The Bulgarian passport

The Bulgarian passport is the official travel document issued to citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria — and a fully-fledged EU passport. According to updated 2026 data, the Bulgarian passport ranks between 11th and 14th in the world depending on the methodology of different international indices, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 177–179 countries and territories.

Sau khi Bulgariajoined the Schengen Area in full in 2025 and the eurozone in 2026, so the practical value of the Bulgarian passport has increased significantly. This article analyses in detail its ranking in the main indices, groups of visa-free countries, the passport application process, types of passport and differences from the Schengen passports of other EU countries.

Ranking of the Bulgarian passport in international indices

Rankings of the Bulgarian passport are published by several independent organisations using different methodologies. According to theHenley Passport Index— the most widely used index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — the Bulgarian passport ranks 11th in the world in 2026, alongside the Romanian passport, with 177 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations.

According to Arton Capital’s Passport Index, the Bulgarian passport ranks 13th with 179 countries. The differences between indices come mainly from how dependent territories and electronic visas are counted. Whatever the methodology, the Bulgarian passport is always among the world’s 15 strongest passports and above the EU average.

Compared with other EU passports, the Bulgarian passport is weaker than the top ones (Germany, France and Spain, with about 192 countries) but on a par with the Romanian and Croatian passports and stronger than the Cypriot passport (172 countries). The main gap between the Bulgarian passport and the EU’s top passports is that some Asian and African countries still require visas — especially China, the United States and some Gulf states.

Groups of countries granting visa-free access to Bulgarian citizens

The visa-free access of the Bulgarian passport can be divided into 5 main groups. The first is the Schengen Area and the EU — the 27 EU member states plus the 4 EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). In these countries, Bulgarian citizens can live, work and study without time limits under Article 21 of the EU Treaty.

The second group is Southeastern Europe and the Balkans — including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Northern Cyprus, Serbia and Turkey. In these countries, a Bulgarian passport is not required — Bulgarian citizens can enter with just their national ID card.

The third group is Latin America — almost all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean grant visa-free access to Bulgarian citizens, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Colombia and the English-speaking Caribbean countries. Visa-free stays are usually 30–90 days.

The fourth group is Asia — Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia (eVisa) and Vietnam (via eVisa). Some Asian countries require visas but have simple eVisa or visa-on-arrival arrangements, including Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

The fifth group is Africa and the Middle East — most countries in East and Southern Africa are visa-free or issue visas on arrival. The UAE, Qatar and Israel have offered eVisas or visas on arrival to Bulgarian citizens since 2024.

Remaining limitations

Despite its high ranking, the Bulgarian passport still has some significant limitations compared with the EU’s top passports. The biggest is the visa requirement for entering the United States. Together with Romania and Cyprus, Bulgaria is one of only three EU countries not yet in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

The refusal rate for B-1/B-2 tourist visas for Bulgarian citizens fell to 6.02% in 2024 — the lowest in 18 years and close to the 3% threshold required under US law. Negotiations are in their final stages, with Bulgaria expected to join the VWP in 2026, allowing Bulgarian citizens to enter the United States via ESTA like German, French and British citizens today.

The second limitation is the visa requirement for entering China — a regular visa is needed, with no eVisa or visa-on-arrival option for Bulgarian citizens. This is an important weakness for Bulgarian business people who travel frequently to East Asia. Some Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq also require regular visas.

Technical features of the Bulgarian passport

The current Bulgarian passport is abiometric passportcompliant with the ICAO 9303 standard. Since 29/03/2010, all newly issued Bulgarian passports have contained an electronic chip storing biometric data (fingerprints and a digital facial image) on the data page, ensuring high security and making them hard to forge.

The passport design follows the EU standard — the distinctive burgundy colour, with “European Union” and “Republic of Bulgaria” printed in both Bulgarian (Cyrillic) and English on the cover. The Bulgarian coat of arms is embossed in the centre of the front cover. The inner pages feature images of famous Bulgarian landmarks such as the Rila Monastery, Nessebar and Sofia.

The standard Bulgarian passport for adults has 32 pages, of which about 28 are for visas and entry and exit stamps. Citizens who travel internationally often can request a 64-page passport when applying.

Types of Bulgarian passport

There are 3 main types of Bulgarian passport according to the classification of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. The first is the regular passport — issued to all Bulgarian citizens, valid for 5 years for adults (over 14) and for shorter periods for children. It is the most common type, used for tourism, ordinary business travel and living abroad.

The second is the service passport — issued to state officials and civil servants at the request of their employing agency for official travel abroad. Bulgarian service passports grant additional visa-free access in some countries such as Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam.

The third is the diplomatic passport — issued to diplomats, senior state officials and their immediate families. Diplomatic passports offer the broadest visa-free access and come with consular privileges under the 1961 Vienna Convention.

The Bulgarian passport application process

Bulgarian passports are issued by the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior through its Passport Department or through Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad. For newly naturalised citizens, the process begins after receiving the certificate of citizenship and taking the oath.

The standard application includes: the passport application form, the Bulgarian certificate of citizenship (or the old passport if renewing), a Bulgarian national ID card, a biometric photo and a receipt for the fee. Applicants must attend in person to provide biometric data (fingerprints, a digital facial image and an electronic signature).

The fee for a Bulgarian passport in 2026 is €20.45 EURO for the standard service (30 working days) for adults aged 14–58. Fees are lower for children under 14 and people over 58. There are two expedited services: the fast service (3 working days), at about double the standard fee, and the urgent service (8 working hours), at about 5 times the standard fee.

Bulgarian citizens living abroad can obtain passports at Bulgarian embassies. The Bulgarian Embassy in Hanoi serves Bulgarian citizens in Vietnam. The process is similar but takes longer — usually 60–90 days, as biometric data has to be sent to Sofia.

Comparison with the Schengen passports of other EU countries

The Bulgarian passport and the Schengen passports of other EU countries all provide freedom of movement throughout the bloc — but differ in visa-free access to non-EU countries. German, French and other Western European passports provide access to about 191–193 countries, some 14–16 more than the Bulgarian passport.

This gap comes mainly from the United States (Visa Waiver Program), China (regular visa) and some Gulf states. However, for travel within the EU and Schengen, the Bulgarian and German passports have exactly the same legal value — there is no priority or discrimination based on a particular EU nationality.

For Vietnamese people considering EU citizenship through residency by investment, the Bulgarian passport is a cost-competitive option. An investment of €512,000 EURO for theGolden Visa Bulgariais much lower than comparable EU options such as Malta (€690,000+), Portugal (€500,000 with mandatory physical residence) or Cyprus (which has cancelled its citizenship programme). After 5 years of permanent residence and naturalisation, those grantedBulgarian citizenshiphold a full EU passport.

The pathway from Visa D to a Bulgarian passport

For Vietnamese investors aiming for a Bulgarian passport, the practical pathway begins with a Visa D — a long-term national visa issued at the Bulgarian Embassy in Hanoi. The total time from start to holding a Bulgarian passport varies depending on the investment option.

The fastest option is the Golden Visa through a €512,000 EURO AIF/ETF fund. The pathway: obtain an investment Visa D (3 months) → permanent residence granted immediately (the next 3 months) → maintain for 5 years → apply for naturalisation (1–1.5 years of review) → passport issued (30 days). About 6–7 years in total.

TheBulgaria residency by investmentroute through a company with 10 employees or a TRO takes longer. Specifically: business Visa D → 1-year long-term residence renewed 5 times (5 years) → permanent residence (5 years) → naturalisation (1–1.5 years) → passport issued. About 11–12 years in total. This is why Vietnamese investors give top priority to the Golden Visa when their goal is a Bulgarian passport.

In both options, passing a Bulgarian language test at A1 level remains a mandatory condition at the naturalisation stage — except where exemptions apply under special provisions such as old age, health or naturalisation by descent.

Benefits that come with a Bulgarian passport

The Bulgarian passport opens up many benefits beyond freedom of travel. Political rights include the right to vote and stand in Bulgarian elections, European Parliament elections (for Bulgarian seats) and local elections in any EU country of residence.

Consular rights are the right to diplomatic assistance abroad. Under Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, Bulgarian citizens who run into trouble in a non-EU country where Bulgaria has no representation can ask for help from the embassy of any EU country — an important benefit for those travelling or doing business in regions without Bulgarian diplomatic representation.

EU residence rights allow Bulgarian citizens to live, work, study and own property in 27 EU countries without additional residence or work permits. This is the benefit Vietnamese investors care about most when considering a pathway to citizenship — they are not limited to Bulgaria and can choose to live in Germany, France, the Netherlands or any other EU country.

Accompanying business and investment rights allow citizens to set up companies in any EU country under the freedom of establishment, open bank accounts and invest in securities without nationality restrictions. For Vietnamese business owners, this is a way to access an EU market of 450 million people through a single citizenship.

Learn more aboutretiring in Bulgaria.

Summary

The Bulgarian passport is a strong travel document, above the EU average, ranked 11th–14th in the world in 2026 with 177 visa-free destinations. Despite remaining limitations with the United States and China, the Bulgarian passport provides full EU and Schengen rights — and its value has risen significantly since Bulgaria joined Schengen in full in 2025 and the eurozone in 2026.

For Vietnamese investors aiming for an EU passport, the Bulgarian passport is a cost-competitive option compared with the alternatives. The optimal pathway is the €512,000 EURO Golden Visa through an AIF/ETF fund — maintaining permanent residence for 5 years — naturalising under Article 12 — and then obtaining a Bulgarian passport. The total time is about 6–7 years, still significantly faster than traditional non-investment routes to settlement.