China visa for Bulgaria citizens

Current status (verified July 2026)

Bulgarian ordinary passport holders are on China's 30-day unilateral visa-free entry list. The entitlement covers tourism, business meetings, family visits and transit through mainland China. Entry is granted on arrival at any open port — no visa sticker or advance approval is required for stays up to 30 days.

The scheme was announced by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in late 2024 as part of a broader expansion covering several Central and Eastern European states, alongside Hungary, Romania and others. It has been extended into 2026 but remains a unilateral measure that Beijing can vary at short notice.

Diplomatic, service and official passport holders travel under separate bilateral arrangements and should confirm entry conditions with the Chinese Embassy in Sofia before departure.

What visa-free covers

Tourism — holidays, sightseeing, independent and group travel
Business — meetings, trade fairs, contract negotiations, site visits
Family visits — seeing Bulgarian relatives resident in China or Chinese in-laws
Transit — onward travel via a Chinese airport or land port to a third country

Movement within mainland China is otherwise unrestricted, with the standard exceptions: the Tibet Autonomous Region requires a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a licensed agency, and some border zones in Xinjiang and elsewhere require additional documentation.

What visa-free does not cover

Paid employment in China — requires a Z visa arranged by the employer
Study on programmes longer than 180 days — requires an X1 visa
Journalism and reporting — requires a J visa
Any stay expected to exceed 30 days on a single entry

The 30-day count runs from the day after entry. Overstaying carries fines and can affect future Chinese visa applications, so plan the exit date carefully.

On arrival

Border officers at Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other ports typically ask to see:

A Bulgarian passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, with at least one blank page
A return or onward ticket out of mainland China within 30 days
Proof of accommodation — a hotel booking, host address, or itinerary
The completed arrival card and health-and-customs declaration, usually via a QR code at the airport

Fingerprints are captured on first entry for travellers aged 14 to 70. Allow extra time at immigration on arrival.

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days

Travel plans exceeding 30 days require an L visa (tourism) or M visa (business), applied for in advance through the China Visa Application Service Centre in Sofia. Standard requirements include:

Completed online application form and appointment booking
Passport valid at least six months, with blank pages
One recent passport-style photograph meeting Chinese specifications
Return flight booking and hotel reservations covering the requested stay
For M visas — an invitation letter from a Chinese business partner

Processing typically takes four working days for standard service. Express and same-day options are usually available at additional cost. Fees are set by CVASC and change periodically — check the current schedule when booking.

Chinese diplomatic missions in Bulgaria

The Chinese Embassy in Sofia handles consular affairs for Bulgaria. Visa applications are lodged through the China Visa Application Service Centre rather than at the embassy directly. The CVASC office is in Sofia and is reachable by public transport from most parts of the city; opening hours are typically weekday mornings for submissions and afternoons for collection.

Bulgarian civil documents presented in support of a visa application — birth certificates, marriage certificates, company letters — generally need to be issued in Bulgarian and, where required, apostilled and translated. The CVASC in Sofia will confirm which documents need certification for a given visa category.

Direct flights between Sofia and mainland China are limited, and most travellers connect via Istanbul, a Gulf hub or a Western European city. Factor connection times into the 30-day window when planning an itinerary.

Things to confirm before flying

China's unilateral visa-free arrangements can be adjusted, suspended or extended with little notice. Verify current eligibility on the Chinese Embassy in Sofia website or through the official CVASC portal shortly before travel, particularly before booking non-refundable flights or long itineraries.

Related resources

[Visa decision tree](/tools/visa-decision-tree)
[30-day visa-free entry](/plan/visa-free-entry)
[Standard L visa route](/plan/visa)