Visa requirement
United States visa for Bulgarian citizens
Official-source answer with stay limit, cost, required documents and last verification date.
Do Bulgarian citizens need a visa for the United States?
Checked answer — confirm before travel
Bulgarian citizens need a visa to enter the United States.
Last verified:
Confidence: Medium Likely current — confirm details with the official source.
This answer is for ordinary Bulgarian passport holders travelling as citizens of that passport. Residence permits, long-stay visas or living in another country can change which embassy or rule applies.
Visa types at a glance
| Visa type | Availability | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa-free? | No | This page stores a visa or authorization route instead. |
| eVisa? | No | No eVisa route is stored for this corridor. |
| Visa on arrival? | No | No visa-on-arrival route is stored for this corridor. |
- Set by visa
- 185 USD
- Apply for a visa before you travel
Before you travel
- 1 Entry step Apply for a visa before you travel Official route (opens in a new tab)
- 2 Stay limit Set by visa
- 3 Official fee 185 USD
- 4 Passport validity 6-month validity after departure. Full note below. See full note
- 5 Transit airside: required; landside: required. Full note below. See full note
- 6 Freshness Checked 23 Jul 2026; confidence: medium
Shareable verdict: Bulgarian citizens need a visa to enter the United States. Checked 23 Jul 2026.
Open SVG cardCost note
The U.S. Department of State currently lists a US$185 non-refundable application fee for B-1/B-2 visitor visas. A separate issuance fee may apply by nationality after approval; check the official reciprocity table.
Passport and transit notes
- Passport validity
- passport valid for at least 6 months after departure; U.S. travel generally requires a passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay, unless the passport-issuing country is covered by a country-specific exemption agreement. Confirm the exemption before travel.
- Validity source (opens in a new tab) Validity guide
- Transit
- airside transit: required; landside transit: required; The United States generally requires a visa even for immediate and continuous transit. Visa-required travellers normally need a Transit (C) visa or another valid U.S. visa unless a specific exception applies.
- Transit source (opens in a new tab) Transit guide
What you need
- valid passport
- completed DS-160 application form
- visa interview appointment at the US Embassy/Consulate
- passport-style photograph
- proof of ties to Bulgaria and financial means
Why this verdict
Bulgarian citizens require a B-1/B-2 visitor visa for tourism or business travel to the United States. Bulgaria is not in the US Visa Waiver Program despite being an EU and full Schengen member since 2025. Apply well in advance of travel; processing times vary by embassy workload.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bulgarian citizens need a visa for the United States?
Bulgarian citizens need a visa to enter the United States. (Visa required.) Verified 23 Jul 2026 against the official source.
How long can Bulgarian passport holders stay in the United States?
The length of stay is set by the visa you are issued.
How much does entry to the United States cost for Bulgarian citizens?
The official fee is 185 USD. This page tracks the official government fee only, not agent markup.