# Document Legalization - questions and answers
Source: https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/
Document legalization, apostilles and authentication
Document legalization follows different procedures depending on the country of issue, the country where the document will be presented and the type of document. The questions cover apostilles, consular authentication, certified translations, competent authorities, timeframes, prices and online orders. The applicable international agreements and the receiving authority's requirements determine the precise process.
[Online order](https://my.lafit-trans.com/?lang=en) [Offices](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/offices/)
### [Apostille](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/apostille/)
What does an apostille certify? An apostille is a standard certificate under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. It authenticates the signature on a public document, the capacity in which the signer acted and, where...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/apostille/)
### [Bilateral legal-assistance treaties and document legalisation](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/list-of-countries-with-which-bulgaria-has-signed-a-bilateral-agreement/)
The current treaty, document type and issuer, required formalities, destination country and recipient requirements all matter. La Fit Trans checks the specific case against the current information of the Bulgarian...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/list-of-countries-with-which-bulgaria-has-signed-a-bilateral-agreement/)
### [How to legalize a Bulgarian educational document?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/how-to-legalize-a-bulgarian-educational-document/)
What determines the legalisation route for an educational document? Bulgarian diplomas, supplements, academic transcripts, certificates and attestations are prepared for use abroad according to their actual issuer and...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/how-to-legalize-a-bulgarian-educational-document/)
### [How is the document legalisation procedure determined?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/document-legalization/)
Document legalisation is the general term for authentication steps that allow the official origin of a public document to be recognised outside its country of issue. Where the route includes an apostille or another...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/document-legalization/)
### [How is a statement of claim translated and legalised for use abroad?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalisation-of-statement-of-claim-ministry-of-justice/)
A statement of claim sets out the facts, relief sought and evidential attachments by which court proceedings are commenced. When the document or a copy will be used in another country, the service may include...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalisation-of-statement-of-claim-ministry-of-justice/)
### [How is a secondary education diploma obtained in a foreign country equated to Bulgarian education?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/how-is-a-secondary-education-diploma-obtained-in-a-foreign-country-equated-to-bulgarian-education/)
What does recognition of a foreign diploma mean? Recognition is the official written confirmation that secondary education completed at a foreign school or a school in the European Schools system corresponds to...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/how-is-a-secondary-education-diploma-obtained-in-a-foreign-country-equated-to-bulgarian-education/)
### [How is legalization charged?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/how-is-legalization-charged/)
What makes up the final price? The final price normally has two principal components: the fee charged by the public authority, consular office or embassy and the fee for coordinating the service. The first follows an...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/how-is-legalization-charged/)
### [What is the difference between the electronic apostille and the electronic registry?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-the-difference-between-the-electronic-apostille-and-the-electronic-registry/)
How are e-APP, e-Apostilles and e-Registers related? The HCCH electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP) is a model for applying the Hague Apostille Convention through digital technology. It has two components that may be...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-the-difference-between-the-electronic-apostille-and-the-electronic-registry/)
### [What is the difference between the physical and the electronic Apostille?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-the-difference-between-the-physical-and-the-electronic-apostille/)
What do the two forms of Apostille have in common? Both paper and electronic Apostilles are issued by a Competent Authority under the Hague Apostille Convention. Each certifies the authenticity of the signature on a...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-the-difference-between-the-physical-and-the-electronic-apostille/)
### [What type of legalization must a document issued by a foreign country carry?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-type-of-legalization-must-a-document-issued-by-a-foreign-country-carry/)
What determines the authentication required for a foreign document? There is no single authentication that applies to every country and document. The route follows the issuing country, the document and its issuer,...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-type-of-legalization-must-a-document-issued-by-a-foreign-country-carry/)
### [What are the advantages of La Fit Trans being an intermediary for attestations and legalizations?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-are-the-advantages-of-la-fit-trans-being-an-intermediary-for-attestations-and-legalizations/)
What is the intermediary’s role in attestation and legalization? The La Fit Trans team is familiar with the sequence of attestations and legalization and coordinates the document, competent authority, translation and...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-are-the-advantages-of-la-fit-trans-being-an-intermediary-for-attestations-and-legalizations/)
### [What does the Hague Convention on Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents state?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-does-the-hague-convention-on-abolishing-the-requirement-of-legalization-for-foreign-public-documents-state/)
How does the Convention simplify the use of public documents? The Convention removes traditional diplomatic or consular legalisation for public documents executed in one Contracting State and produced in another State...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-does-the-hague-convention-on-abolishing-the-requirement-of-legalization-for-foreign-public-documents-state/)
### [What is e-APP (electronic Apostille Program) / e-apostille (Program for electronic Apostille)?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-e-app-electronic-apostille-program-e-apostille-program-for-electronic-apostille/)
What is the e-APP programme? The electronic Apostille Programme, or e-APP, is the Hague Conference on Private International Law framework for applying the Apostille Convention through electronic technology. The HCCH...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-e-app-electronic-apostille-program-e-apostille-program-for-electronic-apostille/)
### [What is document legalization?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-document-legalization/)
What does document legalisation mean? Legalisation is a formal process that authenticates the origin of an official document so it can be presented to an authority in a country other than the country of issue. It...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-document-legalization/)
### [What is an Arabic page in the passports?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-an-arabic-page-in-the-passports/)
What does an “Arabic page” in a passport mean? It is an Arabic translation of the identity details shown on the passport biodata page. The term does not describe a separate type of passport and is not a visa in itself;...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/what-is-an-arabic-page-in-the-passports/)
### [When does a discharge summary need translation and legalisation?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-discharge-summary-epicrisis/)
A discharge summary is a dense medical record. It may contain the final and associated diagnoses, ICD codes, medical history, investigation results, procedures, operation notes, medicine regimens, the patient’s...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-discharge-summary-epicrisis/)
### [When does an award certificate need translation or legalisation?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-certificate/)
Awards and certificates may record a prize, participation, achievement, training or contribution to a community. They can be issued by a school, university, employer, professional association, sports club, competition...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-certificate/)
### [When does a company balance sheet require legalisation?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-a-company-balance-sheet/)
A balance sheet presents a company’s assets, liabilities and equity at a particular date. It may be a standalone statement or part of annual, interim or consolidated financial statements together with an income...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-a-company-balance-sheet/)
### [When does an invoice require legalisation?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-an-invoice/)
An invoice records a particular supply of goods or services and links the issuer, customer, date, number, currency, taxable amount, tax and total. It may be issued on paper or electronically and often belongs to a...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-an-invoice/)
### [When does a bank statement need translation and legalisation?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-bank-statement/)
A bank statement records account-holder details, a period, balances and transactions, but its layout and purpose vary between banks. A periodic statement, a transaction history and a bank certificate are not...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-bank-statement/)
### [When must a business trip order be translated and legalised?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-business-trip-order/)
A business trip order is an employer's internal instrument connecting a named employee with a work assignment, destination and period. When it is submitted abroad or to a Bulgarian authority, the translation must convey...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-business-trip-order/)
### [Which Bulgarian institutions can affix an Apostille?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/which-bulgarian-institutions-can-affix-an-apostille/)
Which authorities issue Apostilles in Bulgaria? Bulgaria has designated four groups of competent authorities: the Ministry of Justice, the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID), the regional...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/which-bulgarian-institutions-can-affix-an-apostille/)
### [Which documents can be legalized in the Ministry of Justice?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/which-documents-can-be-legalized-in-the-ministry-of-justice/)
The Bulgarian Ministry of Justice issues apostilles for public documents drawn up by an authority or official connected with the administration of justice. This includes court acts and documents issued by prosecutors,...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/which-documents-can-be-legalized-in-the-ministry-of-justice/)
### [Which countries are parties to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/which-countries-are-parties-to-the-hague-convention-abolishing-the-requirement-of-legalisation-for-foreign-public-documents/)
What does “parties to the Convention” mean? The official term is “Contracting Parties”, which is not the same as membership of the HCCH. The HCCH status table, last updated on 30 June 2026, lists 130 states and...
[More information](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/which-countries-are-parties-to-the-hague-convention-abolishing-the-requirement-of-legalisation-for-foreign-public-documents/)
## Support for your particular case
The La Fit Trans team relates the general information to the specific document, language and receiving institution. The quotation then covers the necessary translation and certification, with a clear understanding of the agreed result.
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