(*When the document is to be used before a state that is not a party to the Hague Convention and has no bilateral relations with Bulgaria (e. g. Canada), see the question "Legalization of municipal documents for countries outside the 1961 Hague Convention.")
Document issued in Bulgaria
1. Requirements for the document format.
1.1. Original with a rectangular stamp certifying the signatures and seals affixed, from the municipality issuing the document.
2. Steps for legalization of the document and fees.
2.1. Company fee for translation of the document.
2.2. State fee for the Sofia City Regional Administration.
2.3. Company fee for submitting the document to the Sofia City Regional Administration.
2.4. State fee for the "Consular Relations" Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2.5. Company fee for submitting the document to the "Consular Relations" Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Order processing time:
Translation - 48 hours (standard order); 24 hours (fast order); within the day (express order).
Sofia City Regional Administration
- standard order - from 2 to 7 working days.
"Consular Relations" Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- standard order - 4 working days;
- fast order - 2 working days;
- express order - 1 working day.
Document issued by a foreign country.
1. Requirements for the document format.
1.1. With an APOSTILLE from member states of the Hague Convention (see question "Which countries are members of the Hague Convention?").
1.2. In cases where the document comes from a country that is not a member of the Hague Convention and has no bilateral agreement, it must be issued as an original with a wet stamp from the foreign ministry of the respective country and a stamp from the Bulgarian embassy in that country.
1.3. For Macedonia, Romania, Russia and other countries with which we have bilateral relations, the document can be legalized without an APOSTILLE (see question "List of countries with which Bulgaria has signed a bilateral agreement").
2. Steps for legalization of the document and fees.
2.1. Company fee for translation of the document.
2.2. State fee for the Notary.
2.3. Company fee for the Notary.
Order processing time:
Translation - 48 hours (standard order); 24 hours (fast order); within the day (express order).
Notary
- standard order - 2 working days;
- express order - 1 working day.