Visa and Entry Requirements

This section applies to citizens of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Before arrival

You do not need a visa to enter Bulgaria. Travel with a valid passport or national identity card, and keep it available during your stay.

Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 2007 and a full member of the Schengen Area since 1 January 2025. Travel within Schengen normally takes place without internal border checks, although temporary checks may be introduced.

Use this section if you need a Bulgarian visa for your mobility. This normally includes non-EU students coming from universities outside the EU.

If you hold a valid residence permit from another EU Member State, read Section 3 to check whether you can use the student mobility procedure.

Before arrival: apply for your visa

Non-EU students coming to Bulgaria for a study period exceeding 90 days must normally obtain a Bulgarian long-stay visa (Type D) before travelling, unless an applicable exemption or another authorised residence procedure applies.

Studying at a university in another EU country does not, by itself, exempt you from this requirement.

1. Contact the Bulgarian embassy or consulate responsible for your country of lawful residence to confirm the procedure and required documents.
2. Start preparing your application as early as possible after receiving your Erasmus acceptance letter. Processing times vary.
3. Submit your application and obtain the required visa before travelling to Bulgaria.

Visa information and requirements — Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

After arrival: accommodation and residence formalities

1. Obtain proof of accommodation

If you are staying in a dormitory, complete the moving-in procedure and ask the Dormitory Manager for your Accommodation Order (the document confirming your accommodation). Keep the original and a copy.

If you are staying in a rented flat, obtain a rental agreement or another accepted document confirming your accommodation from the property owner or through your real estate agent. A notarised declaration from the owner may also be required.

2. Arrange address registration

Arrange your address registration with the Migration service or local police office responsible for the area where you are staying.

You will have to attend in person, take your passport and your Accommodation Order if you live in a dormitory, or your rental agreement or other accepted accommodation document if you live in a flat.

3. Complete your residence application

Visit the Migration Directorate promptly after step 2 to complete the final registration procedure.

You have three working days to complete the proces.

Migration Directorate — location
Official Ministry of Interior residence-permit instructions

This student mobility procedure applies to non-EU students who:

• have been admitted as students in another EU Member State and hold a valid residence permit issued by that state;
• will complete part of their studies at Sofia University through Erasmus+ ;
• have a residence permit that remains valid for the entire mobility period.

A residence permit from another EU country does not automatically authorise your full study period in Bulgaria. Before travelling, confirm with the Migration Directorate that your permit and planned mobility qualify, and complete the advance application procedure below.

Before arrival: electronic application

Submit your application as soon as your planned mobility is known and before travelling to Bulgaria. The statutory review period is 30 days from receipt of the application; the Migration Directorate may request further information or object to the mobility. Follow its instructions before travelling.

1. Download and complete the application form — Annex No. 3.
2. Prepare the supporting documents listed below.
3. Send the completed form and all supporting documents electronically to the Migration Directorate at migration@mvr.bg.

Supporting documents

1. A document confirming your participation in an Erasmus+ mobility programme involving Sofia University.
2. A document confirming your admission to Sofia University and stating the planned mobility dates and duration.
3. Proof of payment of a tuition fee, only if a fee is required.
4. Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria.
5. A copy of your valid residence permit issued by another EU Member State, covering the entire mobility period.
6. A copy of your valid passport, including the photograph and personal-data pages, the visa page if applicable, and the Bulgarian entry stamp if one has been issued.
7. Valid health insurance covering your stay in Bulgaria.
8. Proof of sufficient financial means for the entire mobility period. Download the financial-support document template.
9. A criminal-record certificate issued by your country of citizenship or usual residence, for an initial application.

For the advance application, submit the passport pages already available. If you receive no Bulgarian entry stamp, retain your tickets or boarding passes and ask the Migration Directorate what evidence of arrival it requires.

After arrival: mandatory in-person registration

Bring:

• your original passport and a copy;
• your valid residence permit from the other EU Member State;
• proof of accommodation in Bulgaria;
• proof of payment of the applicable state fee for issuing the residence permit;
• your application reference and any correspondence or instructions received from the Migration Directorate.

Confirm the payment arrangements and any additional documents required by the Migration Directorate before your visit.

Obtaining your accommodation document

Dormitory residents: complete the moving-in procedure, then obtain your Accommodation Order from the Dormitory Manager. Take the document and a copy to your registration appointment.

Private accommodation: present a rental agreement or another document confirming your right to use the property. Additional documents or a notarised declaration from the owner may be required.

Ask your accommodation provider immediately to confirm that the separate address report has been made. Providers of short-term accommodation generally report to the relevant Migration service or local police within three days of providing accommodation; hotels register guests on check-in. The 14-day deadline for your Migration visit does not extend the accommodation provider’s address-reporting deadline.

Migration Directorate — location
Official Ministry of Interior residence-permit instructions