Apostille in Bulgaria: which authority certifies what
An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signatory and the seal on a public document, between states party to the Hague Convention. Bulgaria has no single apostille authority: competence depends on who issued the document. Approaching the wrong authority is the most common source of lost time here.
Official documents and institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-08-16
What it certifies and what it does not
An apostille says nothing about the content of a document — only that the signature, capacity and seal are genuine. An apostilled diploma is therefore not a recognised diploma; recognition is a separate procedure. The apostille also works only between Hague Convention states; for other countries the consular legalisation chain applies.
How competence is divided
| Document type | Competent authority |
|---|---|
| Court decisions, notarial and prosecution documents | Ministry of Justice |
| Educational documents — diplomas, transcripts | Ministry of Education and Science |
| Civil status and municipal documents | Regional administration / Foreign Ministry, depending on issuer |
| Documents issued by ministries and central agencies | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
The right order for a foreign document
Apostille in the issuing state
If the document was issued outside Bulgaria, the apostille is affixed by the competent authority of that state. Bulgaria cannot add it.Translate into Bulgarian
The apostilled document is translated by a provider that meets the Foreign Ministry's requirements.Certify the translator's signature
The translator's signature is certified under the procedure in force, normally before a notary. Confirm the receiving body's requirement first.Submit to the receiving body
A municipality, registry office, university or court may add its own conditions; check the acceptance criteria there.
Where files get stuck
- Asking for an apostille on a plain photocopy — it normally goes on an original or a properly certified copy.
- Reversing the order, translating before the apostille is affixed, which means repeating the procedure.
- Inconsistent spelling of names; if transliteration varies, an authority may not accept that the documents concern the same person.
- The age of the document itself: many bodies want a recently issued extract, and an apostille does not refresh an old one.
No fees or timelines here — deliberately
This is not legal or financial advice
Frequently asked questions
Do EU documents still need an apostille in Bulgaria?
For a set of civil status documents the EU applies a simplified regime using multilingual standard forms. Whether your document falls within it should be checked with the body you are submitting to.
Is an apostille enough on its own?
Rarely. Most Bulgarian authorities also require a Bulgarian translation and, depending on the case, certification of the translator's signature.
Can a representative handle the apostille for me?
Usually yes, on presentation of a power of attorney. The required form of that authorisation should be confirmed with the administration concerned.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Министерство на външните работи (МВнР) — консулски услуги — https://www.mfa.bg/ · 2026-08-16
- Министерство на правосъдието — https://www.justice.government.bg/ · 2026-08-16
- Министерство на образованието и науката (МОН) — https://www.mon.bg/ · 2026-08-16
- Единен портал за електронни административни услуги (eGov) — https://egov.bg/ · 2026-08-16
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