This guide covers the UK visa from Bulgaria in 2026: the ETA now required of Bulgarian citizens, current fees, and the visa routes for work, study, and non-EU residents of Bulgaria. Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, and a sizeable Bulgarian community settled in the UK over the following decade, working in healthcare, hospitality, and logistics. Since Brexit, Bulgarian travellers need an ETA before boarding, though it is quick, cheap, and almost always approved. This guide sets out the requirements, costs, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office ETA datasets and entry clearance visa fees, year ending March 2026.
Bulgarian citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, and it is now fully enforced — no ETA, no boarding. In the year to March 2026 the UK issued about 147,000 ETAs to Bulgarian nationals at a 99.1% approval rate. The ETA costs £16 (~37 лв) and lasts two years; only non-EU residents of Bulgaria need an actual visa. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status need neither an ETA nor a visa.
UK Visa from Bulgaria: Requirements and Fees 2026
Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, and a sizeable Bulgarian community settled in the UK over the following decade, working in healthcare, hospitality, and logistics. Travel runs both ways across the continent. Since Brexit, though, Bulgarian travellers face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals, and it must be approved before boarding.
Bulgarian citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (£16 (~37 лв), valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Bulgaria need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead. For work, study, or family stays, Bulgarian nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
UK Entry Requirements for Bulgarian Citizens
Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic. Bulgarian nationals can no longer use EU lanes and pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors. The core requirement is a valid passport plus an approved ETA before travel — the ETA is checked at boarding, so it must be in hand before you leave Bulgaria.
- A valid passport for the duration of the stay
- An approved ETA (£16 (~37 лв), valid two years, via the UK ETA App)
- Evidence of return or onward travel
- Accommodation details or a host's address
- Enough funds to support the visit without working
- Genuine intention to leave within six months
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for Bulgarian visitors. Keeping your booking and return ticket on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those covered by our Germany ETA guidance.
Do Bulgarian Citizens Need a Visa to Enter the UK?
It depends on your nationality, not your residence. Bulgarian citizens need only an ETA (£16 (~37 лв)) for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Bulgaria need a Standard Visitor visa (€152). Those with EU Settlement Scheme status need neither. For work or study beyond six months, the appropriate visa is required.
Free movement between the EU and UK ended on 31 December 2020, so Bulgarian citizens are now visa-exempt nationals for short visits — they can visit without a visa but cannot work, study courses over six months, or access public funds. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Bulgarian citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, with a 99.1% issue rate in the latest Home Office figures — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. The same ETA route applies to Polish citizens travelling to the UK.
UK Tourist Visa from Bulgaria
Bulgarian citizens need no tourist visa — only the £16 (~37 лв) ETA for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Bulgaria need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) for any trip. Both cover tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends or family. Bulgarian nationals apply via the ETA app; non-EU residents apply through the visa centre in Sofia.
"UK tourist visa from Bulgaria" means different things by nationality. A Bulgarian passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs an ETA. A non-EU national living in Bulgaria must apply for a Standard Visitor visa, regardless of how long they have lived there.
What You Can Do as a Visitor
- Tourism: sightseeing, attractions, events, and festivals
- Family visits: seeing friends and relatives in the UK
- Business activities: meetings, conferences, and negotiations — no paid work
- Short courses: study up to 30 days where it is not the main purpose
- Private medical treatment at UK private facilities
- Transit through the UK to another destination
For repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
UK Visa Fees from Bulgaria 2026
Bulgarian citizens pay only £16 (~37 лв) for an ETA. Non-EU residents of Bulgaria pay from €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner/family visa is €2,481. Home Office fees are charged in pounds and shown in euros on the calculator; they are non-refundable. These figures reflect the fee schedule current in 2026.
Bulgaria uses the lev, but UK visa fees are set in pounds and displayed in euros on the official calculator — there is no separate lev schedule. The figures below match the eurozone rate applied across the EU.
Visitor and Short-Stay Fees
| Visa Type | Fee | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Bulgarian citizens) | £16 (~37 лв) | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,015 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,268 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €152 | 6 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €47 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €84 | 48 hours |
For travellers planning repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa spreads the cost over several years while still capping each stay at six months.
Work, Study and Family Fees
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €924 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €383 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,370 |
| Priority service | +€597 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to local currency. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Visa from Bulgaria for Non-EU Residents
Non-EU residents of Bulgaria pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, whatever their nationality. A Bulgarian residence permit does not grant visa-free UK access, but it strengthens the application by showing ties to Bulgaria. Applications go through the visa centre in Sofia, with processing of about three weeks.
Bulgaria hosts Turkish, Russian, and other non-EU communities who travel to the UK. Unlike Bulgarian citizens, they must obtain a visa for any UK trip, regardless of purpose or length — a Bulgarian residence permit does not grant visa-free access. The upside is that settled life in Bulgaria helps demonstrate a clear reason to return.
Legal residence in Bulgaria — especially permanent residence — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your residence permit, employment contract, and evidence of settled life such as property, bank accounts, or family in Bulgaria alongside the standard documents.
Build the file using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's invitation letter shows what to include. If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application.
Can Bulgarian Citizens Work in the UK After Brexit?
Bulgarian citizens need a work visa since Brexit ended free movement on 31 December 2020. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing employer sponsorship and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Bulgarian nationals give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. The Youth Mobility Scheme (ages 18–35, €383) and the Student visa (€671) are the other common routes.
Free movement ended on 31 December 2020, so Bulgarian nationals now need permission to work or study long-term. The upside is convenience: as an EU national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre. UK visa grant rates for Bulgarian applicants are high across all routes.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for Bulgarian nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €924 for up to three years or €1,825 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to settlement after five years.
Youth Mobility, Student and Family Routes
Bulgarian citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years; the fee is €383. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €671 and allows part-time work; after a degree the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Bulgarian nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa (€2,481), with a minimum income requirement of £29,000. Those settled before Brexit may hold status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Bulgaria
Bulgarian citizens have an advantage: as EU nationals they can use the ID Check App to apply without visiting a visa centre. Non-EU residents of Bulgaria use the Sofia centre for biometrics.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee at gov.uk
- Bulgarian citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at the Sofia visa centre
- Upload your supporting documents
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay. If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics.
- Bulgarian citizens need an ETA (£16 (~37 лв)), via the UK ETA App — issue rate 99.1%
- For visas, Bulgarian nationals use the ID Check App — no visa centre visit
- Non-EU residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa
- Work visas need sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold
- The health surcharge (£1,035/year, £776 students) applies to visas over six months
- Standard processing is about three weeks; priority five working days
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover the Lithuania ETA guide, the Latvia ETA guide, the Estonia ETA guide, and the Romania ETA guide.
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Bulgarian citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs £16 (~37 лв), lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let Bulgarian travellers board transport to the UK. For work or study, the appropriate visa is required.
Bulgarian citizens pay only £16 (~37 лв) for an ETA. Non-EU residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, €569 for two years, €1,015 for five years, or €1,268 for ten years. Work visas range from €365 (Health and Care) to €1,825 (Skilled Worker over three years), and a partner visa is €2,481. Priority processing adds €597, super priority €1,194.
Bulgarian citizens need a valid passport and an approved ETA (£16 (~37 лв)) before boarding, plus evidence of return travel, accommodation, and funds. The ETA is checked at check-in, so apply via the UK ETA App before leaving Bulgaria. Non-EU residents of Bulgaria need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead, regardless of their Bulgarian residence status.
A Bulgarian citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
No, not without a work visa. Since Brexit, the main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Bulgarian nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme. Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
Yes. Bulgarian and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€597) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,194) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which Bulgarian citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.