Bulgaria Sets Goal for Visa-Free Travel to the US by 2026
Key Points
- Bulgaria has made substantial progress in meeting the requirements for inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program, according to Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov.
- A critical criterion is maintaining a tourist visa refusal rate for Bulgarians below three per cent.
- Although Bulgaria and Romania shared a joint journey toward Schengen membership, their paths to inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program have diverged.
Bulgaria is advancing toward inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program, as stated by Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov. He expressed optimism that negotiations could successfully conclude if Bulgaria achieves the requirement of reducing its B visa refusal rate below three per cent for fiscal year 2025.
Kondov’s comments were shared via a written response on the National Assembly’s website to Martin Dimitrov, a parliamentary member of the Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) group.
Progress in Visa Refusal Rate Reduction
A key requirement for Bulgaria’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program is sustaining a tourist visa refusal rate under three per cent. Data from the US Department of State released on November 27, 2024, show that Bulgaria’s refusal rate for 2024 was 6.02 per cent, a notable improvement from 11.61 per cent in 2023.
Historically, Bulgaria’s B visa refusal rate has dropped below ten per cent only twice since 2006, with 2024’s rate marking the lowest recorded so far.
Public Awareness Campaign
To further reduce visa refusals, Bulgarian authorities launched an awareness campaign on December 15, 2024. Under the slogan “You don’t need an Oscar to get a US visa”, the campaign aims to educate the public about US travel visa requirements. The campaign’s face is 2021 Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova.
Additionally, Bulgaria’s Enhanced Border Security Partnership agreement with the US, signed in December 2024, supports its efforts to fulfill the Visa Waiver Program’s requirements.
Benefits of Joining the Program
Inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program would allow Bulgarian citizens to travel to the US visa-free for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days.
Diverging Paths with Romania
While Bulgaria and Romania achieved full Schengen Zone membership on January 1, 2025, their progress toward the US Visa Waiver Program has taken different routes.
Romania has already been accepted into the program. Starting March 31, 2025, Romanian citizens will be able to travel to the US without visas for short-term stays.
“The federal government of the United States has just officially announced that Romania is now part of the exclusive club called Visa Waiver. Starting March 31 this year, Romanians can travel to the USA without visas.”
— Andrei Muraru, Romanian Ambassador to the US
Muraru emphasized the strong bond between Romania and the US, calling the decision a significant and joyful milestone for the Romanian people.