China
Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa for Chinese citizens
Entry requirement
Chinese citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Bulgaria.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Bulgaria visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at mfa.bg
Which Bulgaria visa?
Uniform Schengen visa for tourism (short-stay visa, type C)
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- 15 calendar days as a rule; up to 45 days if more checks or documents are needed.
For the tourist visa, Bulgaria’s official sources give a standard fee of €90. Processing time, as Bulgaria states it: 15 calendar days as a rule; up to 45 days if more checks or documents are needed. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Bulgarian missions in China
- Embassy of Bulgaria in Beijing
Xiu Shui Bei Jie 4, Beijing
Bulgaria has 1 mission in China, with its embassy in Beijing.
Bulgaria: visa decisions in China
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (part of the year) | 2,424 | 1,951 | 183 | 7.5% | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 3,687 | 3,265 | 350 | 9.7% | 26.4% |
In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in China (Shanghai and Beijing) received 3,687 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 3,265. 9.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 7.5%: the rate rose by 2.1 points. Applications rose by 52% compared with 2024 (2,424).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.0% of the applications lodged in China that year, from 1.3% at the consulates of Luxembourg to 19.3% at those of Malta. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 20th most applied-for Schengen state in China.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. Bulgaria only began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, so its 2024 figures cover part of the year. The figures cover applications lodged in China, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2024–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Bulgarian citizens travelling to China
BulgariaChina Visa-free, 30 days China visa for citizens of Bulgaria
Travel advice for Bulgaria
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from China to Bulgaria, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates Bulgaria at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 8 October 2025), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Bulgaria (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Bulgaria (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Chinese citizens can stay in Bulgaria
How long Chinese citizens may stay in Bulgaria is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Chinese citizens apply
In China, applications go to the Bulgarian embassy in Beijing, or to a visa centre acting for Bulgaria; fees, documents and processing times are published by Bulgaria.
Bulgaria and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Bulgaria lets Chinese citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Bulgaria when it is the main destination of the trip.
Bulgaria’s neighbours for Chinese citizens
Serbia admits Chinese citizens visa-free. North Macedonia, Greece and Romania require Chinese citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to China
China admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Chinese citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Bulgaria.
Where is the Bulgarian embassy in China?
The Bulgarian embassy in China is in Beijing.
How much does the Bulgaria tourist visa cost?
Bulgaria’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: 15 calendar days as a rule; up to 45 days if more checks or documents are needed.
Do Bulgarian citizens need a visa for China?
China admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
Can Chinese citizens enter Bulgaria visa-free?
No; Chinese citizens need a visa for Bulgaria obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.