Visa Requirements
Do South African citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Official Requirement
Visa required
for South Africa citizens travelling to Bulgaria
Nationals of countries not exempt under EU Regulation 2018/1806 must obtain a visa before travelling to Bulgaria. A Schengen visa (Type C) is valid for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and requires a valid passport, travel medical insurance of at least 30,000 euros, and supporting documents.
Checked 26 September 2026
We are not a government authority. Requirements change without notice. Always verify with the official consulate link before travel.
Embassy Application Only
Bulgaria does not offer online visa applications. You'll need to apply in person at the nearest Bulgaria embassy or consulate. Contact the diplomatic mission for the current document checklist and appointment availability.
Official Bulgaria government page →
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The short answer
South African citizens need a visa arranged in advance to enter Bulgaria for stays of up to 90 days. A visa has to be obtained before travelling to Bulgaria. Passport validity: a regular travel document valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from Bulgaria (or after the last scheduled departure, for multiple visits), with at least 2 blank pages for visas, and issued within the last 10 years. This covers tourist and short business visits only, not work, study or residence, and a border officer makes the final decision on entry in every case. Entry rules change without notice, so the requirement is read again from the official source on a schedule and the date above is the last time that happened. This was last checked on 26 September 2026.
At a glance
Key facts for South African citizens visiting Bulgaria
- Requirement
- Visa required
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days
- Passport validity
- A regular travel document valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from Bulgaria (or after the last scheduled departure, for multiple visits), with at least 2 blank pages for visas, and issued within the last 10 years.
- Documents
- A completed visa application form, signed by the applicant
- A photocopy of the first page of the travel document
- A photocopy of your most recent Bulgarian and Schengen visas, if any
- A full-colour photograph, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, against a light background
- Medical insurance valid for the EU member states for the whole trip, covering repatriation, urgent medical care, and emergency hospital treatment, for at least 30,000 euros
- Tickets or a ticket booking confirmation, or proof of financial means
- If travelling by car, a copy of the vehicle registration document
- Conditions
- Since 31 March 2024 Bulgaria has issued uniform (Schengen) visas, valid throughout the Schengen area for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Visas are issued by Bulgarian diplomatic and consular representations, and in many places applications are accepted through visa application centres. Applications are submitted no earlier than 3 months before the intended travel, in person or through an authorised agent. Applicants under 6 are exempt from the visa processing fee, and a refusal can be appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Administrative Court in Sofia.
Step by step
How South African citizens enter Bulgaria
Check whether you need a Schengen visa for your trip
Complete the visa application form in typed Latin letters, in English or Bulgarian, and sign it
Gather the passport copies, photograph, travel medical insurance, and proof of tickets or funds
Submit the application no earlier than 3 months before travel, at a Bulgarian consulate or visa application centre
Collect your passport and check the visa before you travel
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Practical Info
Travel Essentials
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Questions
What South African citizens ask about entering Bulgaria
Yes. South African citizens need a visa arranged before travelling to Bulgaria. This was last checked on 26 September 2026.
Up to 90 days on this entry route. A longer trip needs a different permission, which this page does not cover. A border officer decides the length granted on the day.
Start from the destination government page linked on this page. Yoogo does not process applications and takes no fee for them.
A passport valid for the trip, proof of onward or return travel, and proof of where you are staying. Officers can ask for evidence that you can support yourself for the visit. Entry is always the officer's decision, whatever the paperwork says.
Bulgaria uses EUR. Check the rate before you exchange anything at the airport, where the spread is usually widest.
Changes to this route
No changes recorded since the first check on 26 September 2026.
Full change history for this route →