Bulgaria Visa Requirements for South Africans
Bulgaria requires a visa for South Africans
South African passport holders require a visa to enter Bulgaria. Where you lodge the application, what it costs and how long it takes are set out below.
- Entry requirement
- Visa Required
- Stay allowed
- 90 days in any 180-day period
- Passport validity
- Valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen Area, and issued within the last 10 years
Want someone to handle it? See our Schengen visa application service →
Applying for a Bulgaria visa in South Africa
- Where the application is decided
- Embassy of Bulgaria, Pretoria
- Where you lodge it
- VFS Global
- Application centres
- Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban
Bulgaria became a full Schengen member in January 2025, so a Schengen visa now covers it. Applying through Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban rather than Pretoria adds about 48 hours while the file is moved.
If your case is not straightforward
The application is the same for everyone. What differs is how you prove income and ties. These cover the situations that need building differently:
More Visa Required Countries for South Africans
Afghanistan
Visa Required
Algeria
Visa Required
Andorra
Visa Required
Austria
Visa Required
Bangladesh
Visa Required
Belarus
Visa Required
Source: visa.vfsglobal.com. Checked 13 August 2026. If you spot something out of date, tell us at help@getvisa.co.za.
Information last reviewed: . Always verify with the relevant embassy before travelling.