Recognition of foreign diplomas in Bulgaria
Recognising a foreign diploma in Bulgaria is not one procedure but two separate routes. Academic recognition of higher education sits with НАЦИД, while school-level documents go through the regional education directorates of the Ministry of Education. Practising a regulated profession requires professional recognition on top of that — usually from a different authority altogether.
Official documents and institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-08-16
Academic and professional recognition differ
Academic recognition establishes which level of the Bulgarian system your qualification corresponds to; it is what you need to continue studying or to present a qualification generally. Professional recognition grants access to a regulated profession — medicine, architecture, law and others — and comes from the competent authority for that profession. Academic recognition alone confers no right to practise.
Which document goes where
| Document | Route |
|---|---|
| Higher education diplomas and degrees | НАЦИД — academic recognition procedure |
| School documents and secondary education | Regional education directorate under the Ministry of Education |
| Access to a regulated profession | The authority competent for that profession |
| Qualification obtained inside the EU | EU professional qualifications framework plus the national authority |
What is usually required
- The original diploma or a duly certified copy, apostilled or legalised as applicable.
- A transcript and syllabus where the content of the programme has to be compared.
- Bulgarian translations with the translator's signature certified.
- Information on where the study was actually delivered — asked explicitly for distance and branch-campus programmes.
What tends to slow a case down
No comparable Bulgarian programme, differences in credits and practical training, the need to confirm that the institution is recognised in its own country, and inconsistent name spellings are the usual causes of delay. The authority may then request further documents or an examination. Obtaining a programme description from the issuing institution in advance removes most of those questions.
No fees or timelines here
This is not legal or financial advice
Frequently asked questions
Is an EU diploma recognised automatically?
Academic recognition is not automatic, but the EU framework simplifies the procedure, particularly for regulated professions. Confirm the specifics with the competent authority.
Can I apply for a job before recognition is complete?
For unregulated professions an employer may assess your qualification itself. For regulated professions, practising without recognition is not possible.
Does a UK or US degree follow a different route?
The route is the same, but legalisation differs by country and the institution's status must be verifiable. Check the requirements for your country of study before applying.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Национален център за информация и документация (НАЦИД) — https://www.nacid.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
- Your Europe — AB'de mesleki yeterliliklerin tanınması — https://europa.eu/youreurope/ · 2026-08-16
Related topics
Apostille in Bulgaria: which authority certifies what
What an apostille does, which Bulgarian authority handles which document type, and the correct order of steps for a foreign document.
Higher education in Bulgaria
State and private universities, the Bologna cycles, English-taught programmes and diploma recognition through НАЦИД, Bulgaria's ENIC/NARIC centre.
The school system in Bulgaria
Stages from kindergarten to upper secondary, compulsory schooling, state versus private schools and language support for foreign pupils.