Bulgaria shares 11th spot in 2026 Henley Passport Index
Bulgaria's passport provides visa-free access to 178 destinations, placing it 11th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, published earlier this month.
Only one ranking position and two destinations separate the Bulgarian passport from the United States, which ranks 10th with visa-free access to 180 destinations. Bulgaria shares 11th place with Romania and ranks just ahead of Monaco. The index evaluates 199 passports and 227 destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), CE Report quotes BTA.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in New York notes that Bulgarian citizens can apply online to renew personal identity documents, including passports.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must have received a Bulgarian identity document no more than 59 months before submitting the renewal request. The passport being renewed must still be valid, and applicants must attach a copy of the document to their application.
Applicants are also required not to have changed their name, personal identification number, sex, citizenship, or permanent address, and must not have undergone significant and permanent changes to their facial appearance.
The new passport must be collected in person from the relevant Bulgarian consular office and will be issued only after the previous document has been returned. These requirements are set out in Article 18a of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act.
The Consulate General also advises travelers to check the latest entry and stay requirements for their destination in the "I Am Travelling To..." section of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before every trip.
Photo: Wikipedia
