# Bilateral legal-assistance treaties and document legalisation
Source: https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/document-legalization/bilateral-legal-assistance-treaties-and-document-legalisation/
The applicable route for the country and document
La Fit Trans checks whether a bilateral legal-assistance treaty applies between Bulgaria and the relevant country and what it covers. We then identify the required apostille, consular legalisation, translation or other preparation and provide one clear quotation.
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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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and arranges the necessary steps.
## What does a bilateral legal-assistance treaty change?
Where an applicable treaty provision exists, an official document bearing the required signatures and seals may be exempt from further legalisation. This can save time and administrative steps. The exemption depends on the exact treaty wording, not merely on the country name.
## Does the treaty exempt every document from legalisation?
Not necessarily. Some treaties cover only certain official documents or require particular authentication details. Private documents, copies, powers of attorney and documents for a specialised recipient may follow a different route. We inspect the actual document before proposing the service.
## Is an apostille needed when the Hague Convention also applies?
If both a bilateral treaty and the Hague Apostille Convention could apply, the suitable route must be checked for the specific document and recipient. An apostille is usually unnecessary where the treaty grants an exemption, but the scope and receiving authority's requirements must first be confirmed.
## Which formalities must the document contain?
We normally check the competent issuer, signature, capacity of the signatory, seal, date and reference number. Electronic extracts, notarised copies and attachments may carry additional conditions. A legible copy of every page lets us identify missing elements before the order begins.
## Is a translation still required?
Yes, when the receiving authority does not accept the language of the original. A legal-assistance treaty may remove legalisation, but it does not translate the content or cancel the required form of translation. We prepare the translation and its certification for the intended use.
## How is a foreign document prepared for Bulgaria?
We check the country and issuing authority, the applicable treaty, existing signatures and seals and the Bulgarian recipient's requirements. We then state whether a certified translation is sufficient or another authentication step is required. The client receives one ordered route, price and schedule.
## How is a Bulgarian document prepared for use abroad?
We identify the Bulgarian issuer, the foreign receiving authority and whether the treaty exempts that exact document type. If no exemption applies, we propose the appropriate apostille or legalisation route together with translation and delivery.
## What should you send for an accurate quotation?
Customers send a legible copy of the document, including every page, attachment, signature and seal. Customers state the country and institution where it will be presented, the required deadline and delivery method. We will check the applicable route and return a specific quotation without unnecessary services.
## Question topics
- [Document Legalization 139](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/document-legalization/)
- [Online translation and legalisation of documents 12](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/online-translation-and-legalisation-of-documents/)
- [Offices for translation and legalization 5](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/offices-for-translation-and-legalization/)
- [Translation and legalization orders 5](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/translation-and-legalization-orders/)
- [Translation of documents 20](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/translation-of-documents/)
- [Specialized translations 2](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/specialized-translations/)
- [Quality process management 5](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/quality-process-management/)
- [Interpreting 10](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/interpreting/)
## Search in questions
## More questions on this topic
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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...
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### [How to legalize a Bulgarian educational document?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/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...
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### [How is the document legalisation procedure determined?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/document-legalization/how-is-the-document-legalisation-procedure-determined/)
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/frequently-asked-questions/document-legalization/how-is-the-document-legalisation-procedure-determined/)
### [How is a statement of claim translated and legalised for use abroad?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/document-legalization/how-is-a-statement-of-claim-translated-and-legalised-for-use-abroad/)
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...
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### [How is a secondary education diploma obtained in a foreign country equated to Bulgarian education?](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/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/frequently-asked-questions/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/frequently-asked-questions/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/frequently-asked-questions/document-legalization/how-is-legalization-charged/)
## Related services
[Document translation](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/document-translation-services/) [Document legalization](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/document-legalization/) [Apostille](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/apostille/) [Online order](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/online-translations/) [Prices](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/translation-and-legalization-prices/) [Contacts](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/translation-and-legalization-contacts/)
## 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.
[Online order](https://my.lafit-trans.com/?lang=en) [La Fit Trans contacts](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/translation-and-legalization-contacts/) [Prices](https://www.lafit-trans.com/en/translation-and-legalization-prices/)