Foreign documents intended for use in Bulgaria may require different formalities depending on what type of document it is and where it was issued or signed.

The first distinction is particularly important: some documents are prepared specifically for you to sign, while others are official documents that have already been issued by a foreign authority.

This guide explains both situations, including foreign notarization, Bulgarian consular notarization, Apostille and legalization requirements, translation into Bulgarian, consular locations and indicative costs.

1. Two Ways to Sign Documents Prepared for Use in Bulgaria

For powers of attorney, declarations, corporate resolutions and other Bulgarian-language private documents prepared specifically for use in Bulgaria, there are generally two alternative signing routes.

2. Documents You Sign vs. Documents Already Issued Abroad

It is important to distinguish between documents that require your own signature and official documents that have already been issued by a foreign authority.

3. How Foreign Documents Are Authenticated for Use in Bulgaria

Whether a document was signed before a foreign notary or was already issued by a foreign public authority, it must be presented in a form that can be recognized by the Bulgarian authorities.

There are three principal authentication routes.

4. Countries Where Apostille May Not Be Required Under a Bilateral Treaty

Bulgaria has legal-assistance treaties with a number of countries. Where the relevant treaty exempts the particular document from legalization or further certification, the foreign document may be accepted without an Apostille.

The document must nevertheless be translated into Bulgarian and the translation must be certified in the required form.

5. Practical Examples by Country

The examples below apply both to documents signed before a foreign notary and to official documents already issued by a foreign authority, such as company register extracts, Certificates of Good Standing, tax certificates and criminal record certificates.

After the foreign document has been authenticated in the required form, it must be translated into Bulgarian. Where the translation is prepared in Bulgaria, the translator's signature must be notarially certified by a Bulgarian notary.

6. Typical Costs Before the Document Reaches Bulgaria

If the foreign-notary or foreign-authority route is used, costs incurred abroad may include issuance of the document, notarization, Apostille, legalization and international courier charges.

Foreign authority, notarial, courier and Apostille fees may change. They are external costs and are payable to the respective authority or provider.

7. Bulgarian Embassy and Consulate Notarial Fees

When a document prepared for use in Bulgaria is signed directly before a Bulgarian consular officer, official notarial fees are charged under the Bulgarian consular tariff.

8. Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates in Key Countries

If you choose the Bulgarian-consulate route for a document that needs to be signed, check which Bulgarian consular office is most convenient for your location.

9. Sending a Foreign Document to Bulgaria

If the document follows the foreign-notary or foreign-authority route, the applicable Apostille or legalization process should be completed before the document is translated in Bulgaria.

A scan may be sufficient for an initial review or translation quotation, but the original document may ultimately be required for translation certification or submission to the Bulgarian authority.

10. Translation and Certification in Bulgaria

Foreign documents intended for use before Bulgarian authorities must be translated into Bulgarian.

Where the translation is performed in Bulgaria, the translator signs the translation and the translator's signature is notarized by a Bulgarian notary.

Corporate Bulgaria's official translation and legalization partner is Ivora. Corporate Bulgaria is not a translation agency. Translation quotations, processing and certification are provided directly by Ivora.

Translation Prices by Language

The final translation category and the number of standard translation pages are determined by the translation provider after reviewing the document.

Certification / Legalization Prices in Bulgaria

11. Example Translation and Certification Costs

12. Foreign Documents Commonly Used by Our Clients

13. Common Mistakes to Avoid

14. Translation and Certification Provider

15. Conclusion

The correct procedure depends first on whether the document still needs to be signed or has already been issued by a foreign authority.

A power of attorney, declaration or corporate document prepared for signing may generally follow either the foreign-notary route or the much shorter Bulgarian-consulate route.

A Certificate of Good Standing, company-register extract, tax certificate, criminal record certificate or other already-issued foreign document does not need to be taken to a Bulgarian consulate for signing. Instead, it must follow the treaty, Apostille or legalization procedure applicable to the country of issue and must then be translated into Bulgarian.

Establishing the correct route before signing, obtaining an Apostille, translating or couriering the original document can avoid substantial delays and unnecessary costs.

This article provides general information only. Exact requirements depend on the country, document type, issuing authority, notarial form and the Bulgarian procedure for which the document will be used. Bilateral treaty exemptions must be assessed according to the scope of the applicable treaty. Consular addresses, appointment systems and external fees may change. Translation and certification prices are indicative and based on the published price list of Corporate Bulgaria's translation partner, Ivora.