Apostille in Bulgaria: What It Is, Where to Get It & How Much It Costs

The Stamp That Makes Your Documents Valid Abroad

Whether you are sending a Bulgarian court decision to Germany, using a Bulgarian birth certificate for a marriage in Spain, or bringing a foreign Power of Attorney to register a company in Sofia, the document will need authentication for international use. In most cases, that authentication is a single certificate called an apostille.

The apostille system exists because countries do not automatically trust each other's public documents. A notarial act signed in Sofia means nothing to a court in Amsterdam unless there is proof that the Bulgarian notary is real and authorized. The apostille provides that proof — without the bureaucratic chain of embassy visits and consular stamps that was required before 1961.

This guide covers the complete apostille process in Bulgaria: who issues them, where to apply, what they cost, how long they take, and what to do when the apostille is not enough.

What Is an Apostille

An apostille is a standardized certificate created by the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 (formally: the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents). It authenticates the origin of a public document — confirming that the signature, seal, or stamp on the document is genuine — so that it can be recognized in any other member country without further legalization.

Before the apostille system, using a document abroad required a cumbersome multi-step chain: local authentication, foreign ministry certification, and embassy legalization. The Hague Convention replaced this entire chain with a single certificate. Currently, over 125 countries are members of the Convention.

Bulgaria has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 30 April 2001. This means Bulgarian public documents can be used in any other member country with just an apostille, and public documents from other member countries can be used in Bulgaria the same way.

When You Need an Apostille

You need an apostille whenever a public document crosses an international border between two Hague Convention member countries. Specifically:

• Outbound (from Bulgaria): A Bulgarian document needs an apostille before it can be used in another member country — for example, a Bulgarian court decision used in divorce proceedings in Germany, or a Bulgarian birth certificate presented to authorities in France.
• Inbound (to Bulgaria): A foreign document needs an apostille from its country of origin before it can be used in Bulgaria — for example, a Power of Attorney notarized in the Netherlands and used to register a company in Bulgaria.

Who Issues Apostilles in Bulgaria

Unlike some countries where a single authority handles all apostilles, Bulgaria assigns the responsibility to different institutions depending on the type of document. The two main issuing authorities are:

For civil status documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates), these are issued by municipal authorities but apostilled by the Ministry of Justice, as they fall under the category of documents certified by public officials.

How to Get an Apostille in Bulgaria

The process is straightforward, but you need to bring the right document to the right authority. Here is the step-by-step procedure for the most common case — obtaining an apostille from the Ministry of Justice.

1. Obtain the original document. You need the original public document that requires an apostille — for example, a notarized Power of Attorney, a court decision, or a civil status certificate. Copies are not accepted; the apostille is placed on the original document (or attached to it as a separate page).
2. Go to the Ministry of Justice. The apostille office is located at the Ministry of Justice headquarters in Sofia: ul. "Slavyanska" No. 1, Sofia 1040. You can also submit the application through the Ministry of Justice website for information on current procedures. Bring a valid ID (passport or Bulgarian ID card).
3. Submit the application. Fill out the standard application form at the counter. You will need to specify: your name, the type of document, the destination country, and whether you want standard or express processing. Pay the applicable fee.
4. Collect the apostilled document. For standard processing, return in 3-5 working days to collect the document with the apostille affixed. For express processing, the document is typically ready within 1 working day.

For educational documents, the process is the same but you submit the application at the Ministry of Education and Science instead.

Can Someone Else Apply on Your Behalf?

Yes. A lawyer or any authorized representative can submit and collect documents for apostille on your behalf. This requires a Power of Attorney authorizing the representative to act on your behalf for this specific purpose. This is standard practice for foreign clients who cannot visit Bulgaria in person — your Bulgarian lawyer handles the entire process.

Electronic Apostille

Bulgaria has introduced an electronic register for issued apostilles, which allows recipients to verify the authenticity of an apostille online. However, the application process itself still generally requires submitting the physical original document. Bulgaria participates in the e-APP (electronic Apostille Pilot Program) of the HCCH, and digital capabilities are expanding. Check the Ministry of Justice website for the latest information on any fully online application options.

Cost and Timeline

Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2025. Apostille fees are set by the issuing authority and are subject to periodic adjustment. The figures below reflect the fees as commonly applied; always confirm the current fee directly with the relevant authority before applying.

These fees are per document. If you need apostilles on multiple documents, each one is charged separately. For example, apostilling a Power of Attorney and a specimen signature requires two separate apostille fees.

Documents FROM Bulgaria (Outbound)

These are the most common Bulgarian documents that foreigners and Bulgarian nationals need to apostille for use abroad:

Court and Notarial Documents (Ministry of Justice)

• Court decisions — divorce decrees, custody rulings, recognition of foreign judgments, enforcement orders
• Notarial acts — notarized Powers of Attorney, notarized contracts (sale of property, company shares), notarized declarations
• Civil status certificates — birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates (issued by municipalities, apostilled by the Ministry of Justice)
• Criminal record certificates — required for employment, immigration, or business registration in many countries
• Company documents — certificates of good standing, Trade Registry extracts (when certified by a notary or court)

Educational Documents (Ministry of Education)

• Diplomas — university degrees, secondary school diplomas
• Academic transcripts — grade records from educational institutions
• Professional qualification certificates — vocational and professional certifications

If you are relocating from Bulgaria and need multiple documents apostilled, plan ahead. Gathering civil status certificates from municipalities, obtaining a fresh criminal record certificate, and getting everything apostilled can take 1-2 weeks when done sequentially. A lawyer in Bulgaria can handle all of this in parallel on your behalf.

Documents TO Bulgaria (Inbound)

When you bring foreign documents to Bulgaria, the apostille must be obtained in the country where the document was issued, before it arrives in Bulgaria. The most common inbound documents include:

• Power of Attorney — notarized in your home country, apostilled there, then used in Bulgaria to register a company, change a company director, or transfer company shares. See our detailed Power of Attorney and apostille guide.
• Specimen signature — a mandatory filing for the Bulgarian Trade Registry when appointing a company manager
• Criminal record certificates — required for certain business licenses, residence permits, and employment
• Diplomas and professional certificates — for recognition of foreign qualifications in Bulgaria
• Company extracts and certificates of good standing — from foreign commercial registers, used in cross-border corporate transactions
• Birth and marriage certificates — for civil registration, residence applications, and family reunification

The Sworn Translation Step

After a foreign document is apostilled in its country of origin, it cannot be used in Bulgaria as-is (unless it is already in Bulgarian). Two additional steps are required:

1. Sworn translation: The document must be translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator registered with the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only translators listed in the official MFA register are authorized to perform legally valid translations.
2. MFA certification: The sworn translator's signature is then certified by the MFA Legalizations and Certifications department. This confirms that the translator is an authorized sworn translator.

Without both steps, Bulgarian institutions — courts, the Trade Registry, banks, the Migration Directorate — will not accept the document. Your Bulgarian lawyer arranges both the translation and the MFA certification on your behalf after receiving the original apostilled document.

Non-Hague Countries: Full Legalization

If the document originates from a country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the apostille system does not apply. Instead, you need full consular legalization — a multi-step authentication chain that is longer and more expensive.

The legalization chain works as follows:

1. Local notarization or certification. The document is signed or certified by the relevant local authority (notary, court, government office).
2. Foreign ministry authentication. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) of the issuing country authenticates the signature or seal of the local authority.
3. Bulgarian embassy legalization. The Bulgarian embassy or consulate in the issuing country (or in a third country accredited for Bulgaria) legalizes the foreign ministry's authentication stamp.

After this three-step chain, the document arrives in Bulgaria and still requires sworn translation + MFA certification, just like an apostilled document.

Notable non-Hague countries where this process applies include Canada (acceded in 2024, but verify the effective date for your specific document), several Middle Eastern and African nations, and a number of Asian countries. The HCCH status table provides the current list of all member and non-member countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance on the apostille process in Bulgaria based on current legislation and practice as of April 2026. Apostille fees are approximate and subject to change by the issuing authorities. Specific legal advice should be obtained from a qualified Bulgarian lawyer for your individual circumstances. Last updated: April 9, 2026.