Saudi Arabia Visa for Bulgarian Citizens

Since 28 September 2019, Bulgarian citizens have been able to travel to Saudi Arabia on a tourist eVisa requested online, or to obtain a tourist visa at the border on arrival. This page covers the Saudi visa for Bulgaria citizens: what you need to prepare, what it costs, and which rules Bulgaria's own foreign ministry highlights for its travellers. It starts with the ministry's current travel advice, because that should shape your decision before you spend money on a visa. 

Start With the Bulgarian Government's Travel Advice

On its Saudi Arabia page, updated on 14 September 2026, the Bulgarian foreign ministry places the country at risk level 5, the highest level, which is a warning to stop all travel and leave the country immediately. It gives the possibility of further regional escalation as the reason, including closed airspace and no reliable alternative ways out. Germany's foreign office separately reports drone and missile attacks in several Saudi provinces since early September 2026. 

Assessments like these change quickly. Read the current text on the ministry's "Пътувам за..." page for Saudi Arabia before you pay for anything, and use the ministry's traveller registration if you go. A visa is an entry permit, not a safety assessment, and holding one does not make a trip advisable.

Which Saudi Visas Can Bulgarian Passport Holders Use?

The tourist eVisa and visa on arrival

The Saudi eVisa for Bulgaria citizens is the tourist route, requested online before departure. Arriving without one is possible, since the ministry confirms a tourist visa can be issued at the border, but arrival counters can be slow and any mistake in your details surfaces at the airport. Our guide to Saudi visa on arrival explains when waiting until you land still makes sense.

Business, private and transit visas go through Sofia

Bulgaria's foreign ministry says the other entry visas, meaning business, private, transit and similar purposes, are obtained from the Saudi Embassy in Sofia through an authorised local application office, and that only the tourist visa can be obtained electronically. If your trip is a business visit rather than tourism, do not assume the online route applies. Which Saudi visa do I need helps you match your purpose to the right visa type.

Documents Bulgarian Applicants Should Prepare

An international passport, not the ID card

The ministry lists an international passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Many Bulgarians are used to travelling around the EU with an ID card, but that habit does not carry over here. Check the expiry date before you book flights. 

The supporting papers the ministry lists

The same page lists a copy of your ticket out of the country, a hotel reservation and a bank statement. Whether every item is uploaded at the application stage or simply carried in case border officers ask, having them together avoids problems. The full checklist is in Saudi eVisa requirements. 

Cyrillic names and the Latin line

Your passport prints your name in Latin letters as well as Cyrillic. Enter the name exactly as the Latin line appears in your passport, not your own transliteration, because a mismatch between the form and the passport is one of the easier ways to cause a delay. Typical slips are covered in Saudi eVisa application mistakes.

How to Apply From Bulgaria

1. Check that your passport meets the six-month rule and that it contains no Israeli visa or stamp.
2. Gather your travel dates, accommodation address, exit ticket details and payment card.
3. Complete the Saudi eVisa application form with your details matching the passport.
4. Review, pay and keep the approval email with your passport.

The how to apply for a Saudi visa guide walks through each screen, and you can follow your application afterwards with the Saudi visa status check.

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

The government fee is SAR 300, with mandatory medical insurance of SAR 180 on top. Published totals differ by source and by what they include, from roughly SAR 480 to SAR 535, so use any figure as a guide and confirm the final amount on the payment page. Payment is in Saudi riyals, so your Bulgarian bank will convert it at its own rate, and fees are generally not refunded if an application is refused. A breakdown is in Saudi visa cost. 

Processing is often quick, but I would not promise a fixed turnaround. Applying at least a week or two before travel leaves room to fix an error.

Validity and Length of Stay

The eVisa is valid for one year with multiple entries. Bulgarian travel media describe visits of up to 90 days each and up to 180 days in total within the validity period. Other sources simply say 90 days, so read the terms on your approved visa and count your days if you plan several trips. Overstaying can bring fines, detention and a future entry ban. 

Rules the Ministry Specifically Warns Bulgarians About

Israeli visas and stamps

The passport you travel with must not contain a visa for Israel or a stamp showing you have visited. Check every page, including old stamps, before paying. 

Personal medicines

Since 1 November 2025, Bulgarians who carry medicines or psychotropic substances for personal use must present a possession permit, requested and approved in advance through the Saudi Food and Drug Authority platform, on arrival or departure. If you take regular medication, sort this out before packing.

Customs, photography and local conduct

The ministry notes strict bans on alcohol, drugs and pork, prohibits photographing mosques, military sites and local women without consent, and asks visitors to follow Islamic norms of behaviour and modest dress. Its current text also advises against filming or sharing images of military activity, including missile strikes and air defence. Layovers and Transit Through Saudi Airports

Bulgarians often connect through the Gulf, so this deserves its own section. The ministry warns that a transit can count as a temporary entry, most often when you hold separate tickets and must leave the airport security zone to collect baggage or check in again, in which case you need a valid entry visa or must apply for one on arrival. A true transit visa is not issued through the online tourist system. See Saudi transit visa 96 hours for the stopover options, and confirm with your airline before you book. 

Travelling With Children

Visa applications for minors must be submitted by their parents or guardians. Prepare the child's own passport details and travel documents, and check the current entry rules for unaccompanied minors before booking anything. 

Trip Purposes and Destinations

Tourism, events and visiting family are the usual reasons to apply. Riyadh, Jeddah and the desert heritage sites at AlUla are the names most visitors know. The ministry advises organising tourist visits through an authorised operator with an accompanying guide, and advises against travelling alone in desert areas. Given the level 5 warning above, treat any itinerary as provisional until the ministry's advice changes.

After You Apply

Keep your approval email and passport together, and use the Saudi visa status check if you need to confirm progress.