Unused Schengen Visas No Longer Valid for Entry To Bulgaria

In a move aimed at bolstering its immigration control measures, Bulgaria has recently implemented a more stringent visa policy and affects visitors with a Schengen visa.

Under Bulgarian visa policy, foreign nationals who hold a valid Schengen visa do not need a Bulgarian tourist visa to visit the country. But this has changed since 25 April 2023. In line with the revised visa policy, any foreign visitor who holds a valid Schengen visa but has not used it to enter a Schengen member state prior to reaching Bulgaria will not be permitted entry to the country.

“Holders of a double or multiple entry Schengen visa are only entitled to enter the Republic of Bulgaria if the double or multiple entry Schengen visa has been used at least once to enter a Schengen country,” the statement of the Bulgarian embassy reads.

This means that all those who have just recently obtained a Schengen visa from any of the issuing countries will have to make an entry to any of the 27 member countries or the issuing country in order to be allowed entry to Bulgaria.

Authorities stated that this new rule implementation will help establish stronger security at the international borders. This visa policy will also help in aiming to put an end to illegal immigration.

Do You Need A Tourist Visa To Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a European Union country thus EU/EEA nationals can stay in the country for up to 90 days. The country also applies a visa-free system for holders of valid visas and residence permits issued by Romania and Cyprus for a stay of up to 90 days.

Although Bulgaria is not a Schengen member, it applies a visa-free system for holders of valid double or multiple-entry Schengen visas.

The holders of Schengen visas have the right to stay for a period of validity of their Schengen visas and permitted duration of stay, but no more than three months in any sixth-month period from the date of first entry. Any time you spend in Bulgaria does not affect the number of days you spend in the Schengen area.

Holders of passports issued by over 90 different countries such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, are exempt from visa requirements for Bulgaria.

The following countries need to apply for a tourist visa to enter Bulgaria.

Afghanistan	Ghana	Niger
Algeria	Guinea	Nigeria
Angola	Guinea-Bissau	North Korea
Armenia	Guyana	Oman
Azerbaijan	Haiti	Pakistan
Bahrain	India	Palestinian Territory
Bangladesh	Indonesia	Papua New Guinea
Belize	Iran	Philippines
Benin	Iraq	Qatar
Bhutan	Ivory Coast	Russia
Bolivia	Jamaica	Rwanda
Botswana	Jordan	Sao Tome and Principe
Burkina Faso	Kazakhstan	Saudi Arabia
Burundi	Kenya	Senegal
Cambodia	Kosovo	Sierra Leone
Cameroon	Kuwait	Somalia
Cape Verde	Kyrgyzstan	South Africa
Central Africa Republic	Laos	Suriname
Chad	Lebanon	Sudan
China	Lesotho	Swaziland
Comoros	Liberia	Syria
Congo (Dem. Rep.)	Libya	Tajikistan
Congo (Rep.)	Madagascar	Tanzania
Cuba	Malawi	Thailand
Djibouti	Maldives	Togo
Dominican Republic	Mali	Tunisia
Ecuador	Mauritania	Turkey
Egypt	Mongolia	Turkmenistan
Equatorial Guinea	Morocco	Uganda
Eritrea	Mozambique	Uzbekistan
Ethiopia	Myanmar	Vietnam
Fiji	Namibia	Yemen
Gabon	Nauru	Zambia
Gambia	Nepal	Zimbabwe
Georgia

Have you visited Bulgaria? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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