Bulgaria Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | Yes | Yes | No |
| Australian | Yes | Yes | No |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes | No |
| USA | Yes | Yes | No |
| EU | See below | No | No |
Passports
EU nationals: Bulgaria is not a Schengen country, so you are required to produce evidence of your EU nationality using either a passport or a national identity card. You aren't required to show a return ticket or sufficient funds for the length of stay.
Non-EU nationals: To enter Bulgaria, you must have a valid passport issued within the past ten years and with at least three or six months left (depending on your nationality). You must also have a return ticket and sufficient funds for the length of stay.
Visas
EU nationals: You don't need a visa for Bulgaria if the stay is less than 90 days. Those who plan to stay longer will need to obtain a residence permit.
Non-EU nationals: Americans, Australians, British and Canadians can travel to Bulgaria without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events. For other purposes, you need to check with the Bulgarian embassy, high commission or consulate in your home country on what type of visa and/or work permit you may need.
Bulgaria is not a Schengen State. This means your visits to other EU or Schengen countries do not count towards your 90-day limit in Bulgaria. Equally, your visits to Bulgaria do not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit in the Schengen area. Please note: Bulgaria will be a Schengen State starting March 2024.
Visa Note
For more information about Schengen visas, follow the link to the article A guide to Schengen visas.
ETIAS travel authorisation: From 2024 (possibly not before 2025), all visitors who currently do not need a visa to visit 30 European countries will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation. For more information, follow the link to the article Applying for ETIAS.
Types and Cost
There are three types of visas - Visa A (for airport transit), Visa C (for a short stay or for the purpose of transit) and Visa D (for a long stay).
The cost of each type varies and subjects to changes.
Validity
Visa A – single, double, or sometimes three months.
Visa C – up to 90 days in any 180-day period (short stay) or up to 12 months (for the purpose of transit).
Visa D – six or 12 months.
Transit
Transit visas are available to travellers passing through Bulgaria for no more than 24 hours en route to another country.
Application to
Contact the embassy, high commission or consulate.
Working days
The processing time for transit and short-stay visas is 15 working days.
Sufficient Funds
Those who do require a visa must show proof of sufficient funds to support their stay in Bulgaria when applying for the visa.
Entry with pets
When bringing a pet from another EU country, the animal must have a microchip or tattoo, an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination certificate (the vaccination must have taken place at least 21 days prior to travel).
If you are entering Bulgaria from a non-EU country, please check with the consulate for the appropriate procedures.
This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.
Embassies and tourist offices
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the USA
Telephone: +1 202 387 0174 or 7969 (consular office: Mon-Fri 1400-1700 only).
Website: http://www.bulgaria-embassy.org
Address: NW, Dimitar Peshev Plaza, 1621 22nd Street, Washington, 20008,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1730; Mon-Fri 0900-1230 (consular section).
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the UK
Telephone: +44 20 7581 3144 or +44 20 75849400 or +44 20 7589 3763 (visa section; individual enquiries; Mon-Fri 1300-1600 only).
Website: http://www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk
Address: Kensington, 186-188 Queen's Gate, London, SW7 5HL,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0930-1330 (consular section).
