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Do Bulgarians need a visa for Japan?

No. Bulgarians do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Bulgaria is on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The stay cannot include paid work.

Updated

90days visa-free

No visa for short stays

The rule for Bulgarian passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Bulgaria.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Japanese missions
1
Visa for a short stay
Not required
Longest stay granted
90 days
Passport
Valid ordinary passport
What a short stay covers
Tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives. No paid work.
Group on the ministry's list
Europe
List last revised
1 September 2025
The official wording
MOFA: visa exemption listThe period of stay granted upon landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia and Thailand, “30 days” for Brunei and Qatar, and "90 days" for other countries and regions.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
MOFA(A stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities)VISA

Other passports from Europe

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Europe (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
BulgariaNot needed90 days
FranceNot needed90 days
GermanyNot needed90 days
ItalyNot needed90 days
SpainNot needed90 days
United KingdomNot needed90 days

Passport conditions

A valid passport is the starting point for every traveller.

You must hold a valid passport to enter Japan (Immigration Control Act, Article 3).

The foreign ministry's list attaches no extra passport condition to Bulgaria.

Working, studying or staying longer

Visa-free entry covers short stays only.

Paid work is outside a short stay. To work for pay, or to stay more than 90 days, you need a visa. The foreign ministry says to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency first, in principle.

Digital nomad status

Bulgaria is on the Immigration Services Agency's list for Japan's digital nomad status: remote work from Japan for up to 6 months, with no extension.

At the airport in Japan

The same steps apply to every foreign visitor.

On arrival you complete the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner (online through Visit Japan Web, or on paper), give your fingerprints and a facial photograph, and an immigration officer decides whether you can land.

JESTA, Japan's travel authorisation

Not yet. JESTA is the electronic travel authorisation Japan is creating for visa-exempt visitors. The Immigration Services Agency gives its start only as a date set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.

Living in Bulgaria with another passport

Visa applications go by where you live, not only by nationality.

You can apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country or in the country where you live. You cannot apply while travelling in a third country.

The foreign ministry's eVISA list does not include residents of Bulgaria, so applications go to the embassy or consulate, or to the channel it names.

What the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria says

Embassy of Japan in BulgariaDocuments for visa are submitted in person ! … Another person may receive the ready visa for you.Какво трябва да знаете, когато кандидатствате за виза... / What do you need to know when you apply for visa...
Embassy of Japan in BulgariaIn general, the procedure takes 5 ( five ) working days in case all the required documents are submitted. … In some cases it is possible that we forward the documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan for further opinion. … In these cases the issue of the visa might take more than a month.Какво трябва да знаете, когато кандидатствате за виза... / What do you need to know when you apply for visa...
Embassy of Japan in BulgariaVisa applications submitted earlier than 3 months from the date of departure, will not be accepted and the applicant will be asked to apply again for visa when there is less than 3 months between the application and the departure to Japan.Какво трябва да знаете, когато кандидатствате за виза... / What do you need to know when you apply for visa...

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryStandard fee90.00 EUR Source1 July 2026
Single entryCitizens of India5.00 EUR Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryStandard fee181.00 EUR Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryCitizens of India5.00 EUR Source1 July 2026

Japanese embassy for Bulgaria

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Bulgaria. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.

This page is compiled from the official pages below and was last checked on 5 October 2026. It is not legal advice. The embassy or consulate has the final word on your case.

Frequently asked questions

Do Bulgarians need a visa for Japan?

No. Bulgarians do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Bulgaria is on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The stay cannot include paid work.

How long can Bulgarians stay in Japan without a visa?

Up to 90 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Bulgaria on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025.

Can Bulgarians work in Japan on a visa-free stay?

No. A short stay does not include paid work. The Immigration Services Agency says Temporary Visitors cannot work in Japan in principle, apart from short business trips.

Do Bulgarians need JESTA to enter Japan?

Not yet. The law creating JESTA passed on 29 May 2026. It starts on a date to be set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.

Related items

Sources for this page

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 5, 2026