CRIMINAL RECORD CERTIFICATES FOR BULGARIAN
AND FOREIGN CITIZENS

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CRIMINAL RECORD CERTIFICATES

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Any Bulgarian citizen residing temporarily or permanently in the United Kingdom may submit an application for and obtain a criminal record certificate through the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in London.

Criminal record certificates are issued in Bulgarian by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.

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Detailed information from the Ministry of Justice regarding the issuance of criminal record certificates is available at:

https://mjs.bg/home/index/7f53dd9a-b62b-4414-b8ce-90e8984c76f8

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For further information, you may contact the Central Criminal Records Bureau:

Address:
Ministry of Justice
5 Aksakov Street
1040 Sofia
Bulgaria

Working hours: 09:00 to 17:30

Telephone: +359 2 9237 355; +359 2 9237 345

Email: crstatus@justice.government.bg

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The telephone numbers listed above are landline numbers and calls are charged at the applicable rate for a local call.

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VALIDITY OF THE DOCUMENT

A criminal record certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue.

The fixed consular fee for issuing a criminal record certificate is GBP 12.

Payment is made at the Consular Section by credit or debit card.

A criminal record certificate confirms the judicial status of the person concerned.

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For persons born outside Bulgaria, whether Bulgarian citizens or foreign nationals, and for persons whose place of birth is unknown, the Central Criminal Records Bureau at the Ministry of Justice performs the functions of the criminal records bureau responsible for the place of birth.

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The Bureau collects, stores and updates information contained in criminal record bulletins issued by Bulgarian courts and bulletins concerning administrative penalties imposed under Article 78a of the Bulgarian Criminal Code.

For Bulgarian citizens born outside Bulgaria, the Central Criminal Records Bureau also collects, stores and updates information received concerning convictions imposed by courts in European Union Member States through final judicial decisions, as well as convictions imposed by foreign courts in criminal proceedings and accepted for enforcement under Articles 453 to 470 of the Bulgarian Criminal Procedure Code.

The Central Criminal Records Bureau is authorised to exchange information regarding the judicial status of individuals with the relevant national and international authorities.

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ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A criminal record certificate may be issued to:

1. A Bulgarian citizen who submits an application through a Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission while residing in the country concerned.

2. A foreign national applying through a foreign diplomatic or consular mission in the Republic of Bulgaria or through a Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission abroad.
    

A person may request a criminal record certificate for a deceased parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse, brother or sister.

A person may also request a criminal record certificate for a living parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse, brother, sister or another person.

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A criminal record certificate is issued on the basis of an application form containing the following information:

• The full name of the person for whom the certificate is requested, written in both Cyrillic and Latin characters exactly as shown in their identity document.

• The Bulgarian Personal Identification Number, Personal Number or Foreigner’s Personal Number, where applicable.

• The day, month and year of birth of the person concerned.

• The place of birth of the person concerned.

• The nationality of the person concerned.

• The full names of the parents of the person concerned.

• The purpose for which the certificate is required. Where it is required for employment, the exact position must be specified, together with the relevant legal provision governing the requirements and procedure for carrying out the work or holding the position.

• The country in which the certificate will be used, where it is intended for use abroad.

Where the criminal record certificate is required for a visa application, this must be stated in the application, together with the specific country for which the visa is required.

Where a certificate is requested for a deceased parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse, brother or sister, the applicant must also provide their own full name and correspondence address.

The family relationship is verified by the relevant officer through official access to the Bulgarian National Population Database.

Where a certificate is requested for a living parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse, brother or sister, the applicant must provide their own full name and correspondence address and must submit an express written authorisation.

Where the certificate is requested for another person, an express notarised power of attorney must be submitted. It must contain the principal’s full name written in both Cyrillic and Latin characters exactly as shown in their identity document.

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An application may also be submitted by a lawyer acting under a written power of attorney pursuant to Article 33 of the Bulgarian Code of Civil Procedure.

Where the first name, patronymic name or surname of the person concerned has changed after the age of 14 due to marriage, adoption or another reason, the name at birth must also be stated in the application.

When submitting an application, the applicant must present an original identity document:

Bulgarian citizens must present a valid Bulgarian identity document.
Foreign nationals must present an identity document or residence document issued by a competent authority under the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act.

Where a foreign national does not hold a Bulgarian identity or residence document, they may establish their identity using their national identity document accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian.

In such cases, the criminal record certificate is issued using the form specified in Annex No. 3a to the applicable regulation.

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The application must also state any judicial rehabilitation or amnesty, where applicable, and the relevant supporting evidence must be submitted.

A foreign national who is not subject to registration in the Bulgarian population register under the Civil Registration Act must also provide a document issued by a competent authority confirming their place of birth and the names of their parents. This document must be translated into Bulgarian in accordance with the applicable requirements.

The following documents must be submitted with the application:

• Identity document

• Declaration of identity of names, where the applicant’s names have changed

• Evidence of judicial rehabilitation, where applicable, submitted as an original or notarised copy

The consular fee is GBP 12.

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An application form for the issuance of a criminal record certificate may be downloaded from the link provided below.

A criminal record certificate is issued within seven days.

An electronic application for a criminal record certificate may also be submitted under the conditions described in the relevant link below.

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Completed criminal record certificates may be collected from the Consular Section without an appointment on any working day between 12:30 and 13:30.

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