Japan to Bulgaria visa requirements

Japanese ordinary passport holders can visit Bulgaria visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Bulgaria is a full Schengen Area member (since 1 January 2025), so the Schengen 90/180 short-stay rule applies across all Schengen states combined. As of 2026-06-01, a Japanese ordinary passport holder does NOT need a visa for a short tourist stay in Bulgaria. Bulgaria became a full member of the Schengen Area on 1 January 2025 (air and sea internal borders were lifted on 31 March 2024; land borders on 1 January 2025). Japanese nationals are on the EU/Schengen visa-exemption list and may enter for tourism, business, or family visits for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period without a visa. This 90-day allowance is shared across the entire Schengen Area, not per country, so time spent in any other Schengen state counts toward the same 90/180 budget. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure date from the Schengen Area and have been issued within the previous 10 years. Two new EU systems affect this route: the Entry/Exit System (EES), a biometric border registration that began rollout on 12 October 2025 and is being phased in at external Schengen borders (no fee, no advance application); and ETIAS, a travel authorisation expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026 with a EUR 20 fee for applicants aged 18-70. As of the verification date, ETIAS is NOT yet required, so the current verdict is genuinely visa-free with no pre-travel authorisation needed. Travelers should monitor the official EU travel portal for the ETIAS go-live announcement (to be given at least 6 months in advance).