hold an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) when transiting through ANY Schengen airport — including Bulgarian airports — even if they remain entirely airside and do not enter Bulgaria:

Afghanistan
Bangladesh
DR Congo
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
Iran
Iraq
Nigeria
Pakistan
Somalia
Sri Lanka

Additionally, nationals of Syria require ATVs for many (but not all) Schengen countries. Individual Schengen states can also impose ATV requirements for additional nationalities in urgent cases involving mass influx of irregular migrants.

ATV Exemptions

Nationals of the 12 ATV-required countries listed above are exempt from the airport transit visa requirement if they hold one of the following:

A valid visa or residence permit issued by an EU single market country.
A valid visa or residence permit issued by Canada, Japan, or the United States.
A valid visa or residence permit for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
A valid residence permit issued by Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, or the United Kingdom.
A valid diplomatic passport.
They are a family member of an EU single market national.
They are a member of the flight crew.

Staying in Bulgaria for More Than 90 Days

Visa-free entry and Schengen short-stay visas only permit stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. If you wish to stay in Bulgaria for longer — whether to work, study, join family, or reside — you will need a different type of visa or permit.

National Long-Stay Visa (Type D)

A national long-stay visa (Type D) allows stays of between 90 days and one year. The procedures and conditions for long-stay visas are largely determined by each individual Schengen country, so requirements for a Bulgarian long-stay visa may differ from those of, say, Germany or France. Some Schengen countries require long-stay visa applications to be made from the applicant’s home country; others permit applications after arrival.

Residence Permit

For stays exceeding one year, you will need to apply for a Bulgarian residence permit. Each country sets its own conditions for residence permits. Third-country nationals who become long-term residents of Bulgaria may eventually acquire the right to move to and settle in other EU or Schengen states without losing their legal status and social benefits.

Legacy Bilateral Visa Waiver Agreements

Nationals of certain Annex II countries (including Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States) that had entered into visa waiver agreements with individual Schengen states before those states implemented the Schengen agreement may be permitted to stay for additional time beyond the standard 90/180 rule under those legacy bilateral agreements, where such agreements apply to Bulgaria specifically.

Financial Requirements: Means of Subsistence

In addition to holding the correct visa or being visa-exempt, all foreign nationals entering Bulgaria and the Schengen Area must demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of their stay. Each Schengen state sets its own reference amounts — the minimum daily funds required. Travellers should check the current figure set by Bulgarian border authorities before travelling, and be prepared to show evidence such as cash, bank statements, a credit card, or a letter of sponsorship.

Special Note: US Visa Requirements for Bulgarian Citizens

This guide focuses on who needs a visa to enter Bulgaria. However, it is worth noting an important reciprocity issue that affects Bulgaria directly: as of 2026, the United States continues to require visas from Bulgarian citizens, despite Bulgaria being an EU and Schengen member and granting visa-free access to US nationals to enter Bulgaria.

This lack of reciprocity has been a long-standing diplomatic issue. In November 2014, the Bulgarian government stated it would not ratify the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership unless the US lifted visa requirements for Bulgarian nationals. In March 2017, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on the European Commission to consider revoking visa-free travel for US nationals to the Schengen Area if the US did not achieve reciprocity. As of the date of this guide, this situation remains unresolved.

Upcoming Change: ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

Travellers who currently do not need a visa to enter Bulgaria — those from Annex II countries listed above — should be aware of an important upcoming change to the system: ETIAS.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic pre-authorisation system, similar in concept to the US ESTA or the Australian ETA. When it launches, nationals of Annex II countries (i.e. current visa-free travellers) will need to obtain ETIAS authorisation before travelling to Bulgaria and other Schengen states. This will NOT apply to EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens, nor to citizens of the European microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

Key ETIAS details:

As of July 2025, ETIAS was expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2026.
A 6-month grace period will follow the launch to allow travellers and authorities to adapt.
Prospective visitors will need to complete an online application.
The fee is EUR 20, payable by applicants aged 18 to 70. Those under 18 and over 70 are exempt from the fee.
The vast majority of applications will be processed automatically and an immediate response given. In limited cases, processing may take up to 30 days.
Ireland is excluded from ETIAS as it remains in the Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom and has opted out of the Schengen Agreement.

If you currently travel to Bulgaria visa-free, you should check the status of ETIAS before planning future travel, as pre-authorisation will be required even for short visits once the system goes live.

Upcoming Change: Entry/Exit System (EES)

Bulgaria is also implementing the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which was introduced by EU regulation in 2017. The EES replaces the manual stamping of passports at EU external borders with an electronic system that records the entry and exit of all third-country nationals.

Implementation of EES began on 12 October 2025 and was expected to be completed across all Schengen states by 10 April 2026. The EES goals are twofold: to increase automation and efficiency at border crossings, and to identify overstayers — travellers who remain in the Schengen Area beyond their permitted period of stay.

For travellers, this means that instead of (or in addition to) having your passport stamped, your biometric data and travel details will be recorded electronically each time you enter or exit Bulgaria and the wider Schengen Area.

Upcoming Change: Single Online Visa Application Platform

The European Commission is developing a unified online visa application platform at the EU level — the EU Visa Application Platform (EU VAP) — which will replace the separate national online platforms currently operated by individual member states, including Bulgaria.

The platform is being built by eu-LISA. It was scheduled for introduction by January 2026, with wide adoption across all member states by 2028. A transition period of up to 7 years is planned for all member states to fully migrate. Once operational, applications for Schengen visas — including visas to visit Bulgaria — will in almost all cases be submitted through a single website.

Working Holiday Visas

Many EU and Schengen countries operate bilateral Working Holiday Visa programmes that allow young nationals of participating countries to work and travel for up to one year. These programmes are bilateral — agreed country-by-country — and are not multilateral across the whole Schengen area.

Importantly, Bulgaria does not currently operate a Working Holiday Visa programme. This is noted in the source material, which states that all EU/Schengen countries have some Working Holiday Visa programmes except Liechtenstein and Bulgaria. Travellers interested in working and travelling in Europe on a working holiday arrangement should apply through programmes offered by other participating Schengen states (such as Germany, France, or Ireland), as those national visas do not automatically cover Bulgaria for work purposes.

Practical Tips for Visitors to Bulgaria

The 90/180-Day Rule — Counting Your Days

The most common mistake made by visa-free travellers is misunderstanding the 90/180-day rule. It is not 90 days per entry, nor 90 days per calendar year — it is 90 days within any rolling 180-day window across the entire Schengen Area. Every day spent in any Schengen country counts, including Bulgaria. Before you travel, calculate your days carefully using your passport stamps or official EU calculators.

Passport Validity

Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area. Some nationalities may face stricter requirements. Always check with the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country before travelling.

Registering Your Presence

The Schengen Convention permits member states to require third-country nationals to report their presence to a police station within 3 working days of crossing an internal border. In practice, hotels typically perform this registration on your behalf. If you are staying in private accommodation, you should check whether you need to register yourself with local Bulgarian authorities.

Overstaying

Overstaying your permitted period in Bulgaria or the Schengen Area is a serious offence. With the EES now recording entries and exits electronically, overstays will be identified and can result in bans on future entry to the entire Schengen Area, not just Bulgaria.

Working and Studying

Visa-free entry and standard Schengen short-stay visas are for tourism and short business visits only. They do not permit employment or study in Bulgaria. For those purposes, you must apply for the appropriate national long-stay visa or residence permit from Bulgarian authorities.

Summary: Do I Need a Visa for Bulgaria?

Your Nationality	Visa for Bulgaria?	Max Stay	Key Notes
EU citizen (any of 27 states)	No — freedom of movement	Unlimited	Right of residence under EU law
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland (EFTA)	No — freedom of movement	Unlimited	Schengen/EEA freedom of movement
USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, UK, UAE, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, and ~50 more (Annex II)	No	90 days / 180-day period	ETIAS pre-authorisation required from late 2026
All other nationalities (Annex I)	Yes — Schengen short-stay visa	Per visa (up to 90 days)	Apply at Bulgarian embassy/consulate or main Schengen destination
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka (transit)	Airport Transit Visa required	Transit only	Even airside at Bulgarian airports
Family members of EU/EEA nationals (any nationality)	No	Per EU freedom of movement rules	Must carry residence card proving status
Holders of valid Schengen visa/long-stay visa (any nationality)	No additional visa needed	90 days / 180-day period	Existing Schengen visa valid for Bulgaria