If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Bulgaria visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Bulgaria may ask you to show €50 per day, at least €500 per stay. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Bulgaria, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Bulgaria can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Bulgaria can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €50 per day, with a minimum of €500 per stay. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Bulgaria
Main international airports in Bulgaria: Sofia (SOF), Varna (VAR), Burgas (BOJ).
If Bulgaria is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Bulgaria is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Bulgaria has an external Schengen land border with Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia. Crossing there means a full passport check and EES registration, just like at an airport.
The EES at airports and borders in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Sofia (SOF) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Bulgaria no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Bulgaria in depth: full Schengen since 2025
Like Romania, Bulgaria became a full Schengen member on 1 January 2025. Its borders with Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia are external Schengen borders; the Kapitan Andreevo crossing with Turkey is one of the busiest in Europe.
The Black Sea airports of Varna and Burgas receive many direct charter flights in summer, so for many visitors they are the first Schengen entry point.
The minimum is €50 per day, with at least €500 per stay.
Good to know about Bulgaria
- The border with Turkey is an external Schengen border.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Bulgaria add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Bulgaria after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulgaria in Schengen?
Yes, fully since 1 January 2025.
Do US citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
No. US citizens can visit Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Bulgaria?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Bulgaria, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Bulgaria?
€50 per day, with a minimum of €500 per stay. Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.