Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa
Europe · Eastern Europe
In Bulgaria, visas fall under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official page consulted on 17 September 2026 distinguishes the visa A (airport transit), the visa C (short stay, 90 days at most within any 180-day period) and the visa D (long stay). The application is filed in person or by an authorized representative with the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, or at the visa application centers cited by the ministry.
Updated on 7 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026
At a glance
- Authority
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
- Submission channel
- Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, in person or through an authorized representative; visa application centers cited by the ministry
- Electronic visa
- Not stated on the portal consulted
- Portal language
- Bulgarian and English (English version consulted)
Do you need a visa?
Japan passport: no visa needed for up to 90 days for a short tourist stay.
For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.
Good to know
90 days per 180-day period (Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, consolidated version of 30.12.2025).
Official source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II (consolidated version of 30.12.2025)EUR-Lex — Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, annexes I et II (version consolidée du 30.12.2025) (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026
VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.
Bulgaria visa: who needs one?
Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.
Visa exemption 60
List of nationalities
- 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
- Iceland
- Israel
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
Visa required 104
List of nationalities
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Congo
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Information not available 7
List of nationalities
A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.
Documented visa types
- "Visa A" — airport transit visa
- Category named by the ministry. Validity and duration: not stated on the page consulted. Official page (new tab)
- "Visa C" — short-stay visa
- For a transit or an intended stay; the page states a duration not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period. Official page (new tab)
- "Visa D" — long-stay visa
- Category named by the ministry. Validity and duration: not stated on the page consulted. Official page (new tab)
Where and how to apply
The official page states that the application is filed in person or through an authorized representative with the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria.
It also lists visa application centers, operated by a service provider it names, present in 113 cities. These centers are presented as filing points.
Steps in the procedure
- Determine the applicable category: visa A, visa C or visa D.
- Identify the filing point: Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission, or visa application center cited by the ministry.
- File the application in person or through an authorized representative, with the documents stated by the page.
Documents mentioned by the authority
- Photocopy of the first page of the travel document.
- Photocopy of previous Bulgarian and Schengen visas.
- Color photograph in 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm format.
- Medical insurance covering a minimum of 30,000 euros.
- Tickets or booking confirmation.
- Copy of the vehicle registration certificate, where applicable.
- For an unaccompanied minor: copy of the birth certificate and notarized parental power of attorney.
The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative.
After the decision
Not stated on the portal consulted. The decision rests with the Bulgarian consular authority.
Prepare your application
-
Tourism (short stay)
Tourist visa: documents, fees and steps See my document list — Tourism (short stay)
Frequently asked questions
Where is the application filed?
With the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, in person or through an authorized representative, or at the visa application centers cited by the ministry.
How long is the visa C valid for?
The official page states a duration not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period.
Which documents are requested?
The page cites in particular the photocopy of the first page of the travel document, a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photograph, medical insurance covering at least 30,000 euros and the tickets or booking confirmations.
What are the fees and the processing times?
Not stated on the portal consulted.
Points to check with the authority
- The page does not state the validity of the visa A or that of the visa D.
- The exact role of the service provider operating the visa application centers (filing only or additional services) is not detailed.
Official links
Authority marks the official website of an administration of the destination country.
- Visa pour la Bulgarie — ministère des Affaires étrangères (new tab) consulted on 17 September 2026 Authority
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