Holidays in Bulgaria: visa-free regime for Schengen owners

The Bulgarian government decided to simplify for many tourists the procedure of entering the country. From now on all people with a valid Schengen visa can go on holiday to Bulgaria without national visa. In such way Bulgaria is preparing its structures for the upcoming country’s entry into the visa-free regime, which today functions between the EU countries.

The decision to introduce new visa rules was taken by the Bulgarian cabinet of ministers on Wednesday January 26, 2011. According to the Bulgarian cabinet, the new visa policy will spur the tourist interest and will make Bulgaria more attractive to foreign investors.

Schengen visa owners will be able to get permission to enter Bulgaria and stay on its territory for a period of up to 3 months during the six months from the date of first entry.

It should be noted that the new visa rules in Bulgaria will be useful not only for the EU citizens, but also tourists from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, who have a Schengen visa.

New measures, inter alia, must stir up not only the tourism sector, but also resort property market in Bulgaria. Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008 leading Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria have marked decreasing of the square meter price. Opportunity to visit the country for Schengen owners will facilitate entry of potential buyers and will indirectly stimulate the demand for Bulgarian property.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, in 2011 its consulates issued in total 733 623 visas, which is by 18% more than in 2010.