United Arab Emirates
Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa for Emirati citizens
Entry requirement
Emirati citizens can visit Bulgaria without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Bulgaria: visa decisions in the United Arab Emirates
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (part of the year) | 2,224 | 1,269 | 826 | 35.9% | 48.2% |
| 2025 | 4,494 | 1,778 | 2,473 | 58.2% | 33.6% |
In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai City) received 4,494 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 1,778. The refusal rate was 58.2%. The refusal rate rose by 22.2 points from 35.9% in 2024, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 102% compared with 2024 (2,224).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 24.2% of the applications lodged in the United Arab Emirates that year. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 16th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Arab Emirates.
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 the United Arab Emirates, 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 the United Arab Emirates
BulgariaUnited Arab Emirates Visa-free, 90 days United Arab Emirates 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.
Emirati 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 Emirati citizens can stay in Bulgaria
Emirati 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 Emirati 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 Emirati citizens
North Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia admit Emirati citizens visa-free.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria.
Frequently asked questions
Do Emirati citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Emirati citizens can visit Bulgaria without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can Emirati citizens stay in Bulgaria?
Emirati 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 the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates admits Bulgarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Can Emirati citizens enter Bulgaria visa-free?
Yes, Emirati 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.