Overstaying in Bulgaria: fine, entry ban and enforcement
This is what Bulgaria's own national law adds on top of the EU-wide entry-ban mechanism — every Schengen country runs that same baseline process, explained on the general overstay-penalties page, but the fine amount and exact enforcement style are set by each country individually.
Fine
BGN 500–5,000 for a first offense; BGN 1,000–10,000 for a repeat offense
Entry ban
Up to 5 years, tightened by a 2023 parliamentary amendment in force since 31 March 2024 (coinciding with Bulgaria's partial Schengen accession)
How it's enforced in practice
Legal basis is the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria and its implementing regulations (Chapter 4). The 5-year figure is a general refusal ground covering any documented border/passport/visa/currency/customs violation in the prior 5 years, not an overstay-exclusive provision. Figures are quoted from a Bulgarian immigration-law firm citing the Act by name, corroborated by a second independent source describing the 2023 amendment.
This is informational only, not legal advice — consult a qualified adviser if you're facing an actual return decision or entry ban.
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-16.