---
title: "Is a Criminal Record an Obstacle to Bulgarian Citizenship?"
url: https://bulgaristanvatandas.com/en/criminal-record-and-bulgarian-citizenship/
lang: en
published: 2026-10-18
description: "How is a criminal record assessed for Bulgarian citizenship? Which convictions can be an obstacle, where to get the certificate, apostille, translation."
source: BulgaristanVatandas.com (https://bulgaristanvatandas.com)
---
# Is a Criminal Record an Obstacle to Bulgarian Citizenship?
**A Bulgarian citizenship application requires criminal record certificates from Türkiye and other countries where you have lived. A final conviction for an intentional crime can lead to refusal; but not every record means automatic refusal. The type of crime, the time passed since the sentence and whether the record has been erased are assessed. A clean criminal record certificate is added to the file with an apostille and a Bulgarian translation.**
"I had a court case in the past, can I still get citizenship?" is a common question. The answer depends on the file. In this article we explain how a criminal record is assessed and how the certificate is prepared.
## What do the Bulgarian authorities look at?
Bulgarian citizenship law requires that the applicant has not been convicted of an intentional crime; if the conviction has later been erased (rehabilitation), the situation is assessed differently. Your application is also reviewed by the Ministry of Interior and security agencies.
In practice the following distinctions matter:
| Situation | General assessment |
|---|---|
| Clean criminal record | No obstacle |
| Administrative fine (such as a traffic fine) | Not entered in the criminal record, usually no obstacle |
| Conviction for a negligent (unintentional) offence | Assessed case by case |
| Final conviction for an intentional crime | Can be a reason for refusal |
| Erased or lapsed record | Assessed according to the document and situation |
| Ongoing criminal case | Applying before the outcome is risky |
This table is a general guide. The final assessment is made by looking at the decision itself and the documents.
## Where do you get the criminal record certificate?
**From Türkiye:** the criminal record is obtained through e-Devlet or the criminal records units at courthouses. The document must be issued for submission to official institutions and be recent.
**From other countries where you lived:** if you lived in a country such as Germany or the Netherlands, a certificate from that country's authority may also be requested.
**From Bulgaria:** applicants born in Bulgaria may also be asked for a Bulgarian criminal record certificate. We can obtain it from Bulgaria on your behalf with our [document retrieval](/en/services/document-retrieval/) service.
## Apostille and translation
Since the criminal record certificate from Türkiye will be used in Bulgaria:
1. The certificate is obtained.
2. An apostille is added at the governorship or district governorship.
3. It is given a sworn Bulgarian translation, including the apostille.
The order matters: apostille first, then translation. For details see our [civil registry record and apostille guide](/en/civil-registry-extract-and-apostille-guide/) and our [sworn translation](/en/services/translation/) page.
### The certificate must be recent
Criminal record certificates are accepted for a short period. If you obtain it long before applying, you may need to renew it. Plan according to your application date.
## What to do if you have a record
- **Obtain the court decision and the annotation of finality.** The type of crime and the sentence are stated in the decision.
- **Check whether the record has been erased.** Some records are erased after a certain period; get proof of this.
- **Do not hide it.** A false declaration in the application creates a bigger problem than the record itself. A hidden record that comes out in the security check is a reason for refusal.
- **Get an expert assessment.** Knowing before applying whether your record is an obstacle prevents a file that would wait for years from being wasted.
## Children and young people
A criminal record certificate is usually not requested for minors. Children often become citizens through birth registration via a parent's Bulgarian citizenship; for this route see [Bulgarian citizenship for your child through birth registration](/en/birth-registration-bulgarian-citizenship-for-children/).
## Frequently asked questions
Is a deferred pronouncement of judgment (HAGB) an obstacle?
HAGB decisions do not appear on the standard criminal record certificate but may appear in some records. It is assessed according to which document the Bulgarian authorities request and the status of the decision; we recommend having your file reviewed before applying.
How long is the criminal record certificate valid?
Certificates are accepted for a short period. Submitting a recent certificate obtained just before applying is the safest way.
How do I get a criminal record certificate from Bulgaria?
For people born in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian criminal record certificate is obtained from the court of the place of birth. We can obtain it on your behalf with a power of attorney.
I have an old conviction; can I still apply?
You can apply; but the result depends on the type of conviction and the status of the record. Send your documents to our [free document review](/en/document-review/) and we will tell you the risk up front.