canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/cn/to/bg
🇨🇳CHINA
🏳BGCN-BG

Do China passport holders need a visa to visit BG?

Chinese ordinary passport holders need a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa to visit Bulgaria for tourism. Bulgaria became a full Schengen member on 1 January 2025. Bulgaria fully joined the Schengen Area on 1 January 2025 (air and sea borders opened 31 March 2024; land borders 1 January 2025). Chinese ordinary passport holders are NOT visa-exempt for Schengen and must obtain a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before travel. The visa permits a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area (one shared 90/180 clock). Applications in China are submitted through VFS Global visa application centres (Beijing and Shanghai jurisdictions) or the Bulgarian Embassy by appointment. The visa fee is EUR 90 plus a VFS service fee of about EUR 27. Standard processing is 15 calendar days, extendable to 30-45 days. ETIAS does NOT apply to Chinese nationals because it is only for visa-exempt travellers; Chinese citizens continue to need a full visa even after ETIAS launches (expected Q4 2026). Mandatory travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 is required.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Schengen short-stay visa (Type C)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
per entry
Entries
Single, double or multiple entry
from issue date
Visa fee
EUR 90 + ~EUR 27 VFS service fee
consular fee only
Processing time
15 calendar days (up to 30-45 if extended)
standard track
Validity
Up to 5 years (stay still capped at 90/180)
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm visa type and jurisdiction
For tourism, apply for a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa. Determine whether you fall under the Beijing or Shanghai consular jurisdiction based on your place of residence.
· Type C· Tourism
/02
Book an appointment at VFS Global
Schedule an appointment online at a VFS Global Bulgaria visa application centre (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and others) or at the Embassy. Apply 15 days to 6 months before departure.
· VFS Global· 15 days-6 months ahead
/03
Prepare your documents
Complete and sign the Schengen application form, and gather passport, photo, travel insurance, flight and hotel bookings, and proof of funds and employment.
· Application form· Supporting docs
/04
Submit application and biometrics
Attend your appointment in person, submit documents, pay the visa and service fees, and provide fingerprints and a photo (biometrics).
· In person· Biometrics
/05
Wait for processing
Standard processing is about 15 calendar days from submission; allow up to 30-45 days in case additional checks are required.
· ~15 days
/06
Collect passport and travel
Retrieve your passport with the visa from the centre or by courier. Verify visa dates and entry conditions before travelling, and observe the 90/180 rule.
· Collect· Check dates
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Passport valid 3+ months beyond departure, issued within last 10 years, 2 blank pages
required
Completed and signed Schengen visa application form
required
One recent passport photo (35mm x 45mm, within 6 months)
required
Travel medical insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 coverage for the whole Schengen area
required
Round-trip flight reservation / itinerary
required
Confirmed hotel bookings or accommodation proof for entire stay
required
Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, last 3-6 months)
required
Proof of employment / business license / no-objection letter
recommended
Hukou (household register) copy and ID card copy
recommended
Cover letter explaining purpose and itinerary of the trip
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Schengen visa fee (adult)EUR 90Standard fee since 11 June 2024; children 6-11 pay EUR 45
VFS Global service fee~EUR 27Charged per applicant by the visa application centre
Travel medical insurance~EUR 30-60Mandatory; minimum EUR 30,000 coverage
Optional courier / value-added services~EUR 5-20Optional passport return delivery, SMS, photocopy services
Total estimateEUR 117 — EUR 197incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard processing
15 calendar days
Normal Schengen processing from the submission date; recommended for most tourists.
Extended review
30-45 days
Applies when additional documents or deeper assessment are required; not optional.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Bulgaria is a full Schengen member
Since 1 January 2025 Bulgaria applies the full Schengen acquis, so Chinese nationals need a Schengen visa rather than a national visa.
High
/02
China is not on the Schengen visa-exempt list
Ordinary Chinese passport holders must obtain a visa for any Schengen country before travel.
High
/03
ETIAS does not replace the visa for Chinese citizens
ETIAS only covers visa-exempt nationalities; Chinese travellers still need a full Schengen visa even after ETIAS launches.
Medium
/04
90/180 day limit applies area-wide
The stay is capped at 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries combined.
Medium
/05
Mandatory travel medical insurance
Applicants must show insurance of at least EUR 30,000 covering the entire Schengen area, or the application is refused.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30
China to Bulgaria route verified
Confirmed via Bulgaria MFA, VFS Global and the European Commission that Bulgaria is a full Schengen member (since 1 Jan 2025) and that Chinese ordinary passport holders still require a Schengen short-stay visa (EUR 90); ETIAS does not apply to visa-required nationals.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?—
Yes. Holders of ordinary Chinese passports need a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa to enter Bulgaria for tourism. There is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival option.
Is Bulgaria part of the Schengen Area?+
Does ETIAS let Chinese travellers skip the visa?+
How long can I stay on a Bulgaria Schengen visa?+
How much does the visa cost and how long does it take?+
Where do I apply in China?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the China passport

🇨🇳⇄
Compare the China passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇨🇳◐
China visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇨🇳▤
China passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.