Do Australia passport holders need a visa to visit BG?

No visa needed. As an Australian ordinary passport holder you may enter Bulgaria for tourism visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. Bulgaria became a full member of the Schengen area on 1 January 2025 (air and sea borders had already opened on 31 March 2024). Australian ordinary passport holders are Schengen visa-exempt and may stay for tourism, business or family visits for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without any visa or pre-travel application. That 90-day allowance is shared across all Schengen countries, not per country. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and remain valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended date of departure, with at least 2 blank pages. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is now in operation, so on arrival you register biometrics (fingerprints and a facial photo) at the border at no cost; passports are no longer manually stamped for many travelers. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 and is not yet required; once live it will be a mandatory pre-travel online authorisation (around EUR 20) valid up to 3 years, but as of 30 May 2026 it is not in force and Australians do not need it. Border officers may still ask for proof of onward/return travel, sufficient funds and accommodation. Working or stays beyond 90 days require a national visa or residence permit.