North Macedonia
Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa for North Macedonian citizens
Entry requirement
No visa is needed by North Macedonian citizens for Bulgaria, for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at mfa.bg
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Bulgaria: visa decisions in North Macedonia
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (part of the year) | 1,231 | 1,071 | 32 | 2.1% | 92.3% |
| 2025 | 1,207 | 1,129 | 17 | 1.5% | 89.5% |
In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in North Macedonia (Skopje and Bitola) received 1,207 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 1,129. The refusal rate was 1.5%. That is barely different from 2024 (2.1%). The number of applications was almost unchanged (1,231 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.2% of the applications lodged in North Macedonia that year. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the most applied-for Schengen state in North Macedonia.
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 North Macedonia, 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 North Macedonia
BulgariaNorth Macedonia Visa-free, 90 days North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia 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). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long North Macedonian citizens can stay in Bulgaria
North Macedonian citizens may stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days. Days in Bulgaria count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Bulgaria and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of North Macedonian citizens in Bulgaria count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Bulgaria’s neighbours for North Macedonian citizens
Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia admit North Macedonian citizens visa-free.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to North Macedonia
North Macedonia admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between North Macedonia and Bulgaria.
Frequently asked questions
Do North Macedonian citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
No visa is needed by North Macedonian citizens for Bulgaria, for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can North Macedonian citizens stay in Bulgaria?
North Macedonian citizens can stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Bulgarian citizens need a visa for North Macedonia?
North Macedonia admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Can North Macedonian citizens enter Bulgaria visa-free?
Yes, North Macedonian citizens can enter Bulgaria without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
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.