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Student visa for Bulgaria
Money to show for the visa: Six monthly minimum wages for Bulgaria. Work while you study: 20 hours a week, no work permit needed. Checked against the official pages on 25 September 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- Six monthly minimum wages for Bulgaria
- Visa fee
- €100 for a standard type D visa
- Work while you study
- 20 hours a week, no work permit needed
- Stay after you graduate
- 9 months to seek and start work
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' type D visa checklist asks for evidence of 'the amount of minimum 6 monthly wages' for Bulgaria. At the 2026 minimum wage of €620.20 a month that is about €3,721 (our calculation). The checklist is general, not study-specific: confirm the amount with the embassy that will take your application.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, checked 2026-09-25
€200 for the one-year type D visa under Article 15(2) of the Foreigners Act, which covers students on programmes of up to one year. Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, checked 2026-09-25
Applies during the academic year and in official holidays.
European Commission EU Immigration Portal, checked 2026-09-25
You must register with the Employment Agency within 7 business days to use its services.
European Commission EU Immigration Portal, checked 2026-09-25
Worth knowing: No annual proof of funds figure is published. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' general type D checklist asks for six monthly minimum wages, about EUR 3,721 at the 2026 minimum wage of EUR 620.20 (our calculation); confirm with the embassy. Tuition range is UNWE (Sofia) international student fees, academic year not stated; medicine costs more. Visa fee is EUR 200 for the one-year Article 15(2) visa. No official living cost figure. Living costs are the Medical University of Varna’s estimate for Varna.
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).
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
No student visa is needed: citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland may live and study in Bulgaria. For more than three months you normally register your residence after you arrive, and show that you are enrolled, insured and can support yourself.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of Bulgaria that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: mfa.bg · mfa.bg · home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · mvr.bg · eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu · unwe.bg. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
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From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a Bulgaria student visa?
Six monthly minimum wages for Bulgaria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' type D visa checklist asks for evidence of 'the amount of minimum 6 monthly wages' for Bulgaria. At the 2026 minimum wage of €620.20 a month that is about €3,721 (our calculation). The checklist is general, not study-specific: confirm the amount with the embassy that will take your application. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, checked 2026-09-25).
How much is the student visa fee for Bulgaria?
€100 for a standard type D visa.
Can international students work in Bulgaria?
20 hours a week, no work permit needed.
Can I stay in Bulgaria after I graduate?
9 months to seek and start work.
Do EU citizens need a student visa for Bulgaria?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and study in Bulgaria without a student visa. For a stay of more than three months they normally register their residence after arriving.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.