What is e-APP (electronic Apostille Program) / e-apostille (Program for electronic Apostille)?
The National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID) has introduced another innovation in the provision of administrative services by offering an electronic apostille (e-apostille) service. The project was developed in accordance with the Hague Conference on Private International Law’s Pilot Program for Electronic Apostille (e-APP) and the National Association of Notaries of the United States, dated March 10, 2006, the motto of which is "Closer and Closer to Reality."
Countries offering the electronic apostille service are fewer in number compared to those maintaining an electronic apostille register (e-Register). Some of the countries providing the e-apostille service are Austria, Spain, Moldova, New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark, etc., while over 30 countries maintain an electronic register (according to the Hague Conference on Private International Law).
The differences between the electronic apostille program and the electronic register are:
- Electronic Apostille Program (e-APP) – allows for the submission of applications for both electronic and/or physical apostilles, payment, receipt of the electronic apostille, and the ability to query already issued apostilles.
- Electronic Register (e-Register) – only allows for the querying of already issued apostilles (by the unique apostille number).
In Bulgaria, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintain an electronic register of issued apostilles. Since June 15, 2020, the National Center for Information and Documentation has not only maintained an electronic register but also offers an electronic apostille program.
The electronic apostille (e-apostille) holds the same value and contains the same requisites, complying with the requirements of the Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, as a paper apostille. The only difference between the paper and electronic apostilles is in the stamps and signatures: with the electronic version, it’s an electronic signature and seal, while with the paper version, they are applied manually. However, in both cases, the weight and validity are the same. Regarding the validity of electronic apostilles, it remains the same as with paper apostilles, i.e., it is indefinite.
La Fit Trans has already submitted over 50 applications for electronic apostilles, and we have found the program to be reliable with the necessary security measures for personal data protection and payment systems. The service is also extremely fast. By using the electronic apostille service, both time and costs associated with translating and applying apostilles to educational documents are reduced, which is why we highly recommend it. We can characterize the NACID’s electronic apostille service as:
- Efficient
- Easy to use and fast
- Secure payment system and personal data protection
- Green – focused on preserving the planet’s resources
Educational documents for pre-school, school, and professional education and training that can be submitted through the electronic apostille program are:
- Diploma for Secondary education issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Supplement of Dimploma for Secondary education issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Duplicate of Diploma for the secondary education issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Primary education certificate issued AFTER 01.06.2009;
- Duplicate of primary education certificate issued AFTER 01.06.2009;
- Professional qualification Certificate issued AFTER 01.06.2008;
- Supplement of certificate of professional qualification issued AFTER 01.06.2008;
- Duplicate of the certificate of professional competence issued AFTER 01.06.2008;
- Certificate of Completion of the First Stage of Upper Secondary Education issued AFTER 01.06.2020;
- Supplement to the Certificate of Completion of the First Stage of Upper Secondary Education issued AFTER 01.06.2020;
- Duplicate Certificate of Completion of the First Stage of Upper Secondary Education issued AFTER 01.06.2020;
- Certificate of Completion of Upper Secondary Education AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Appendix to the Certificate of Completion of Upper Secondary Education issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Duplicate Certificate of Secondary School Completion issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Certificate of Examination Completion in a General Education Subject not included in the secondary education diploma issued AFTER 01.01.2007;
- Certificate of Professional Qualification issued by the Vocational Training Centre issued AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Duplicate Certificate of Professional Qualification (issued by the Vocational Training Centre issued AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Certificate of Validation of Professional Qualification issued AFTER 27.03.2015;
- Duplicate Certificate of Validation of Professional Qualifications issued AFTER 27.03.2015;
- Certificate of Partial Validation of Professional Qualifications issued AFTER 27.03.2015;
- Certificate of Vocational Training issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Duplicate Certificate of Vocational Training issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Certificate of Competence in [specific field] issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Duplicate Certificate of Competence in [specific field] issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Certificate of Competence in Welding issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Duplicate Certificate of Competence in Welding(issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Certificate of Validation of Professional Qualification issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Duplicate Certificate of Validation of Professional Qualification issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Certificate of Partial Validation of Professional Qualification issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016;
- Duplicate Certificate of Partial Validation of Professional Qualification issued by the Vocational Training Centre AFTER 01.08.2016.
Educational documents from higher education institutions and scientific organizations that can be submitted through the electronic apostille program are:
- Diploma of higher education, issued AFTER 01.01.2012;
- Diploma Supplement of higher education issued AFTER 01.01.2012;
- Doctor of Education and Science Degree issued AFTER 01.01.2018;
- Education and Research Degree, issued AFTER 01.01.2018;
- Doctor of Science Degree issued AFTER 01.01.2018;
- Certificate of Recognition of Foreign Higher Education issued AFTER 01.01.2010;
- Duplicate Certificate of Recognition of Foreign Higher Education issued AFTER 01.01.2010;
- Certificate of Degree Recognition from a Foreign Institution/Scientific Organization issued AFTER 17.07.2018;
- Official Statement of Defended Dissertation;
- Academic Position Certificate/Confirmation;
- Degree and Title Certificate issued AFTER 04.05.2018.
Through the electronic apostille program, applications can also be submitted for the recognition of professional qualifications for non-regulated professions obtained within the Republic of Bulgaria, required for access or the exercise of a regulated profession in another country, as well as for the recognition of the rights of individuals who have completed educational qualification degrees up to December 27, 1995, and higher education with the degree "specialist in..." in the country.
For educational documents issued before January 1, 2007, electronic apostilles can also be issued, but an application cannot be submitted through the electronic apostille program, and the original document must be provided to NACID.