In brief
Russia and Bulgaria are bound by a 1975 legal assistance treaty, under which official documents are accepted without legalisation, so an apostille is usually not needed for Bulgaria. What matters most is a translation into Bulgarian in the right form: a translation certified at the Bulgarian consulate, or a translation on which a notary in Bulgaria certifies the translator’s signature. We obtain the documents in Russia without you travelling, translate them and submit the translation for certification at the Bulgarian consulate in Moscow.
Which Russian documents are most often needed in Bulgaria
- Criminal record certificate — for a residence permit and certain permits.
- Civil registry (ZAGS) certificates — birth, marriage, divorce; for a residence permit, marriage and registering children.
- Income and pension certificates — for a residence permit and banks.
- Powers of attorney — for property transactions.
Apostille
Russia and Bulgaria are both parties to the Hague Convention, but a bilateral legal assistance treaty of 1975 also applies between them. Under its Article 12, documents issued or certified by competent authorities are accepted in the other country without legalisation. This is why Russian documents for Bulgaria usually do not need an apostille. If the authority you are submitting the documents to still asks for one, we will obtain the apostille in Russia.
Translation into Bulgarian
The translation must be in one of these forms:
- a translation certified at the Bulgarian consulate. The translation is made by a translator accredited with the consulate of Bulgaria, and the consulate certifies their signature. We translate the document and submit and collect it at the Bulgarian consulate in Moscow ourselves — you do not need to book an appointment;
- a translation made in Bulgaria, with the translator’s signature certified by a Bulgarian notary.
Certification at the consulate requires the original document or a notarised copy of it.
Prices
- Translation into Bulgarian by a translator accredited with the consulate of Bulgaria: from €60 per standard one-page document.
- Submitting and collecting the document at the Bulgarian consulate in Moscow: from €70; the consular fee is paid separately at the consulate’s rate.
- Criminal record certificate: from €115 — turnaround times and prices.
- Duplicate ZAGS certificate: from €65.
Delivery to Bulgaria is charged at the courier’s rate. Euro prices are based on the Bank of Russia exchange rate on 22.10.2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do Russian documents need an apostille for Bulgaria?
Under the 1975 legal assistance treaty between the USSR and Bulgaria (Article 12), documents issued by competent authorities are accepted without legalisation. The treaty applies between Russia and Bulgaria: it is on the list of the Supreme Court of Russia as of August 2026. If a particular authority still asks for an apostille, we will obtain it.
Who can certify a translation for Bulgaria?
If the translation is made outside Bulgaria, the translator’s signature is certified by the Bulgarian consulate. In Bulgaria itself, the translator’s signature on a translation of a foreign document is certified by a notary. We translate the document and have the translation certified at the Bulgarian consulate in Moscow.
What are documents most often needed for in Bulgaria?
For a residence permit, buying or selling property, opening a bank account, marriage and registering children. You will need a criminal record certificate, civil registry (ZAGS) certificates, and sometimes income or pension certificates.
Sources
- Supreme Court of Russia — list of Russia’s international legal assistance treaties (as of 21.08.2026, PDF) — checked 22.10.2026
- Treaty between the USSR and the People’s Republic of Bulgaria on legal assistance of 19.02.1975, Article 12 — checked 22.10.2026
- e-Justice — Public documents: Bulgaria (certification of translations) — checked 22.10.2026
- HCCH — Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention — checked 22.10.2026
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements may differ between authorities: please confirm them before you submit your documents. Legal notice