United Kingdom
Bulgaria
Bulgaria visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
British 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 bulgarianembassy-london.org
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Bulgaria: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (part of the year) | 1,962 | 1,604 | 193 | 8.5% | 49.6% |
| 2025 | 1,969 | 1,356 | 546 | 28.7% | 29.4% |
In 2025, Bulgaria’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London and Edinburgh) received 1,969 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 1,356. 28.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 8.5%: the rate rose by 20.2 points, a sharp increase. The number of applications was almost unchanged (1,962 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Bulgaria’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Bulgaria was the 20th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
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 Kingdom, 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 Kingdom
BulgariaUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom 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.
British 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.
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in Bulgaria
British 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 British 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 British citizens
North Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia admit British citizens visa-free.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Bulgarian citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for the United Kingdom, obtained online before travel, for stays of up to 180 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
British citizens do not need a visa for Bulgaria: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can British citizens stay in Bulgaria?
British 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 Kingdom?
Bulgarian citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for the United Kingdom, obtained online before travel, for stays of up to 180 days.
Can British citizens enter Bulgaria visa-free?
Yes, British 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.