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Bulgaria in Schengen: what changed for travellers

Since 31 March 2024 there are no border checks on flights and by sea, and since 1 January 2025 none by land either. What to carry, when checks still happen and what the EES and ETIAS mean for non-EU nationals.

Last checked: 26 October 20262 min readOfficial sources

On this page
  1. What changed for Bulgarian citizens
  2. ID card or passport
  3. Non-EU nationals: 90 days, EES and ETIAS
  4. Frequently asked questions
  5. Official sources

Bulgaria is a full member of the Schengen area. Travelling to other Schengen countries there is no border check: by air and sea since 31 March 2024, by land, including to Romania and Greece, since 1 January 2025. You must still always carry an identity document.

How we got here
  1. 31.03.2024Air and seano checks on flights and sea journeys within Schengen
  2. 01.01.2025Land bordersRomania and Greece become internal borders
  3. 12.10.2025EES startsnon-EU nationals registered at external borders
  4. 10.04.2026EES fully runningpassport stamps end
  5. not announcedETIAStravel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors

What changed for Bulgarian citizens

  • There is no passport check at borders with other Schengen countries — not at airports, not on the Danube Bridge or on the road to Greece.
  • Police can still carry out checks at airports, ports and in border areas. Airlines also ask for ID at boarding.
  • Bulgaria’s external borders — with Turkey, Serbia and North Macedonia, and flights outside Schengen — are checked as before.
  • Cyprus and Ireland are in the EU but not in Schengen: there is a border check, but an ID card is enough.

ID card or passport

Within the EU and Schengen, Bulgarian citizens travel with a valid ID card. ID cards issued up to and including 16 June 2024 remain valid until they expire, but no later than August 2031; replacing them is not compulsory. For non-EU countries, check the “Travelling to…” section of the Foreign Ministry’s website to see whether a passport is needed.

The rule for children has not changed: a child under 18 travelling without both parents needs notarised consent from the absent parent. See the guide on children travelling without a parent.

Non-EU nationals: 90 days, EES and ETIAS

EU and Schengen citizensNon-EU nationals
DocumentID card or passportpassport, visa if required
Stay without a permitno limitup to 90 days in any 180
EES (fingerprints and photo)noyes, at external borders
ETIASnofor visa-exempt visitors — once it starts

Time spent in Bulgaria now counts towards the 90 Schengen days.

The EES (Entry/Exit System) registers non-EU nationals on short stays: name, passport data, fingerprints, facial image, and date and place of entry and exit. Since 10 April 2026 it has been used at all external borders of 29 European countries and replaces passport stamps. It does not apply to EU citizens or residence permit holders. Non-EU spouses and children of EU citizens without a residence card are registered under lighter rules.

ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation for nationals of visa-exempt countries (for example the US, the UK and Canada). As of 26 October 2026 it is not in operation and no applications are accepted. The EU will announce the start date several months in advance. The fee will be €20.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a passport to drive to Greece?

No. An ID card is enough, and there has been no border check with Greece since 1 January 2025. Carry it, as a police check is possible.

Why was I checked at the German border if we are in Schengen?

Germany, like several other countries, has temporarily reintroduced checks at its internal borders. The Schengen Borders Code allows this for a limited time.

My spouse is not an EU citizen. Will they be registered in the EES?

Not if they hold a residence permit or a residence card as the family member of an EU citizen. Without such a card they are registered, but with lighter data retention rules.

When does ETIAS start?

No date has been announced. According to the official ETIAS website the system is not running, and the EU will announce the start several months ahead.

Are customs rules gone too?

No. Schengen removes checks on people at borders; customs rules on cash, medicines and goods are separate — see the guide on customs rules.

Official sources

This information is for guidance only. For official instructions, fees and deadlines, refer to the source cited or to the institution concerned.