Bulgarian ID card: validity period and renewal
A Bulgarian citizen's ID card is valid for 4 or 10 years depending on age, and a new application must be filed within 30 days if the card has expired, been damaged, lost or stolen. This page reports the periods read from the Law on Bulgarian Identity Documents (Закон за българските лични документи, ЗБЛД).
Official documents and institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
Validity
- A citizen aged 14 to 18 gets a card valid for 4 years; once 18 is reached, 10 years (art. 30 para. 1).
- A person aged 70 or over may be issued a card valid for 30 years (the law says 'may', not 'must').
- If fingerprints cannot temporarily be taken, a card valid for 12 months is issued (art. 30 para. 2).
When to apply
- First card: within 30 days after turning 14 (art. 29 para. 1). A person who has acquired or regained citizenship applies within the same period after the data are entered in the National Population Database (Национална база данни 'Население'); citizens living abroad apply after returning to Bulgaria (art. 29 paras 2–3).
- Expired, damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen card: apply for a new one within 30 days (art. 31 para. 2).
- On request, a new card may also be issued before the old one expires (art. 31 para. 3).
How long the card takes
| Service | Time (per the law) |
|---|---|
| Ordinary service | Up to 30 days from acceptance of the application |
| Fast service | Up to 3 working days |
| Express service | Up to 8 working hours |
| At a consulate or embassy abroad: ordinary | Up to 45 days |
| At a consulate or embassy abroad: fast | Up to 30 days |
When a card is declared invalid
Under art. 32 para. 1 a card is declared invalid when it has expired, when personal data change, when the permanent address changes, when it is reported lost or stolen, or when a new card is received and the old one is not handed back. A card declared invalid cannot be made valid again (art. 32 para. 4).
Cards are issued and replaced by units of the Ministry of the Interior (МВР) at the person's permanent address (art. 31 para. 1). This page covers a Bulgarian citizen's card; the documents for foreigners living in Bulgaria are listed separately in the law.
This page is not legal advice
Frequently asked questions
My ID card has expired. How long do I have?
The law requires the holder of an expired card to apply for a new one within 30 days (art. 31 para. 2); an expired card can be declared invalid (art. 32 para. 1 item 3).
Can I renew before it expires?
Yes. Under the law a new card can also be issued before the validity period ends, on the person's request (art. 31 para. 3).
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Закон за българските лични документи — чл. 29–32 (lex.bg, 8 Ekim 2026'da okunan birleştirilmiş metin) — https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134424576 · 2026-10-08
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