Amendments simplify translation requirements for foreign public documents in Bulgaria

As of March 1, the certification requirements for translation of foreign public documents (e.g. notarial acts, administrative documents, or documents issued by courts or tribunals) will be significantly simplified. The new regime is introduced by amendments to the Regulations for Documents’ Legalisations, Certifications and Translations (“the Regulations”), introduced by Ruling No. 95, 28 November 2017 of the Council of Ministers.

Based on the amended Regulations, appropriately certified foreign public documents (apostilled documents or documents legalised by a Bulgarian Consulate or Diplomatic service abroad) will be recognised if a notary public certifies the signature of the Bulgarian translator. When signing off the Bulgarian translation, the translator must provide the notary with a confirmation certificate that he is listed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs register of translators.

Under the previous regime, translated public foreign documents had to be submitted to the Certifications and Legalisations Desk with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which certified that the translator is included in the register of translators. Since this Desk is located in Sofia, documents translated in the countryside had to be couriered to the capital. Even the most expedited certification took hours to complete. The procedure now is simpler and quicker, and notary fees are much lower than those charged by the Desk.

For further details, please contact Jenia Dimitrova.

Article co-authored by Zornitsa Stoykova.