Studying in Bulgaria

EU and non-EU students

EU, EEA and Swiss students do not need a visa. According to Eurydice, they pay fees on the same terms as Bulgarian students. To stay longer than three months, EU citizens apply for a long-term residence permit through the Migration Directorate.

Non-EU students need a type D (long-stay) visa and then a residence permit. The rest of this guide is mainly about that route.

What a year costs

Tuition at state universities is set each year by decree of the Council of Ministers, and international students pay more than Bulgarian and EU students (Eurydice). There is no single national figure, so check the university.

As an example, the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) in Sofia lists these annual fees for international students:

• Bachelor's taught in Bulgarian or English: €3,000 a year (€1,500 a semester)
• Master's in Law taught in Bulgarian: €3,300 a year
• Preparatory language year: €3,000 (Bulgarian) or €3,300 (English)

The page was updated on 21 September 2026 but does not say which academic year the fees apply to. Medicine and other regulated subjects at medical universities cost more: check the fee for your programme on the university's own site.

Living costs. We found no current official monthly budget for students. Budget carefully and ask your university's international office for a realistic figure for your city.

The visa

Non-EU students on a degree need a type D visa, applied for in person at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate (the personal interview cannot be waived). Before you can apply, your university arranges a certificate of acceptance issued by the Ministry of Education and Science, which is part of the visa file.

The money. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' type D visa checklist asks for evidence, such as a bank statement, of "the amount of minimum 6 monthly wages" for Bulgaria. The minimum wage from 1 January 2026 is €620.20 a month (BTA, the state news agency), so six months is about €3,721. That total is our calculation; the Ministry does not publish it. The checklist covers all type D visas, not just study, so confirm the amount with the embassy before you apply. Universities may set their own expectations: the American University in Bulgaria tells its non-EU students to hold the equivalent of €2,000 in a home bank account in their own name.

Other requirements on the Ministry's checklist:

• A passport valid for at least 18 months, with two empty pages
• Insurance for the whole stay with cover of at least €30,000, including repatriation and emergency treatment
• A certificate of no criminal record (not needed under 18)
• Proof of accommodation

Fees. The Ministry's fee page lists €100 for a type D visa under Article 15(1) of the Foreigners Act and €200 under Article 15(2). Article 15(2) is the one-year visa that can be issued to, among others, students on programmes of up to one year (Foreigners Act, English translation). A full degree student will normally be on the standard €100 visa. Fees are not refunded if you are refused.

Processing. The Ministry does not publish a processing time. The American University in Bulgaria tells its students to allow at least 30 working days for the embassy, plus time for document recognition and the Ministry of Education certificate.

On arrival, you have five days to notify your address to the authorities. The residence permit is linked to your programme, granted for a maximum of one year at a time and renewable (EU Immigration Portal).

Working while you study

Up to 20 hours a week without a work permit, during the academic year and official holidays (EU Immigration Portal). Part-time work outside Sofia and the big cities mostly needs Bulgarian.

After you graduate

You may stay to seek and start work within 9 months of finishing. To use the state employment services, register with the Employment Agency within 7 business days (EU Immigration Portal). With a job, you move onto a work-based permit or, for qualifying roles, an EU Blue Card.

Language

Bulgarian universities offer English-taught programmes, especially in medicine, business and engineering, but many degrees are taught only in Bulgarian. Universities that teach in Bulgarian run a preparatory language year for international students. Your university sets the English or Bulgarian requirement: check the programme page.

When to apply

Deadlines are set by each university and are often early for medicine. Work backwards: the Ministry of Education certificate and document recognition come before the visa, and the embassy needs its own time. Start at least four to six months before term.

What to watch out for

The money rule is vague. The Ministry's checklist is general and some embassies and universities ask for different amounts. Get the figure for your case in writing from the embassy.

Recognition of your school certificate. Your diploma usually needs recognition before the Ministry of Education issues its certificate. Allow several weeks.

Agents. Bulgaria's medical programmes attract many paid agents. Apply directly to the university where you can and check any fee against the university's own page.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it, and confirm the proof of funds amount with the embassy, because the official checklist is not specific to students.