Bulgaria (BG)

Authority: NACID — Национален център за информация и документация (НАЦИД, nacid.bg). Since 1 October 2025, NACID is the sole centralised body for recognition of foreign higher education qualifications in Bulgaria, replacing the previous system where Regional Education Directorates (REDs) handled equivalency. Applications are submitted via the electronic portal at portal.nacid.bg.

Process: Submit application via portal.nacid.bg with: apostilled original diploma, certified Bulgarian translation, transcript of records, identity document, and application fee. НАЦИД issues a pattern Certificate of Recognition (удостоверение за признаване) stating the Bulgarian equivalent level and EQF reference. The certificate is available in digital form with a qualified electronic signature. Processing target: approximately one month from receipt of complete application. Required for: university admission, entering regulated professions, civil service employment, and some private sector roles.

Equivalency service: НАЦИД issues a formal Certificate of Recognition (удостоверение за признаване) with the Bulgarian equivalent of your degree and the corresponding EQF level. The October 2025 centralisation under NACID aims to eliminate regional inconsistencies and provide uniform decisions. Applications and status tracking are handled online at portal.nacid.bg. For informal purposes, НАЦИД also provides information letters about qualification equivalence without the full recognition procedure.

Apostille: Documents from countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention (most countries worldwide) require an apostille from the issuing country's competent authority. The apostille confirms the authenticity of the official stamp/signature. Apostilles are not available for documents from countries that are not party to the Hague Convention — instead, consular legalisation is required.

Legalisation: For documents from non-Hague Convention countries: legalisation through the chain (local authority → Ministry of Foreign Affairs in issuing country → Bulgarian embassy in that country → Bulgarian MFA). Process takes 2–8 weeks. Some bilateral agreements simplify this.

Sworn translation: All foreign-language documents submitted to Bulgarian authorities must be accompanied by a certified (sworn) Bulgarian translation. Translations must be done by a translator from the approved МВнР (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) list. Translations are typically stamped by the translation agency and translator. Keep all original apostilled documents + translations together — losing originals requires reapplication in the home country.