If you are an EU citizen applying for a residence certificate in Bulgaria, or registering a company address, you will almost certainly need a notarized landlord declaration. This is the single document that causes the most confusion and delays in the residence registration process. The landlord must appear in person before a Bulgarian notary to sign a declaration consenting to your residence at the property. It cannot be done remotely, it cannot be replaced by a simple signature, and many landlords have never heard of it.
This guide explains exactly what the notarized landlord declaration is, when you need one, what it must contain, how to get one step by step, and what to do if your landlord is uncooperative. Written by a Bulgarian law firm that has coordinated hundreds of these declarations for foreign clients relocating to Bulgaria.
What Is a Notarized Landlord Declaration?
A notarized landlord declaration (нотариално заверена декларация от наемодателя) is a formal written statement by the property owner in which they consent to a specific person residing at their property address. The declaration is signed before a Bulgarian notary, who authenticates both the landlord's signature and the content of the document.
In legal terms, this is a declaration under Article 92, paragraphs 3 and 6 of the Law on Civil Registration (Закон за гражданската регистрация). The law requires that when a person registers an address at a property they do not own, the property owner must provide a written, notarized declaration of consent.
The notary performs two functions when authenticating the declaration:
- Signature authentication (заверка на подпис) — the notary verifies the landlord's identity and witnesses the signature, confirming that the person who signed is who they claim to be.
- Content authentication (заверка на съдържание) — the notary also verifies the content of the declaration, confirming that the information in the document is accurate and reflects the landlord's genuine intent. This is a requirement that was strengthened in recent amendments to improve transparency in residency verification.
The end result is a stamped, sealed document with the notary's registration number that proves the property owner has formally agreed to your residence at the address. This document is then submitted to the Migration Directorate as part of your residence certificate application.
This is not the same as a rental agreement. A rental agreement is a contract between landlord and tenant governing the lease terms. The notarized declaration is a separate, additional document specifically stating that the landlord consents to your address registration at the property. For residence registration, you need both documents.
When Do You Need One?
You will need a notarized landlord declaration in three main situations:
1. EU Residence Certificate Application
When applying for a residence certificate at the Migration Directorate, you must prove you have accommodation in Bulgaria. If you are renting (rather than owning property), this means providing a rental agreement plus a notarized landlord declaration. Without the declaration, the Migration Directorate will not process your application.
This applies regardless of which of the four grounds you are applying under — whether you are a company owner, an employee, self-sufficient (EUR 5,100 in your bank account plus health insurance), or a family member of an existing EU resident. The accommodation proof is a universal requirement across all four grounds. For a full breakdown of the residence certificate process, see our Address Registration for Foreigners in Bulgaria guide.
2. Company Registration Address
When you register a company in Bulgaria (EOOD or OOD), the Commercial Register requires a registered address (седалище и адрес на управление). If that address is a rented property, you need a notarized declaration from the property owner consenting to the company being registered there. This is a separate declaration from the one used for personal residence — it specifically references the company, not you personally.
3. Non-EU Citizens with D Visa or Residence Permit
Non-EU citizens applying for a Type D visa or a residence permit also need proof of accommodation, which includes a notarized landlord declaration. The requirements are substantially the same, though the application is submitted under the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (Закон за чужденците в Република България) rather than the EU Citizens Law.
If you own the property, you do not need this declaration. Property owners simply present their title deed (нотариален акт) as proof of accommodation. The notarized landlord declaration is only required when you are residing at someone else's property.
What the Declaration Must Contain
The notarized landlord declaration is a relatively straightforward document, but it must include specific information to be accepted by the Migration Directorate. Here is what it must contain:
- Full name and personal data of the landlord — the property owner's full legal name, EGN (Bulgarian personal number) or passport number, and current address.
- Property identification — the complete address of the property, including street name, number, floor, apartment number, city, and municipality. It should match the address on the property deed exactly.
- Property deed reference — a reference to the нотариален акт (notarial deed) number, volume, and registry entry that proves ownership.
- Full name and personal data of the tenant — your full legal name as it appears on your passport, your passport or ID number, and your nationality.
- Explicit consent statement — a clear statement that the property owner consents to the named person registering their address and residing at the property.
- Date and signature — the date the declaration is signed and the landlord's signature, witnessed and authenticated by the notary.
The declaration is typically one to two pages and is written in Bulgarian. Your lawyer or the notary's office will prepare the document in advance so the landlord only needs to review and sign it.
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Get Assistance →Step-by-Step: How to Get One
The process is straightforward once you know what to expect. Here is the step-by-step procedure:
- Prepare the declaration text in advance. Have a lawyer or the notary's office draft the declaration in Bulgarian before the appointment. This ensures the document contains all required information and is properly formatted. If you are working with Innovires, we prepare the declaration for you and send it to the notary in advance.
- Find a notary (нотариус). Any licensed Bulgarian notary can authenticate the declaration. There is no requirement to use a notary in a specific district — you can visit any notary anywhere in Bulgaria. We typically recommend a notary near the landlord's location for convenience. You can find licensed notaries through the Bulgarian Notary Chamber.
- The landlord attends the notary appointment in person. This is the critical step. The landlord must physically appear at the notary's office with their identification and property documents. The notary will verify the landlord's identity, confirm that the landlord understands and intends the content of the declaration, and witness the signature. In most cases, this cannot be done through a power of attorney.
- The notary authenticates the declaration. The notary stamps and seals the declaration, records it in their register, and assigns a registration number. The authenticated declaration is ready immediately — there is no processing time or waiting period.
- You receive the original notarized declaration. Take the original to the Migration Directorate along with your other documents. We recommend making a certified copy for your records, as the Migration Directorate may retain the original.
The landlord must appear in person. This is the requirement that catches most people off guard. The landlord cannot simply sign the declaration at home and have someone else deliver it to the notary. The notary must witness the signature and verify the landlord's identity in person. Plan accordingly — discuss this with your landlord early, ideally before you sign the lease.
Documents the Landlord Needs to Bring
When the landlord visits the notary, they must bring the following documents:
| Document | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valid ID | Bulgarian лична карта (national ID card) or passport | Must be current and not expired |
| Property title deed | Нотариален акт (notarial deed) — the original or a certified copy | Proves the landlord owns the property |
| Rental agreement | The signed lease contract between landlord and tenant | Some notaries request this for reference |
Some notaries may also request a recent property tax receipt (данъчна оценка) or a cadastral sketch (скица), but this is not universal. If you are working with a lawyer, they will confirm the specific notary's requirements in advance so there are no surprises on the day.
If the property has multiple owners (for example, a married couple who jointly own the apartment), all owners must either appear at the notary and sign the declaration, or the co-owner who appears must hold a notarized power of attorney from the absent co-owner specifically authorizing the signing of this declaration.
Cost and Timeline
The notarized landlord declaration is one of the cheapest and fastest parts of the entire residence registration process.
| Item | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Notary fee for authentication | EUR 10 - 25 | 15-30 minutes |
| Declaration preparation (if done by a lawyer) | Included in service package | Same day or next day |
| Certified copy (optional) | EUR 3 - 5 | Immediate |
The notary fee covers the authentication of the landlord's signature and verification of the declaration's content. The exact amount varies slightly by notary, but it is regulated by the Tariff for Notary Fees (Тарифа за нотариалните такси) and falls within the EUR 10-25 range for this type of declaration.
The entire visit to the notary takes 15 to 30 minutes, including identity verification, review of the declaration, signing, and stamping. The declaration is ready immediately — you walk out with the completed, authenticated document and can use it the same day.
Timeline tip: Schedule the notary appointment for the day before (or the morning of) your Migration Directorate visit. The declaration has no expiration date once notarized, but presenting a recently dated declaration looks better and avoids any questions from the officer reviewing your file.
For context, here is how the declaration cost compares to the other fees in the residence registration process:
| Fee | Amount (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Notarized landlord declaration | EUR 10 - 25 |
| Paper residence certificate | EUR 7 |
| Plastic residence card (standard) | EUR 18 |
| Plastic residence card (expedited) | EUR 36 |
What If You Don't Have a Landlord?
Not everyone arriving in Bulgaria has a rental arrangement already in place. Here are the most common scenarios and how to handle them:
You haven't found an apartment yet
If you are still searching for a rental, you cannot obtain the notarized declaration until you have a landlord. The declaration is specific to a particular property and a particular landlord. You will need to find accommodation first, sign a lease, and then coordinate the notary visit with the landlord.
You are staying in a hotel or Airbnb
Hotels and short-term rentals do not provide notarized landlord declarations. These are temporary accommodation arrangements and are not suitable for residence registration. You need a proper rental agreement with a landlord who is willing to go to the notary.
Your landlord refuses to cooperate
Some landlords — particularly those renting informally or not declaring rental income — refuse to visit a notary. If your landlord will not cooperate, you have two realistic options: negotiate and explain that this is a standard legal requirement (many landlords are simply unfamiliar with the process and become cooperative once they understand it), or find a different rental with a landlord who is willing.
Innovires can help
If you are relocating to Bulgaria and need accommodation that comes with a cooperative landlord, we can help arrange this. We work with property owners in Sofia who are experienced with the residence registration process and are willing to provide the notarized declaration. This removes the single biggest bottleneck from your relocation timeline.
Planning ahead saves weeks. The most common reason for delays in the residence registration process is not bureaucracy at the Migration Directorate — it is coordinating the notarized landlord declaration. If you start looking for accommodation and discussing the declaration with landlords before you arrive in Bulgaria, you can complete the entire registration process within days of arrival.
Get Your Landlord Declaration Sorted
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a notarized landlord declaration in Bulgaria?
Does the landlord have to appear in person before the notary?
How much does a notarized landlord declaration cost?
Can I use a notarized landlord declaration for company registration?
What documents does the landlord need to bring to the notary?
How long does the notarization process take?
What if my landlord refuses to go to the notary?
Is the notarized landlord declaration the same as a rental agreement?
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about notarized landlord declarations in Bulgaria and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements may vary based on individual circumstances and are subject to change. Notary fees are approximate and may vary. Consult our team for advice tailored to your specific situation. Last updated: April 6, 2026.