An apostille can be needed when you present a Bulgarian public document overseas. Artel-22 has provided translation and legalisation services in Sofia since 1999, including assistance with apostilles. Send us the document and tell us which country and institution will receive it.
What an apostille does
The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 introduced an authentication certificate that replaces diplomatic or consular legalisation where the Convention applies. It verifies the document’s origin through the signature, the signer’s capacity and the relevant seal; it does not certify that the content is correct. See the Convention text.
The Convention entered into force for Bulgaria on 29 April 2001. Use the HCCH status table to check its operation between the countries involved, including dates, objections and territorial coverage. We link to the current table rather than reproduce a country list that can become outdated.
When a different procedure applies
A non-Convention destination may require document legalisation through a different route. Conversely, a treaty exemption can remove the need for an apostille for documents within its scope. The document type matters as well as the countries.
Some public documents moving between EU countries are exempt from apostille and legalisation, with translation simplifications in certain cases. The EU’s official guidance explains which documents qualify. Ask the recipient for its instructions before ordering authentication merely because someone else needed it.
Who issues apostilles in Bulgaria?
The official authority directory identifies four competent authorities:
- Ministry of Justice: court and notarial acts.
- NACID, the National Centre for Information and Documentation: education documents within its remit.
- Regional administrations: documents issued by mayors and municipal administrations.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: other acts within its remit.
Regional administrations took over the municipal-document function from the MFA in January 2019. Education records are covered separately on our diploma legalisation page. You do not need to guess the authority: send the full document, showing its issuer and existing certifications, when asking about the service.
Checking an apostille
The Ministry of Justice register provides a verification interface for its apostilles. NACID has its own official register. Choose the register matching the issuing authority and enter the details requested by that system.
If you cannot locate a record, contact the issuing authority before drawing a conclusion. Also distinguish an authentication check from the recipient’s assessment of whether the underlying document meets its application requirements. An apostille is not a substitute for the correct document.
Documents issued outside Bulgaria
A foreign document’s apostille comes from the competent authority in its country of origin. Check that step before sending the document to Bulgaria. If translation into Bulgarian is needed, include the apostille and every attached page in your request.
Tell us if you have only a scan or if the original is available elsewhere. This lets us discuss preparation and delivery without assuming that an emailed copy is sufficient for the administrative procedure.
Preparing your request and timing
Include the issuing country, destination, document type and intended use. If several documents belong to one application, list them individually and attach the recipient’s instructions. Keep stamps, signatures, page numbers and certification sheets visible in the scans.
The competent authority sets its processing time. Translation and courier delivery may add separate stages, so give us the recipient’s deadline and final delivery address. Discuss the complete set before translating it if further certifications are still to be attached.
How it works
- Send the document by email, bring it to the office or use a courier. Include all relevant pages, the target language, intended use and deadline.
- Receive an individual quote and timeframe for the agreed work. Clarify the document set, certifications and delivery format before confirming.
- The agreed translation or legalisation is carried out. Requirements for submission to an institution are considered under the applicable procedure.
- Receive the completed work at the office, by courier or electronically, depending on the service. Tell us in advance if the recipient needs paper documents.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost?
Official charges are set by the relevant institution. Artel-22’s service is quoted individually after we review the document and the work requested.
Does an apostille expire?
The Convention does not set an expiry period for its effect. A recipient may still require a recently issued underlying document, as explained in the HCCH Handbook.
Can a copy receive an apostille?
This depends on the copy’s status, its certification and the competent authority’s rules. Do not assume that an ordinary scan is equivalent to an authenticated copy.
Should I translate the document first?
Clarify the final document set and recipient’s requirements before arranging translation. Include any certification pages that need to form part of the official translation.
Price
Each translation is priced individually, depending on the document type and length, the language and the deadline. Send the document for a quote and specify whether you also need certification, legalisation or delivery. Specialist texts and urgent work affect pricing; larger volumes may qualify for a discount.
Send us your documents for a quote
Call +359 888 508 152 or +359 2 98 642 55, email artel22@gmail.com, or visit our contact page.
Office: Sveta Sofia Street 8, 3rd Floor, 1301 Sofia. Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00–17:30; closed Saturday and Sunday. Completed translations can be received electronically or delivered by courier in Bulgaria or abroad; confirm the format required by the recipient.
