South Korea
Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa for South Korean citizens
Entry requirement
South Korean citizens do not need a visa for Bulgaria: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- 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 South Korea
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (part of the year) | 38 | 26 | 1 | 2.5% | 57.7% |
| 2025 | 22 | 19 | 2 | 9.5% | – |
In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in South Korea (Seoul) received 22 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 19. 9.5% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 2.5%: the rate rose by 7.0 points, a sharp increase. Applications fell by 42% compared with 2024 (38).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 11.5% of the applications lodged in South Korea that year, from 3.6% at the consulates of Spain to 12.1% at those of France. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 16th most applied-for Schengen state in South Korea.
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 Korea, 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 South Korea
BulgariaSouth Korea Visa-free, 90 days South Korea 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.
South Korean 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).
Good to know
How long South Korean citizens can stay in Bulgaria
South Korean 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 South Korean 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 South Korean citizens
North Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia admit South Korean citizens visa-free.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to South Korea
South Korea admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between South Korea and Bulgaria.
Frequently asked questions
Do South Korean citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
South Korean citizens do not need a visa for Bulgaria: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can South Korean citizens stay in Bulgaria?
South Korean 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 South Korea?
South Korea admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South Korean citizens enter Bulgaria visa-free?
Yes, South Korean 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.