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Visa requirements · updated Aug 2026

Do United States citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?

Visa-free · 90 days

Citizens of United States can visit Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days. Just a valid passport at the border.

VISAXSAug 2026
Visa-free
United States → Bulgaria
90days

Everything for your trip to Bulgaria

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United States vs Bulgaria: passport comparison

United States

116

visa-free countries

Global rank: #40 · mobility 166.1

Bulgaria

118

visa-free countries

Global rank: #35 · mobility 167
106

countries both United States and Bulgaria can enter visa-free together

United States + Bulgaria: passport compatibility

87%

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

Where United States and Bulgaria travel together — by entry type:

106 both visa-free
30 both visa on arrival
23 both e-visa / eTA
13 both need a visa
25 access differs

Where United States 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 (106)

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

Country Max stay Passport rank
Albania90 days#91 Andorra90 days#47 Angola30 days#168 Antigua and Barbuda180 days#61 Argentina90 days#44 Armenia180 days#129 Austria90 days#13 Bahamas90 days#53 Barbados90 days#48 Belgium90 days#6 Belize90 days#99 Bosnia and Herzegovina90 days#88 Botswana90 days#119 Brazil90 days#43 Brunei90 days#52 Cape Verde30 days#136 Chile90 days#45 Colombia90 days#74 Costa Rica180 days#62 Croatia90 days#22 Cyprus90 days#36 Czech Republic90 days#25 Denmark90 days#11 Dominica180 days#70 Dominican Republic90 days#124 Ecuador90 days#104 El Salvador180 days#75 Estonia90 days#26 Fiji120 days#103 Finland90 days#3 France90 days#4 Georgia360 days#83 Germany90 days#7 Greece90 days#17 Grenada90 days#65 Guatemala90 days#73 Haiti90 days#175 Honduras90 days#78 Hong Kong90 days#46 Hungary90 days#21 Iceland90 days#38 Ireland90 days#18 Israel90 days#51 Italy90 days#8 Japan90 days#24 Kazakhstan30 days#116 Kiribati90 days#84 Kosovo90 days#107 Kyrgyzstan30 days#134 Latvia90 days#34 Liechtenstein90 days#39 Lithuania90 days#37 Luxembourg90 days#9 Macao30 days#67 Malaysia90 days#41 Malta90 days#29 Marshall Islands90 days#85 Mauritius90 days#66 Mexico180 days#55 Micronesia30 days#89 Moldova90 days#92 Monaco90 days#42 Mongolia30 days#125 Montenegro90 days#76 Morocco90 days#121 Netherlands90 days#10 Nicaragua90 days#86 North Macedonia90 days#82 Norway90 days#15 Palau90 days#87 Palestine90 days#193 Panama90 days#68 Paraguay90 days#64 Peru90 days#57 Philippines30 days#128 Poland90 days#19 Portugal90 days#14 Romania90 days#33 Saint Kitts and Nevis90 days#54 Saint Lucia42 days#69 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines90 days#56 San Marino90 days#49 Sao Tome and Principe15 days#151 Senegal90 days#141 Serbia90 days#72 Seychelles90 days#58 Singapore90 days#12 Slovakia90 days#23 Slovenia90 days#30 South Korea90 days#20 Spain90 days#2 Sweden90 days#5 Switzerland90 days#16 Taiwan90 days#79 Tajikistan30 days#149 Thailand60 days#110 Trinidad and Tobago90 days#63 Tunisia60 days#131 Turkey90 days#94 Ukraine90 days#59 United Arab Emirates30 days#1 Uruguay90 days#50 Uzbekistan30 days#142 Vanuatu120 days#105 Vatican90 days#60 Zambia90 days#139

Your odds of getting the visa: United States → 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.

0,9%
of Bulgaria visa applications refused in United States
-13,6 pp below the Schengen average (14.5%) — refused less often than average
-0.9 pp year-over-year: 2024 was 1.8%, now 0.9%
536applications filed
486visas issued
5refusals
#107strictest of 118 countries
Where Bulgaria visa applications are filed: Chicago, IlLos Angeles, CaNew York, NyWashington, Dc

The Commission counts applications by where they were filed — at consulates located in United States — 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: United States → 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 United States → Bulgaria rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

6rule changes for the United States passport, 3 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 United States 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

Up to 90 days

No visa needed for the stay

Frequently asked

Do United States citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Citizens of United States can visit Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days. Just a valid passport at the border.
How long can United States citizens stay in Bulgaria without a visa?
United States passport holders are allowed to stay up to 90 days per visit.
Which passport is stronger — United States or Bulgaria?
The Bulgaria passport is stronger: 118 visa-free countries versus 116. Global rank: United States #40, Bulgaria #35.
Where can United States and Bulgaria citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 106 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. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between United States and Bulgaria?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Aug 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

United States passport ranking

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

View the passport