# Legalization of a Bank Guarantee
Source: https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/faq/document-legalization/legalization-of-a-bank-guarantee/
Bank guarantee intended for use abroad
A bank guarantee creates an independent obligation by a bank to a named beneficiary. Use in another country depends on an accurate translation, the form in which the guarantee was issued and the recipient’s express requirements; authentication is assessed for the actual document.
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A bank guarantee is used in contracts, public procurement, advance payments, leases and other commercial arrangements. It may be issued on paper, as an electronically signed document or through an authenticated bank message. The form accepted by the beneficiary forms part of the underlying contractual requirement and should not be replaced by assumption.
The translation keeps the guarantor bank, applicant, beneficiary, reference number, amount and currency, expiry date, demand conditions and governing law in the same relationship. Phrases such as “unconditional”, “irrevocable” and “payable on first demand” require particular care because an altered qualification can change the legal and financial effect. Amendments, extensions and variation notices are checked against the principal guarantee.
An apostille is not placed automatically on every bank guarantee. The Hague Convention concerns foreign public documents, whereas a guarantee normally originates from a commercial bank. A recipient may require the original, confirmation by the issuing bank, a certified copy, authentication of a signature or another verification method. Where a notarial certification is used, an apostille may authenticate the notarial act rather than certify the commercial statements in the guarantee.
For a guarantee issued by a Bulgarian bank for use abroad, the beneficiary’s instructions and the issuing bank’s procedure are checked first. The Bulgarian National Bank is not a universal mandatory legalisation stage for every bank guarantee. Depending on the destination and requested form, bank confirmation, notarial certification, an apostille on a notarial document or consular legalisation may be relevant.
A foreign bank guarantee presented in Bulgaria follows the particular Bulgarian recipient’s requirements and the rules of the country of issue. An apostille, a legal-assistance treaty exemption or full legalisation is considered only where it applies to the document or accompanying authentication. A Bulgarian translation does not replace authenticity checks requested by the recipient.
The electronic file, qualified signature, verification code or SWIFT confirmation is assessed separately from the visible wording. A printout of an electronic guarantee does not always carry the same evidential value as the original file. The review therefore covers every page, attachment and amendment, as well as the intended submission method.
La Fit Trans reviews a legible copy or the original electronic file, the countries of issue and use, and the recipient’s instructions. A quotation may cover translation, editorial review, certified copies and the necessary administrative handling, with price and timing based on the actual set. Official reference points are the [Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance on authentication and legalisation](https://www.mfa.bg/bg/uslugi-patuvania/konsulski-uslugi/zaverki-legalizacia/obshta-informatsia) and the [Ministry of Justice apostille service for notarial acts](https://justice.government.bg/home/index/7fafeee0-4d6d-445e-8353-b18bd1c796d2) .
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