Embassy
Embassy of Italy, Sofia
Sofia
ул. Шипка, 2
Bulgaria visa requirements for Italian citizens
Italian citizens can visit, live and work in Bulgaria without a visa.
Passport
ITA
Italy
Going to
BGR
Bulgaria
Free to visit, live and work
EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens can enter without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Bulgaria.
Ways into Bulgaria
Most short visits share Schengen's 90 days in 180 days limit.
Visa not required For your passportEU and nearby citizensEU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens can enter without a visa.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that Bulgaria accepts your travel document.
- Carry your valid travel document.
Documents required
- Valid accepted travel document
- The tourist limit of 90 days in 180 days does not apply.
- You also need no long-stay visa for stays over 90 days.
Visa not requiredSchengen residence permitAn accepted Schengen residence permit lets you make short visits without another visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your residence permit gives visa-free entry.
- Carry your valid passport and residence permit.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Accepted valid Schengen residence permit
- Visits outside your home country share 90 days in any 180 days.
- Irish or Cypriot residence permits alone do not give this visa-free entry.
Visa on arrivalUrgent border visaBorder staff may grant a visa when an unexpected emergency prevented applying earlier.
- Stay
- 15 days
How to apply
- Explain the emergency and why you could not apply earlier.
- Provide your application and proof.
- Wait for border staff to decide.
Documents required
- Passport
- Proof of the urgent situation
- Return or next journey proof
- This is not a routine tourist visa on arrival.
- Stay at most 15 days; transit covers only the journey time needed.
Visa requiredType C tourist visaApply for this short-visit visa when you need a visa for a holiday.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Apply where you legally live.
- Book with the Bulgarian embassy or its visa centre.
- Submit your signed form and supporting documents.
- Give fingerprints if asked and pay the fee.
Documents required
- Signed form, passport and copies
- Colour photo, 3.5 × 4.5 cm
- Stay booking and return travel proof
- Funds and plans to leave
- Medical cover of 30,000 EUR
- Child consent and family papers
- 2 blank pages
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- Your visa may allow fewer than 90 days in any 180 across Schengen.
- Under 12: free; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus: 35 EUR; Cabo Verde: 67.50 EUR.
Other routeExisting Schengen visaUse your Schengen visa if it covers your trip and has entries left.
- Stay
- 90 days
How to apply
- Check your visa's dates, stay limit and entries left.
- Carry the passport with your visa.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Valid Schengen visa covering trip
- Your visa may allow fewer than 90 days in any 180 days.
- You need no separate Bulgarian short-stay visa for a covered trip.
Sources (23)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa for Bulgaria
- Ordinary-passport visa table, updated 2 July 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa fees
- Airport transit visa leaflet
- Long-stay visa leaflet
- Type C supporting documents by purpose
- Ministry of Interior, Border Police: Schengen travel questions
- Bulgarian Embassy in Washington: official site and consular-services link
- Bulgarian Embassy in London: official site
- Bulgarian Embassy in New Delhi: visa appointments
- London Consular Office: general short-stay rules
- London Consular Office: tourist visa
- London Consular Office: business visa
- London Consular Office: private visits
- London Consular Office: student type D procedure
- London Consular Office: long-stay visa procedures
- Official ETIAS website: current operating status
- European Commission: applying for a Schengen visa
- European Commission: common airport-transit nationality list
- European Commission: additional national airport-transit requirements
- European Commission Visa Code Handbook
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806: nationality and passport conditions
- Regulation (EU) 2024/2495: Serbian biometric passports
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from Italy
- Plugs C FAdapter for some
- MoneyEUR €Same as home
- Time+1h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageBulgarian
- Emergency112 or 166 police112 or 150 ambulance
Planning your Bulgaria trip
Best time to go: Summer brings warm, breezy weather on the coast. Winter is the season for mountain sports, with cold weather and snow.
- Ancient City of NesebarA historic seaside city with church ruins and World Heritage status.
- Rila Monastery and Boyana ChurchBoth are World Heritage sites and important religious sights.
- Thracian tombs at Kazanlak and SveshtariThese World Heritage sites preserve remains of Bulgaria's ancient past.
- Pirin National Park and Srebarna Nature ReserveBoth are natural World Heritage sites.
Scams to watch for in Bulgaria
- ATM card skimmingCriminals attach hidden devices to ATMs to steal card details and PINs. They then use the details for unauthorised payments or withdrawals.
- PickpocketingThieves take wallets, phones or other valuables while people are distracted or pressed together in crowds. Pickpocketing becomes more common in Burgas during summer.
- Inflated taxi ratesThe taxi charges an unusually high rate per kilometre. A working meter does not protect you if the rate itself is excessive.
About Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a republic in southeastern Europe on the Black Sea coast, south of the Danube river.
- Capital
- Sofia
- Money
- Euro (€)
- Languages
- Bulgarian
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +359
Other Europe passports
Going to Bulgaria
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Bulgaria with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do italian citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Italian citizens can visit, live and work in Bulgaria without a visa.
Do bulgarian citizens need a visa for Italy?
Bulgarian citizens can visit, live and work in Italy without a visa.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to Bulgaria?
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Bulgaria are easier for italian citizens?
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro North Macedonia, and 3 more let italian citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Bulgaria?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Bulgaria?
Euro (€). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Bulgaria?
Bulgarian.
How strong is the Italy passport?
It ranks #7 and reaches 155 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck