Bulgaria visa for South African citizens

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.

Bulgaria has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.

In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 713 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 524. 17.2% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 10.7%: the rate rose by 6.5 points, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 15% compared with 2024 (619).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 18th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.

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

South African 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). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.

How long South African citizens can stay in Bulgaria

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

How South African citizens apply

In South Africa, applications go to the Bulgarian embassy in Pretoria, 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 South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Bulgaria when it is the main destination of the trip.

Bulgaria’s neighbours for South African citizens

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

Bulgarian citizens travelling to South Africa

South Africa admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.