If you own a company in Bulgaria, you need a KEP. KEP — short for КЕП (Квалифициран Електронен Подпис) — is a Qualified Electronic Signature. It is the digital equivalent of your handwritten signature, and it is mandatory for filing tax returns, VAT declarations, and social security reports with the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA). Without one, your company cannot meet its filing obligations.
This guide explains what a KEP is, which providers issue them, how foreigners can obtain one (including remotely without visiting Bulgaria), and the critical LNCH issue that most guides overlook.
What Is KEP and Why You Need It
KEP stands for Квалифициран Електронен Подпис — Qualified Electronic Signature. Under EU Regulation 910/2014 (eIDAS), a qualified electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature. In Bulgaria, it is regulated by the Electronic Document and Electronic Trust Services Act (ЗЕДЕУУ).
A KEP is not optional for company owners. Bulgarian law requires legal entities to file the following electronically, using a qualified electronic signature:
- Corporate income tax returns (annual CIT declaration under ЗКПО)
- VAT declarations and registers (monthly under ЗДДС — mandatory electronic filing)
- Social security declarations (Declarations 1 and 6 for employee contributions)
- Annual financial statements (filed with the Commercial Register)
- NSI statistical reports (National Statistical Institute)
Beyond mandatory filings, a KEP is also used for:
- Commercial Register submissions — company changes, annual accounts
- Electronic banking — most Bulgarian banks accept KEP for transaction authorization
- Government e-services — accessing the NRA portal, NSSI, customs, and other state systems
- Signing contracts and documents — legally binding electronic signatures on any document
Key point: A KEP is issued to a natural person, not to a company. The person (you, your co-founder, or your accountant) holds the certificate. When filing on behalf of a company, the NRA links the person's certificate to the company through an authorization process.
Bulgarian KEP Providers Compared
Bulgaria has four licensed qualified trust service providers, registered with the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC). These are the only entities authorized to issue qualified electronic signatures valid for Bulgarian government systems:
| Provider | Issuance | Cost (approx.) | Validity | LNCH in cert? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evrotrust | Remote (mobile app) | Free (3 signatures) — paid plans from ~EUR 5/mo | 2 years | Passport only (no LNCH) | Foreigners abroad |
| B-Trust (BORICA) | In-person or cloud | ~BGN 30 / EUR 15 (3 years, USB token) | 1 or 3 years | Yes, upon request | NRA filings |
| StampIT (Information Service AD) | In-person | ~BGN 31 / EUR 16 (3 years, USB token) | 1 or 3 years | Ask provider | Budget option |
| InfoNotary | In-person | ~BGN 60–90 / EUR 30–46 | 1 or 3 years | Ask provider | Notary integrations |
Critical for foreigners: Not all providers include your LNCH (Личен Номер на Чужденец — personal foreigner's number) in the certificate. If your KEP contains only your passport number but not your LNCH, the NRA portal may not recognize it for tax filings. B-Trust is currently the most reliable provider for including LNCH upon request. Always ask the provider explicitly to include your LNCH when applying.
Evrotrust — Best Option for Foreigners Abroad
Evrotrust is the only Bulgarian provider that offers fully remote issuance of a qualified electronic signature. You do not need to visit Bulgaria. The entire process happens through the Evrotrust mobile app, available on iOS and Android.
How It Works
- Download the Evrotrust app from the App Store or Google Play. Create an account with your email address.
- Scan your identity document. Use your passport — Evrotrust supports all EU passports and many non-EU passports (covering 58+ countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan). The app reads the NFC chip in your passport for maximum security.
- Complete the video liveness check. The app takes a short video to verify you are a real person and match your document photo. This takes about 30 seconds.
- Set your signature password. Create a secret password that you will use each time you sign a document. Add biometric authentication (fingerprint or face recognition) for convenience.
- Receive your qualified certificate. Evrotrust verifies your information and issues your qualified electronic signature certificate. This typically takes minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours if manual review is needed.
Evrotrust's free plan includes a qualified certificate valid for 2 years and 3 free electronic signatures. If you need more signatures, paid subscription plans are available starting from approximately EUR 5 per month.
Important limitation: Evrotrust issues certificates based on your passport data only. Your Bulgarian LNCH is typically not included in the certificate. This means the Evrotrust KEP works perfectly for signing contracts, Commercial Register filings, and general document signing — but it may not work for direct NRA portal access if the NRA system requires LNCH matching. If you plan to file NRA declarations yourself (without an accountant), consider B-Trust instead, or authorize your accountant to file using their own KEP.
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Book Free Consultation →B-Trust and StampIT — In-Person Options
If you are in Bulgaria — or plan to visit — B-Trust and StampIT are the traditional choices. Both require in-person identification at one of their offices.
B-Trust (by BORICA AD)
B-Trust is operated by BORICA, the company that runs Bulgaria's interbank card payment system. It is the most widely used KEP provider in the country and has the deepest integration with NRA systems.
- Identification: In-person at a B-Trust registration office. Bring your passport and your Bulgarian residence card (if you have one). The process takes approximately 15-20 minutes.
- LNCH inclusion: B-Trust will include your LNCH in the certificate upon request. This is critical for NRA compatibility. Make sure to ask for it explicitly when applying.
- Certificate types: Personal (for individuals) or Professional (linked to a company). For NRA filings, a Personal certificate is sufficient — you link it to the company through the NRA authorization process.
- Cost: Approximately BGN 30 (EUR 15) for a 3-year personal certificate with USB token. Cloud certificates are also available with usage-based pricing.
- Delivery: Physical USB token issued on the spot. Cloud certificates activated immediately.
StampIT (by Information Service AD)
StampIT is a similar offering to B-Trust, with offices across Bulgaria. It is popular among accountants and smaller businesses.
- Identification: In-person at a StampIT office. Same document requirements as B-Trust.
- Cost: Approximately BGN 31 (EUR 16) for a 3-year personal certificate with USB token. Renewal is approximately BGN 12.
- Delivery: Issued on the spot at the office, typically within 15-20 minutes.
InfoNotary
InfoNotary is the fourth provider, often used by notaries and legal professionals. It is more expensive — approximately BGN 60 for a 1-year certificate or BGN 90 for 3 years — but integrates well with notarial systems and the Commercial Register.
Can Your Accountant File for You?
Yes — and this is the most common arrangement in Bulgaria. The vast majority of Bulgarian companies do not file NRA declarations themselves. Their accountant does it, using the accountant's own KEP.
Here is how it works:
- Your accountant has their own KEP — typically from B-Trust or StampIT. This is standard for any accounting firm in Bulgaria.
- You sign an authorization (упълномощаване). This is a written document that authorizes the accountant (or their firm) to submit electronic declarations on behalf of your company through the NRA portal.
- The authorization is filed with the NRA. Your accountant submits the authorization to the local NRA office. NRA staff verify the data against the Commercial Register and activate the access.
- Your accountant files everything using their KEP. They can submit VAT declarations, CIT returns, social security declarations, and other filings — all signed with their own electronic signature, on your company's behalf.
Practical tip: For partial access (submitting declarations and documents), a simple written power of attorney is sufficient. For full access (which includes viewing your company's tax information and liabilities), a notarized power of attorney is required. Most company owners grant full access to their accountant — it allows the accountant to check tax account balances, verify payment receipts, and resolve issues without bothering you.
This means that even if you do not have a KEP yourself, your company can still meet all filing obligations. Your accountant handles the electronic filings. You just need to make sure the authorization is in place.
For more on whether you need an accountant and what they handle, see our guide: Do I Need an Accountant for My EOOD?
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Get Started →eIDAS — Can You Use a Foreign EU Electronic Signature?
Under EU Regulation 910/2014 (eIDAS), a qualified electronic signature issued in any EU member state must be recognized as legally valid in all other member states. This means a QES from Germany, Austria, Estonia, or any other EU country should — in principle — be accepted by Bulgarian government systems.
In theory: Yes. The NRA is legally obligated to accept any eIDAS-compliant qualified electronic signature. Bulgaria's Electronic Document and Electronic Trust Services Act does not impose additional national requirements beyond eIDAS.
In practice: It is unreliable. The NRA portal and other Bulgarian government systems are built and tested around the four Bulgarian providers. Foreign QES certificates may encounter the following problems:
- Login compatibility. The NRA portal's authentication system may not recognize foreign certificate formats. The login page explicitly lists Bulgarian providers.
- Missing LNCH. Foreign certificates will not contain your Bulgarian LNCH, which the NRA uses to match you to your tax profile.
- Technical integration. Different certificate structures, encoding formats, and trust chain configurations can cause validation failures in Bulgarian government systems — even when the signature is technically valid under eIDAS.
Our recommendation: Do not rely on a foreign EU electronic signature for Bulgarian NRA filings. Get a Bulgarian KEP — specifically from B-Trust if you need to file yourself, or from Evrotrust if your accountant handles filings. The cost is minimal (EUR 15-50) and it eliminates all compatibility issues. Use your foreign QES for non-government purposes (signing contracts, commercial transactions) where it will be recognized without problems.
"I live abroad and never visit Bulgaria. Do I really need my own KEP?"
Not necessarily. If you have a Bulgarian accountant handling your NRA filings (which you almost certainly should — see Running a Bulgarian Company from Abroad), your accountant files using their own KEP under a power of attorney. You do not need your own KEP for tax compliance. However, having an Evrotrust KEP is still useful for signing contracts, authorizing Commercial Register changes, and accessing government e-services when needed. It is free for basic use and takes 5 minutes to set up.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a KEP in Bulgaria?
Can a foreigner get a KEP in Bulgaria?
Do I need an LNCH to get a KEP?
How much does a KEP cost in Bulgaria?
Can my accountant file NRA declarations using their own KEP?
Can I use a foreign EU electronic signature for NRA filings?
Which KEP provider is best for foreigners not living in Bulgaria?
How long is a KEP valid and how do I renew it?
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Book Free Consultation →Disclaimer: This article provides general information about qualified electronic signatures in Bulgaria and does not constitute legal advice. Pricing and procedures may change — verify current details with the provider before applying. Consult our team for advice tailored to your specific situation. Last updated: April 8, 2026.