SOFIA — Bulgaria is on track to meet all US requirements for visa-free travel by 2026, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement to Euractiv.
Currently, Bulgaria remains the only EU country whose citizens require a visa to travel to the United States. Recently, Romania was granted visa exemption, while Cyprus is expected to follow suit later this year.
Data from the US State Department indicates that Bulgaria’s visa denial rate for tourists dropped to 6.02% at the end of 2024, the lowest rate in 18 years. In comparison, the refusal rate for Bulgarian applicants in 2023 was nearly double at 11.61%.
To be eligible for the US Visa Waiver Program, Bulgaria must reduce its visa refusal rate to below 3%. In an effort to meet this goal, the Bulgarian Ministry has initiated a nationwide information and training campaign to educate citizens about the visa application process for both business and tourism.
The campaign aims to ensure that Bulgaria meets the 3% target by the end of the 2025 financial year and successfully concludes negotiations for visa-free travel.
Since Bulgaria’s accession to the EU, securing visa-free entry to the US has been a longstanding priority of the country’s foreign policy.
As part of the information campaign, the Ministry has partnered with Bulgarian-born Hollywood actress Maria Bakalova, who is promoting the message, “You don’t need an Oscar to get a visa for the US.” The campaign focuses on educating Bulgarians about the different types of visas available and the specifics of the application process, with the ultimate goal of reducing visa refusals.
The European Union has repeatedly urged the United States to eliminate visa requirements for all EU member states, as US citizens enjoy visa-free access to all 27 EU countries.
