Bulgaria Plans Online Visa Appointment System for Turkish Travellers and Expands Consular Staffing

746,000 visits from Türkiye recorded in eight months as Sofia moves to reduce visa waiting times and facilitate travel without removing entry requirements.

Bulgaria has announced new measures to facilitate visa applications for Turkish citizens, including increasing consular staffing and preparing to introduce an online appointment booking system aimed at reducing waiting times and strengthening tourism flows between the two countries.

The announcement was made on November 3, 2026, following a meeting between Bulgarian Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov and his Turkish counterpart, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, on the sidelines of World Travel Market (WTM London 2026).

Bulgaria's Ministry of Tourism explained that the new electronic system will undergo testing soon, with the aim of streamlining visa appointment bookings and improving the efficiency of consular services.

Authorities also plan to increase staffing levels at consulates to accommodate growing demand, particularly during peak travel and holiday seasons.

Dimitrov emphasised that difficulties in obtaining visas should not force travellers to choose alternative destinations, highlighting the importance of removing barriers that affect visitor flows.

The ministry has not announced an official launch date for the system or a revised processing timeframe for visa applications.

Official data revealed that Bulgarian accommodation establishments welcomed approximately 192,000 Turkish tourists between January and August 2026, while the total number of visits by Turkish citizens reached around 746,000 during the same period.

The difference between the two figures reflects their distinct statistical coverage. The first measures guests registered at accommodation establishments, while the second represents total visits.

The two ministers also discussed developing joint tourism routes focused on cultural and historical heritage, as well as local gastronomy.

Despite the significance of the announced measures, they do not mean that visa requirements have been abolished or that the online system is already operational.

The announced improvements currently focus on processing applications from Turkish travellers, with no indication that Arab nationalities are included.

Travellers are therefore advised to check official consular requirements before booking and avoid assuming that any new measures are in effect until their implementation is formally announced.