Visa policy

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union (EU) and part of the Schengen area. Please check below whether you require a visa to travel to the Schengen area. For more information, we recommend visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

Citizens of all countries in the EU, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland do not require a visa, and can travel to Bulgaria using only their passports or national ID cards.

UK citizens

Citizens of the United Kingdom  do not require a visa to travel to Bulgaria, provided that their tourist or business trip to the Schengen area is no longer than 90 days in a 180-day period.

US citizens

Citizens of the United States of America do not require a visa to travel to Bulgaria, provided that their tourist or business trip to the Schengen area is no longer than 90 days in a 180-day period, and their passport remains valid for at least six-months after the time of entry into the Schengen area.

Citizens of other countries

Please check here (look for the downloaded PDF file) whether you would require a visa to travel to Bulgaria. For more information, we recommend visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. If you need an invitation letter to apply for a visa, please contact us here.

Currency and payments

The Bulgarian currency is called “Lev”, plural “Leva” (BGN). There is a fixed exchange rate with the euro (EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583).

Bulgarian leva are purchasable from cash machines, bureaux de change or commercial banks at approximately that rate.

International credit and debit cards (particularly Visa and MasterCard, although generally not American Express) are widely accepted by hotels, restaurants, large shops, supermarkets, etc. However, some small businesses and taxi drivers may only accept cash payments.

Flights to Sofia Airport

The most convenient way to arrive for the conference if you are travelling from abroad is through Sofia Airport (SOF). Information regarding transportation from the airport to the conference venue and nearby hotels can be found here.