Visa to visit Bulgaria: Requirements, How to Apply, appointment

Name : Axel Strauss
Date : 27 January 2025

First established in 681 AD, Bulgaria is one of the oldest nations in Europe. From modern metropolises to medieval fortresses, the Rila Mountains, its beautiful Black Sea coastline,10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Europe’s oldest inhabited city (aka Plovdiv), and everything in between — this central European gem offers a fascinatingly unique mix of culture, history, and nature.

So it’s no wonder that — with a population of just 6.5 million — Bulgaria consistently welcomes close to double that in international visitors each year. However, to get there, you might need a Bulgarian visa first. Fortunately, if you do, AXA has all you need to know to get one below!

• Do I need a visa to visit Bulgaria?
• What type of visa for Bulgaria do I need?
• What are the requirements for a Bulgarian visa?
• Where, when, and how should I apply for my Bulgarian visa?
• What about ETIAS and EES?
• How else can AXA help with my Bulgaria visa?

Do I need a visa to visit Bulgaria?

You might. And that’s because while it is the only European country to never change its name (or lose a flag in battle), Bulgaria has gone through some border changes in recent years.

Namely, after Bulgaria’s (and neighboring Romania's) partial accession to the Schengen back in 2024, the millennia-old country once again made local European history — this time by being fully integrated into the Schengen Zone (along with Romania) on January 1, 2025.

So now, as a full-fledged member, it requires most non-Schengen (and/or non-European Union) visitors to have a Bulgarian Schengen visa. And whether you need one depends on your passport, the nature of your trip, and how long you plan to stay in Bulgaria.

Who doesn’t need a Schengen visa to come to Bulgaria (for stays of less than 90 days)?

For instance, you don’t need a Schengen visa for Bulgaria if you are:

• A national of the Schengen area and/or the European Union*;
• A citizen of one of the roughly 50 non-EU countries and territories that have signed visa exemption agreements with the EU — such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mexico, Taiwan, the U.K., and the U.S.

If that’s the case, you should be able to enter Bulgaria with just your itinerary and biometric passport. The latter, however, should be issued no more than 10 years prior to and valid for at least 90 days after your planned date of departure. And your stay in Bulgaria (and/or the rest of the Schengen zone) can not exceed three months in any six-month period.

*BONUS PRO-TIPS: AXA can also tell you more about the remaining European non-Schengen countries.
And if you’re feeling extra geopolitically geeky — the subtle but important differences between Europe, the European Union, the EEA, and the Schengen Area too.

Who needs a Schengen visa to come to Bulgaria?

Meanwhile, if your home country has not signed a visa waiver agreement with the EU — then you will need that Schengen visa indeed. This includes travelers from Africa, most of Asia and the Middle East, Russia, and — in total — over a hundred nations worldwide (i.e., the majority).

PRO-TIPS: The European Commission provides full lists of countries that are exempt from and those that do need a visa.
But AXA can also tell you more about who generally needs a Schengen visa in no time too.

What type of visa for Bulgaria do I need?

In terms of which Bulgarian Schengen visa you’ll need, you have a few options. And they’ll depend on both the length and nature of your trip.

The short-stay visa (aka Type C or “tourist”), for example, allows for travel to Bulgaria (and to/between all Schengen countries) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. And it is, therefore, the most common one.

For longer than 90 days, you’ll need a national Bulgarian visa (aka Type D visa).

And you can also choose a visa for Bulgaria to either study, work, or just pass through on your way to somewhere else.

PRO-TIPS: AXA can help you understand the type of Schengen visa that suits your travel needs best in no time too — as well as Schengen visa validity, Schengen visa costs, and more. So click around!

What are the requirements for a Bulgarian visa?

Your specific paperwork will depend on several factors — that is, not just the type of visa you choose. Fortunately, AXA also has a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on everything you need to know about all the docs and requirements for a Schengen visa that you can consult. But in the meantime, here’s a quick breakdown of what you should have — at the very least — for Bulgaria*:

• Your passport (issued within the last 10 years, with a validity of more than 3 months after the planned date of exit from the Schengen area);
• A Schengen visa application* form (duly completed and signed)
  *PRO-TIP: Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lets you download the Bulgarian visa application form from their website (which you can access below too);
• Two recent passport photos;
• Your itinerary (PRO-TIP: We got a bunch on the proper flight itinerary for a Schengen visa too, by the way);
• Schengen travel insurance (PRO-TIP: Travel insurance is mandatory, and must also meet several criteria; fortunately, all of AXA’s plans do);

And you’ll likely need at least some of the following (if applicable):

• Proof of sufficient funds;
• Proof of the purpose of the trip (i.e., letter of invitation);
• Your residence permit and/or resident card;
• Proof of accommodation;
• Proof of socio-economic and professional stability;
• And for minors — certified parental or guardian authorization.

Meanwhile, if you’re hoping to work or study in Bulgaria, you might also need:

• a schedule of your stay and/or a signed letter of invitation from your employer/school (if applicable)
• other documentation linked to your education/business operations (if applicable)

*IMPORTANT PRO-TIP: While we strive to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate info regarding Schengen travel, it’s always best to double-check with other proper official sources — such as the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website (in this case) and that of the European Commission (in general). Especially given that Bulgaria’s membership is relatively new.

Where, when, and how should I apply for my Bulgarian visa?

When you’ve double-checked that all the paperwork above is in order, you’re ready to apply. And here’s a breakdown of where, when, and how to do that:

Where to apply

Submit your Schengen visa application through the nearest Bulgarian embassy/consulate in your place of residence.

BONUS PRO-TIP: The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website above has links to all Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad. However, they are a bit hidden. But fear not — AXA did the legwork for you. To find the mission in your country, just look for the small blue words “DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS” on the main page’s top right corner (next to the tiny blue map of the world) — and click on that. You’re welcome.

The website also states that Bulgaria — like many — outsources its applications via the company VFS Global. However, it does note that the process is “on stages” (i.e., in stages). So as of early 2025, “visa application forms could be submitted in this way at the Visa Application Centers situated in (most major cities of) the following countries”: Russia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, and the Maldives.

They add too that “more detailed information about the Visa Application Centers’ locations… you could find on the phones of the respective Bulgarian diplomatic Missions abroad and their websites.”

When to apply

Generally speaking, you can submit a Schengen visa application no earlier than 6 months and no later than 2 weeks before your trip.

IMPORTANT: However, Bulgaria’s official government website above states that “Visa applications forms are submitted not earlier than 3 months before the date of the intended travel, personally or through an authorized agent, with the exception of humanitarian cases.”

In other words, AXA recommends you double-check with your particular embassy/consulate — and aim to give yourself at least 2–3 months in advance.

PRO-TIP: And keep in mind that even though you can usually begin the process online, you'll eventually need to visit the Bulgarian embassy, consulate, or VFS Global center in person (for biometrics and document submission). So plan ahead.

How to apply

And, finally, here’s how to go about the application itself:

• Check your local embassy’s or VFS Global center’s specific application guidelines (as requirements vary by region);
• Book your appointment with them accordingly;
• Attend the scheduled interview and submit your application (ready for biometric data collection — i.e., photo and fingerprints — and with all the above paperwork on hand).

After your interview, follow the administrator’s instructions and hope for the best. And remember that AXA is rooting for your Bulgarian adventure too!

Will ETIAS and EES replace the Bulgarian visa?

No. The “European Information and Authorization System” (aka ETIAS) and “Entry/Exit System” (aka EES) are the long-awaited, mostly digital systems of new requirements for entry into the EU. And since Bulgaria has been a member of the EU since 2007, these requirements apply to it too.

However, neither ETIAS nor EES are replacements for the Bulgarian Schengen visa. Instead — while designed to make the technicalities of traveling both safer and faster — they will actually apply to any non-EU travelers to Bulgaria (and the rest of the Schengen/EU) from the roughly 60 visa-exempt countries mentioned above. Moreover, as of early 2025, both systems were still very much in the works.

PRO-TIP: AXA can tell you more about both ETIAS and EES. But for the latest updates, it’s best to consult the EU’s official website.

How else can AXA help with my Bulgaria visa?

What we can help you with for sure, however, is actually by doing what we do best — and that’s protecting you and your family with some top-quality travel insurance for Bulgaria.

Because not only will you need it to be granted your Bulgarian visa, but — and perhaps most importantly — it will help guarantee that your actual trip is safe, smooth, and worry-free from start to finish.

With AXA, there are countless benefits — from multiple plan options to no age restrictions to 24/7 support, free doctor consultations, beyond-Schengen coverage… and more!

So as you prep for your Bulgarian adventure and collect that paperwork, take a minute to compare AXA’s different plans and get a free AXA quote too.

Because we’re confident that there’s an AXA plan that will have both you and whoever is issuing your Bulgarian visa shaking your heads. Which, by the way — and FINAL PRO-TIP — means “yes” in Bulgaria.

And on that note — bezopasni pŭtuvaniya (i.e., “safe travels”)!

RELATED ARTICLES

• What is a Schengen visa?
• How to fill out the Schengen visa application form
• Schengen visa tracking online

FAQ

What currency is used in Bulgaria?

While Bulgaria is an EU member state, its official currency is not the euro but, rather, the Bulgarian lev (BGN) — i.e., 'lion' in Bulgarian. The plural of lev is leva, and as of early 2025, 1 BGN = 0.50€ (roughly).

Can I visit multiple countries on a Bulgarian Schengen visa?

Yes, you can travel throughout the rest of the Schengen on a Bulgarian Schengen visa for up to 90 days (in any 180-day period). So long as Bulgaria is either your first entry point in the Schengen Area or your main destination (i.e., where you’ll spend the most time).

Can I work or study with a Schengen tourist visa?

No. A tourist (aka Type C, aka “short-stay”) Schengen visa allows you to travel for vacation, short business trips, to see family, or for short school courses like language classes. It cannot, however, be converted into a work or study permit once you’re in Bulgaria (or anywhere else in the Schengen).