Bulgaria visa for Russian 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 2 missions in Russia, with its embassy in Moscow. Consulates: Saint Petersburg.

In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in Russia (Moscow and Saint Petersburg) received 27,423 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 26,006. 3.4% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 4.5%. Applications rose by 76% compared with 2024 (15,586).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 6.4% of the applications lodged in Russia that year, from 0.9% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 19.8% at those of Malta. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 6th most applied-for Schengen state in Russia.

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

For a trip from Russia 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). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.

How long Russian citizens can stay in Bulgaria

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

How Russian citizens apply

In Russia, applications go to the Bulgarian embassy in Moscow and the consulate in Saint Petersburg, 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 Russian citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Bulgaria when it is the main destination of the trip.

Bulgaria’s neighbours for Russian citizens

Turkey and Serbia admit Russian citizens visa-free. North Macedonia, Greece and Romania require Russian citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Bulgarian citizens travelling to Russia

Bulgarian citizens need a visa for Russia, which they can apply for online as an e-Visa for stays of up to 30 days.