Europe

Visas

British citizens holding valid passports can enter Bulgaria without requiring a visa. However, please note that British subjects, e.g. of Irish descent and born before 1 January 1949, must obtain a visa from the Bulgarian Embassy in London prior to any visit to Bulgaria. Failure to do so will mean that you will be refused entry. If your passport classifies you as anything other than a British citizen you should contact the Bulgarian Embassy in London before you travel to see if you need a visa.

 

If you wish to visit Bulgaria for longer than three months, and/or reside in Bulgaria on a more permanent basis exercising an EU Treaty right (for example as a worker, student, self-employed person or self-sufficient person), you will need to register with the police to obtain the appropriate permit. Dual nationals of Bulgaria and any other country should enter and exit Bulgaria on their Bulgarian passports. It is always advisable to carry your Bulgarian travel document with you as well as that of your second nationality.

Passport validity

The Bulgarian Embassy in London advises all citizens, including EU citizens, to  ensure that their passports are valid for at least three months after their departure from Bulgaria.

Currency regulations

New legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU applies in all Member States.  Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers’ cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country – as long as the original journey started outside of the EU, nor to those travelling within the EU.  

Travelling with children

All children entering Bulgaria will need to have their own passport. Children included in parents' passports will only be allowed in if the passport also contains their photograph. Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting children to leave the country.