Thailand visa for Bulgarians 2026: 30 days visa-free

What changed for Bulgarians on 15 September 2026

Until 14 September 2026, Bulgarians travelling to Thailand without a visa were granted 60 days on arrival. A Ministry of Interior regulation published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 cut that allowance to 30 days for anyone entering from 15 September 2026 onwards. If your passport was stamped before that date, the 60 days already written into it still stands — the change only affects entries from 15 September onwards. For a Bulgarian planning a trip now, this means budgeting for a single month rather than two: if your itinerary runs longer than 30 days, you need to look at an extension or a different visa route before you fly, rather than assuming the old allowance still applies.

Before you fly

• Check that your Bulgarian passport is valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and has at least one blank page, since Thai immigration can refuse entry without both.
• Have proof of onward or return travel ready to show, since Thailand's 30-day visa-free entry is meant for a defined visit rather than an open-ended stay.
• Carry enough cash or accessible funds to cover spot checks, since officers can ask Bulgarian travellers to show 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB for a family.
• File Thailand's Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours of landing, whatever type of entry you're using, and keep the QR code ready for immigration to scan.

Staying longer than 30 days

If 30 days isn't enough, Bulgarians on the visa-free stamp can apply at a Thai immigration office for one extension of up to 30 days, paying 1,900 THB before the stamp expires. Those who know in advance can instead apply for an e-Visa through thaievisa.go.th before leaving Bulgaria, which usually takes three to ten working days, allows a single entry of 60 days, and can also be extended once by 30 days. Bulgarians working remotely or on a long course might consider the Destination Thailand Visa, valid five years with 180 days per entry, arranged before travel. Repeatedly crossing a border to reset the clock is not a route Thai immigration recognises, and land entries are capped at two per Bulgarian passport each year.

At the airport

At Suvarnabhumi, Bulgarians are not among the nationalities allowed to use the automated arrival gates, so head for the Foreign Passport counters instead and expect an officer to check your documents in person. Have your Digital Arrival Card QR code ready on your phone or printed, since it is scanned alongside your passport at the counter. The same 30-day visa-free rule applies whichever airport you land at, so keep your passport, onward travel proof and arrival card details together and easy to reach.

Facts checked on 30 September 2026. Sources: Royal Gazette notifications of 31 August 2026, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs bilateral list, the Immigration Bureau. Rules change; your embassy has the final word.