Nigeria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa for Nigerian citizens
Entry requirement
Nigerian citizens need a visa for Bulgaria, obtained before travel.
- 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.
Bulgaria’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities. 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 Nigeria
Bulgaria has 1 mission in Nigeria, with its embassy in Abuja.
Bulgaria: visa decisions in Nigeria
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (part of the year) | 855 | 298 | 394 | 50.3% | 39.9% |
| 2025 | 2,453 | 712 | 1,390 | 66.1% | 7.3% |
In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in Nigeria (Abuja) received 2,453 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 712. 66.1% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 50.3%: the rate rose by 15.8 points, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 187% compared with 2024 (855).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 47.9% of the applications lodged in Nigeria that year. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 8th most applied-for Schengen state in Nigeria.
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 Nigeria, 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 Nigeria
BulgariaNigeria e-Visa Nigeria 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.
For a trip from Nigeria to Bulgaria, the published travel advice reads as follows: 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 Nigerian citizens can stay in Bulgaria
How long Nigerian citizens may stay in Bulgaria is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Nigerian citizens apply
In Nigeria, applications go to the Bulgarian embassy in Abuja, 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 Nigerian citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Bulgaria when it is the main destination of the trip.
Bulgaria’s neighbours for Nigerian citizens
North Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia require Nigerian citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to Nigeria
Nigeria requires a visa from Bulgarian citizens, available online as an e-Visa for up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do Nigerian citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Nigerian citizens need a visa for Bulgaria, obtained before travel.
Where is the Bulgarian embassy in Nigeria?
The Bulgarian embassy in Nigeria is in Abuja.
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 Nigeria?
Nigeria requires a visa from Bulgarian citizens, available online as an e-Visa for up to 90 days.
Can Nigerian citizens enter Bulgaria visa-free?
No; Nigerian 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.