site.btaSouth Africa Lifts Visa Requirement for Bulgarian Citizens on Short-Term Visits

Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that, as of October 7, 2025, holders of ordinary Bulgarian passports will be able to enter and stay in the Republic of South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for short-term visits.

The visa-free regime does not apply to travel for the purposes of study, employment, business management or registration, medical treatment and other activities specified in Articles 13-24 of the Republic of South Africa's Immigration Act.

According to the Ministry, this decision reflects the high level of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of South Africa, and will help facilitate people-to-people contacts, tourism and business exchanges.

Bulgarian citizens can travel short-term without visas to more than 170 countries worldwide, the Foreign Ministry said.