EU citizens pay the same fees as Bulgarians – at the Medical University of Varna, medicine in Bulgarian costs €800 for the first year on a state-funded place, while medicine in English is around €10,000 a year. In 2023/24 there were 15,100 international students, and since 1 January 2026 Bulgaria has used the euro. Read how to apply directly to a university and whether €500–900 a month covers your budget.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport.
If you stay in Bulgaria longer than 3 months, you apply for a long-term residence certificate (удостоверение за продължително пребиваване) at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior or at one of its local offices. The list of documents for students is published by the Migration Directorate.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a visa D, which you apply for at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel. After arriving, you get a residence permit from the Migration Directorate. You will need, among other things, your admission to a programme, a language certificate, proof of accommodation, health insurance, proof of sufficient funds for your living costs and your return home, and a medical certificate. According to Study in Europe, you must also register your address within 5 days of arriving in Bulgaria. If you are an EU citizen, ask your institution whether this also applies to you.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need health insurance for their visa and residence permit.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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