Apostille
What is an Apostille?
An Apostille is a stemple type certificate that certifies the authenticity of the signature of the person signing the document; the capacity in which the person has acted; and the authenticity of the seal or stamp affixed to the document.
The Apostille is drawn up in the official language of the State and is placed on the document itself or on an additional sheet thereof, as an integral part. It is often drawn up in the official language of the country and in English, and only the title should always be present in French (Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961).
Pursuant to the Hague Convention, each Member State designates the authorities, which are empowered to affix an apostille. Each of the said authorities keeps a register of the issued apostilles, indicating the serial number and date of its placement; the name of the person, who signed the public act and the capacity in which he has acted.
Apostille certification of documents issued in Bulgaria
In the Republic of Bulgaria, the authorities affixing an apostille are the Regional Administrations, the Ministry of Justice, the National Center for Information and Documentation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The requirements for issuing a Bulgarian document in order to be certified with an apostille depends on the type of the document and the issuing authority.
Several most common types of documents can be distinguished by the authorities affixing an apostille.
Apostille certification by Regional Administrations
Apostille certification by the Regional Administrations is most common in the case of a birth certificate and a civil marriage certificate, certificate of marital status, spouse and children; a certificate of permanent address; a certificate of current address; a certificate of marriage by a Bulgarian citizen abroad; a certificate of identity of a person with different names etc.
Certification with apostille by Regional Administrations can be checked at: http://apostille.gov.bg/
Apostille certification from the Ministry of Justice
Certification with apostille by the Ministry of Justice is placed on documents issued by courts and such certified by a notary.
In case of documents issued by courts, the most commonly used before a foreign country are a certificate of criminal record and decisions.
The most common documents certified by a notary, which are then certified by an apostille are Power of Attorney and Declaration.
Certification with apostille by the Ministry of Justice can be checked at: https://apostil.mjs.bg
Apostille certification by the National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID)
Certification with apostille by NACID is carried out on all educational documents issued by Bulgarian educational institutions.
The National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID) is the only body in the Republic of Bulgaria that provides the apostille certification entirely online, according to the Pilot Program for Electronic Apostille (e-App) of the Hague Conference on Private International Law and the National Association of Notaries of the United States dated 10.03.2006.
The electronic apostille (e-apostille) has the same value and requisites, observing the requirements of the Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalization of Foreign Public Documents as the paper apostille. The only difference between the paper and the electronic apostille is in the stamps and signatures, as in the case of the electronic they are electronic signature and stamp, and in the case of the paper they are placed manually, but in both variants the burden is the same. Regarding the validity of electronic apostilles, it is preserved again as with paper ones, i.e. it is indefinite.
The most common educational documents for pre-school, school and vocational education and training that can be submitted through the e-apostille program are:
- Diploma for secondary education issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Supplement to the diploma for secondary education issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Certificate of primary education issued AFTER 01.06.2009;
- Certificate of professional qualification issued AFTER 01.06.2008;
- Supplement to the certificate of professional qualification issued AFTER 01.06.2008;
- Certificate of completed first high school stage of secondary education issued AFTER 01.06.2020;
- Supplement to the certificate for completed first high school stage of secondary education, issued AFTER 01.06.2020;
- Certificate of completed high school stage, issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Supplement to a certificate of completed high school stage, issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Certificate of professional qualification issued by the Vocational Training Center AFTER 01.08.2016.;
- Certificate of vocational training issued by the Vocational Training Center AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Certificate of competency issued by the Center for Vocational Training AFTER 01.08.2016.
And in the case of educational documents from higher educational institutions and scientific organizations, which can be submitted through the electronic apostille program are:
- Diploma for completed higher education qualification degree, issued AFTER 01.01.2012;
- Supplement to diploma of higher education issued AFTER 01.01.2012;
- Diploma for educational and scientific degree "Doctor", issued AFTER 01.01.2018;
- Supplement to the diploma of educational and scientific degree, issued AFTER 01.01.2018.;
- Diploma for scientific degree "Doctor of Science", issued AFTER 01.01.2018;
- Certificate of recognized higher education acquired at a foreign higher education institutions, issued AFTER 01.01.2010;
- Certificate of recognition of educational and scientific/scientific degree acquired at a foreign higher education/scientific organization issued AFTER 17.07.2018.
For educational documents issued before 01.01.2007, it is also possible to issue an electronic apostille, but it is necessary to provide the original of the document for reference.
Certification with an apostille from NACID can be checked at: https://apostille.bg
Apostille certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Certification with apostille by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is placed on documents issued by the Registry Agency ( e.g. Certificate of good standing of a company), National Social Security Institute (eg. Certificate of Monthly Pension Amount), National Revenue Agency (e.g. Certificate of the presence or absence of obligations), Directorate General "National Police" (eg. Certificate of Possession of Identity Document).
Certification with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be checked at: https://apostille.mfa.bg