Government of Canada services and information in Sofia, Bulgaria

Refer to International adoption.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

If your child is born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

The birth of every child in Bulgaria, legitimate or natural, must be registered with the local authorities. Registration must occur within maximum 7 days following the birth.

For more information, contact the regional branches of the General Directorate of Civil Registration and administrative Services (Bulgarian only).

Applying for a Canadian citizenship certificate from outside Canada and the United States

If you are required to submit a paper application, please mail it to the following address:

Mailing address:
Embassy of Canada/Ambassade du Canada
1-3 Tuberozelor Str., sector 1
011411 Bucharest , Romania

If you prefer to submit your application in person, you may drop it off at the Honorary Consulate office, located at 7 Pozitano Street, 1301 Sofia, from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 13:00, except on statutory holidays.

Refer to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Criminal record checks.

Fingerprints in Bulgaria

If you are a Canadian citizen, please contact the Bulgarian Police in order to find out how to get your fingerprints taken.

Authentication of criminal record checks (police clearance) or fingerprint certificates

The institution asking for your criminal record check or fingerprint certificate may also request that it be authenticated. The Consulate of Canada to Bulgaria cannot authenticate these documents.

All criminal record checks, fingerprint certificates and documents originating from any local or provincial police station in Canada must first be notarized by a Canadian notary or a Commissioner of Oaths prior to authentication.

The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024. The authentication procedure has been replaced by the Apostille, making it easier to recognize Canadian documents abroad. See Changes to authentication services in Canada to see if your Canadian criminal record check can get an Apostille.

Refer to Death outside Canada.

In Bulgaria, registration of death is obligatory and must be done within 24 hours at the in the city or town where the death occurred. A death certificate is normally issued within 72 hours, except in case of violent or suspicious death.

In the case of a violent death (e.g. accident, suicide), the Prosecutor or the criminal police officer, assisted by a coroner, must file a report specifying:

• the condition of the body
• the related circumstances surrounding the death
• the deceased's personal information (name, place and date of birth, profession and residence)

The Prosecutor will provide the information contained in the report to the Directorate for Persons Record and Civil Status Documents where the person died, in order to file a death certificate.

An autopsy is normally performed, including when the death occurs in a hospital.

Refer to Marriage outside Canada.

Marriages are never celebrated at the Honorary Consulate. The Honorary Consulate of Canada to Bulgaria does not assist with marriage arrangements.

Religious marriages in Bulgaria cannot be performed until after the civil ceremony.

Contact the local Municipality where the marriage will be performed for further instructions.

Bulgarian law requires Canadian citizens to present a “Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage” that certifies their capacity to marry. The Government of Canada does not issue such certificates. However, to assist Canadians to meet the local requirements, the Honorary Consulate issues an affidavit (PDF) containing the relevant information.

Make an appointment with the Honorary Consulate by email at sofia@international.gc.ca to bring:

• the completed affidavit
• original or certified true copy of own valid Canadian passport
• original or certified copy of the fiancé(e)’s valid passport or local identity card

If you and your fiancé(e) are both Canadian citizens, you will each need to swear an affidavit. Non-refundable fees will apply for each of you. See fees under Notarial services.

Our service standard is 5 business days from the time we receive a complete affidavit.

Marriages that are legally performed in a foreign country are usually valid in Canada, and you do not need to register them in Canada. If you have questions about the validity of your foreign marriage, contact the Vital Statistics Office of your province or territory.

Canadian consular officials abroad have authority to perform a variety of notarial services. These services are offered, however, only when no local service providers exist and by appointment only.

A list of local lawyers and notaries are available at Ask Travel or by contacting the Consulate of Canada to Bulgaria by email at sofia@international.gc.ca. Notaries across Bulgaria can be found at Bulgarian notarial chamber website.

Notarial services are primarily for the benefit of Canadian citizens; in limited cases they may also be provided to non-Canadian citizens if the documents are Canadian or intended for use in Canada.

Consular officers are not notaries, nor are they commissioners of oaths, lawyers, etc. Refer to Notarial services for more information.

Notarial services provided (fees may apply)

Certification of true copies

A certified copy confirms that the copy matches the original but does not validate the content. A non-validation stamp will be applied. Some of the documents where certified true copies can be issued include:

• Canadian passports
• proof of Canadian citizenship documents
• birth or marriage certificates
• diplomas, transcripts
• police records

To certify a copy, the original document must be:

• in English or French or accompanied by an official translation
• intended for use in Canada or by a Canadian citizen
• recognizable in format by the consular officer

Witnessing signatures

Signatures can be witnessed at the Consulate on documents such as:

• Consent letter for children travelling outside Canada
• Affidavits confirming no legal impediment to marriage for Canadians intending to marry in Bulgaria

Signature witnessing must be done in person at the Consulate, as the individual must sign the document in front of a consular officer.

Apostille (previously authentication or legalization services)

The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024. The authentication procedure has been replaced by the Apostille, making it easier to recognize Canadian documents abroad. See Changes to authentication services in Canada to see if your Canadian document can get an Apostille.

If your document can be apostilled by the Consulate, send a clear, scanned copy of your complete document, including the signature, to sofia@international.gc.ca. We will review the document and provide you with instructions to request this service.

Request a notarial service

To request a service, email sofia@international.gc.ca with:

• A scanned copy of the document(s) requiring notarization.
• A brief explanation of your request.

The consular team will review your submission and inform you whether the service can be provided.

If your request falls outside the services listed above, the Consulate will not be able to assist. However, you will be provided a list of alternative service providers.

Processing times

Processing may take up to 3 business days. It may take longer if additional verification is needed.

Do not make travel plans until you receive your documents.

Refer to Canadian passports and travel documents.

This office provides consular assistance, notarial services and passport and citizenship application forms to Canadian citizens.

The Consulate in Sofia does not process passport applications. Our only role is to collect and mail your passport application to the Embassy in Bucharest.

Documents are to be submitted by courier to our Honorary Consulate office at 7 Pozitano Street, 1301 Sofia. If you wish to submit your application in person, please schedule an appointment using the following link.

Full consular services are offered at the Embassy of Canada to Romania, in Bucharest.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad and Retiring abroad.

Refer to Students and youth and EduCanada.

Refer to Immigration and citizenship

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.