Bulgaria visa for Pakistani citizens

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.

Bulgaria has 1 mission in Pakistan, with its embassy in Islamabad.

In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in Pakistan (Islamabad) received 393 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 196. 46.8% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 38.9%: the rate rose by 7.9 points, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 34% compared with 2024 (294).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 45.9% of the applications lodged in Pakistan that year, from 24.2% at the consulates of Germany to 78.7% at those of Denmark. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 16th most applied-for Schengen state in Pakistan.

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 Pakistan, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

Pakistani citizens planning a trip to Bulgaria can compare how foreign ministries rate it: 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). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.

How long Pakistani citizens can stay in Bulgaria

How long Pakistani citizens may stay in Bulgaria is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How Pakistani citizens apply

In Pakistan, applications go to the Bulgarian embassy in Islamabad, 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 Pakistani citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Bulgaria when it is the main destination of the trip.

Bulgaria’s neighbours for Pakistani citizens

North Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia require Pakistani citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Bulgarian citizens travelling to Pakistan

Pakistan requires a visa from Bulgarian citizens, available online as an e-Visa for up to 30 days.