🇧🇬 Bulgaria visa requirements for Sao Tomean citizens
Yes — Sao Tomean citizens need a visa to enter Bulgaria, normally arranged through an embassy or consulate before traveling.
Entry rules for São Tomé and Príncipe passport holders
Sao Tomean citizens must obtain a visa before traveling to Bulgaria. Applications generally go through a Bulgaria embassy or consulate and require a completed form, passport photos, proof of accommodation and onward travel, and sometimes travel insurance. Start the process several weeks before your planned trip, as processing times vary.
Entry rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official Bulgaria immigration authority or your nearest embassy before booking.
Bulgaria is in the Schengen Area
Your stay in Bulgaria counts against the same 90-day allowance as every other Schengen country, within a rolling 180-day period — the clock does not reset when you cross an internal border.
See the full Schengen rules for Sao Tomean citizens →How this compares
The Sao Tomean passport ranks #142 worldwide, opening 61 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (25 visa-free, 34 with a visa on arrival and 2 with an eTA). Bulgaria is not among them — it is one of the 100 destinations that still require an embassy visa or an application before departure.
The reverse trip is easier: Bulgarian citizens can enter São Tomé and Príncipe visa-free · 15 days.
Across Southeast Europe as a whole, 1 of 9 destinations are open to Sao Tomean travelers without arranging a visa in advance.
About Bulgaria
- Capital
- Sofia
- Region
- Southeast Europe
- Currency
- Bulgarian lev (лв)
- Languages
- Bulgarian
Planning a trip to Bulgaria?
- Compare flights →
- Tours and activities →
- Airport transfers →
- Claim flight compensation →
- Rent a car locally →
- City attraction passes →
Some links above are affiliate links — booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do Sao Tomean citizens need a visa for Bulgaria?
Yes — Sao Tomean citizens need a visa to enter Bulgaria, normally arranged through an embassy or consulate before traveling.
What currency is used in Bulgaria?
The currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian lev (лв). The capital city is Sofia.
Is this information up to date?
Current status: Visa required for Sao Tomean citizens traveling to Bulgaria. This page is built from the open Passport Index dataset, which was last updated on 2025-01-12. Visa rules can change between dataset updates, so always confirm with the Bulgaria embassy or immigration authority before booking.
More of Europe for Sao Tomean passport holders
Going the other way? São Tomé and Príncipe visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens →
Source data last updated 2025-01-12.