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Visa requirements · updated Jul 2026

Do Kenya citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?

Visa required

Kenya citizens need a visa to enter Bulgaria. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSJul 2026
Visa required
Kenya → Bulgaria
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Everything for your trip to Bulgaria

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Kenya vs Bulgaria: passport comparison

Kenya

40

visa-free countries

Global rank: #133 · mobility 87.4

Bulgaria

118

visa-free countries

Global rank: #35 · mobility 167
23

countries both Kenya and Bulgaria can enter visa-free together

Kenya + Bulgaria: passport compatibility

35%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Kenya and Bulgaria travel together — by entry type:

23 both visa-free
17 both visa on arrival
15 both e-visa / eTA
13 both need a visa
129 access differs

Where Kenya and Bulgaria can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (23)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Country Max stay Passport rank
Antigua and Barbuda 180 days #61
Bahamas 90 days #53
Barbados 90 days #48
Botswana 90 days #119
Dominica 180 days #70
Fiji 120 days #103
Gambia 90 days #132
Grenada 90 days #65
Haiti 90 days #175
Hong Kong 90 days #46
Kiribati 90 days #84
Malaysia 30 days #41
Mauritius 90 days #66
Micronesia 30 days #89
Philippines 30 days #128
Rwanda 30 days #143
Saint Kitts and Nevis 90 days #54
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 90 days #56
Seychelles 90 days #58
Singapore 30 days #12
Trinidad and Tobago 90 days #63
Vanuatu 120 days #105
Zambia 90 days #139

Where to apply: Bulgaria has no mission in Kenya

Guides tell you a visa is required but never warn that there is nowhere to file it — the mission simply does not exist in your country. We picked the nearest countries that do accept applications and measured the distance.

1
Saudi Arabia 2,769 km
Applications accepted in: Riyadh
2
Egypt 3,080 km
Applications accepted in: Cairo
3
United Arab Emirates 3,124 km
Applications accepted in: Dubai

Distances are measured between country centroids — a rough guide, not a route. Before you travel, confirm with the chosen consulate that it accepts applicants resident elsewhere: many operate a consular district, and out-of-district applications are not always accepted, often with a longer queue.

Your odds of getting the visa: Kenya → Bulgaria

Visa guides tell you whether a visa is required. This block answers the second question — will you get it. Figures come from the European Commission's official 2025 statistics, broken down per country pair.

32,4%
of Schengen visa applications refused in Kenya
+17,9 pp above the Schengen average (14.5%) — refused more often than average
77,760applications filed
50,517visas issued
25,227refusals
#27strictest of 118 countries

The Commission counts applications by where they were filed — at consulates located in Kenya — rather than by the applicant's nationality. For most countries these nearly coincide, but applications filed there by other nationals are included too. 2025 data. Source: European Commission, DG HOME

How the entry rule changed: Kenya → Bulgaria

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Kenya → Bulgaria rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

1rule changes for the Kenya passport, 1 of them easing
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

Bulgaria: good to know

Sofia

Capital

Bulgarian Lev (BGN)

Currency

Eastern European Time (UTC+2)

Time zone

+359

Calling code

Where else Kenya goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for Bulgaria

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Kenya citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Kenya citizens need a visa to enter Bulgaria. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Kenya or Bulgaria?
The Bulgaria passport is stronger: 118 visa-free countries versus 40. Global rank: Kenya #133, Bulgaria #35.
Where can Kenya and Bulgaria citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 23 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for Bulgaria?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Kenya and Bulgaria?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Jul 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Kenya passport ranking

Where else the Kenya passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport