The Bulgarian citizenship application itself is made in person; but most of the process can be handled by power of attorney. A power of attorney is given at a notary in Türkiye for obtaining birth certificates from municipalities in Bulgaria, archive research, corrections of the date and place of birth, submitting documents and follow-up. The power of attorney is apostilled and given a sworn Bulgarian translation.
Travelling back and forth to Bulgaria is costly and tiring. A properly prepared power of attorney lets us carry out most steps on your behalf. In this article we explain what can be done by proxy and how to prepare the power of attorney.
Steps that can and cannot be done by proxy
| Step | By proxy? |
|---|---|
| Birth, marriage and death certificates from Bulgaria | Yes |
| Archive research and finding old records | Yes |
| Applications to correct date and place of birth | Usually yes |
| Preparing documents for the certificate of Bulgarian origin | Yes |
| Answering requests and submitting additional documents | Depends on the file |
| File follow-up and obtaining information | Yes |
| Submitting the citizenship application | No, in person |
| Bulgarian ID and passport application | No, in person for biometrics |
Practice may differ between institutions. We clarify in advance which steps can be done by proxy for your file.
How is the power of attorney prepared?
1. The wording
The power of attorney should not be general; it should clearly list the steps to be carried out. Bulgarian institutions want to see in the text what the proxy is authorised to do. It usually includes powers to:
- Request and collect documents from municipalities and civil registry offices in Bulgaria
- Obtain copies of birth, marriage and death records
- Apply for the correction of errors in records
- Request documents from archives
- Submit documents and obtain information at the Ministry of Justice and other institutions
- Pay the required fees
We prepare the wording for you so that all the powers Bulgarian institutions require are included.
2. Notarisation
The power of attorney is drawn up at any notary in Türkiye. The person giving it only needs to go to the notary with their ID. The spelling of the name should match the spelling in the Bulgarian records; if it differs, both spellings should be stated in the text.
3. Apostille
The notarised power of attorney is apostilled at the governorship or district governorship of your province. Without an apostille it is not valid in Bulgaria.
4. Bulgarian translation
The whole power of attorney, including the apostille, is given a sworn Bulgarian translation. We prepare the translation with our sworn translation service.
The order matters: notary → apostille → translation. For details, see our civil registry record and apostille guide.
If you live abroad
If you live in Germany or another country, you can draw up the power of attorney at a notary in that country with that country’s apostille. Another option is to have it drawn up at a Bulgarian consulate; in that case no apostille is needed.
One power of attorney for the whole family?
Each adult gives a power of attorney in their own name. For minors, the mother and father give it together. Drawing up the powers of attorney for several family members on the same day saves time and cost.
Validity of the power of attorney
Powers of attorney are usually given for a certain period or task. Since the citizenship process takes long, it is practical to make it valid without a time limit or until the task is completed. Some institutions may ask for a recent power of attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send the power of attorney by email?
Bulgarian institutions require the original or a certified copy. A scanned copy is only used for a preliminary check.
How much does a power of attorney cost?
The notary fee depends on the length of the text; apostille and translation costs are added. We tell you the total cost for your file.
Can I revoke the power of attorney later?
Yes. A power of attorney can always be revoked with a revocation drawn up at a notary.
I emigrated in 1989; is a power of attorney enough to correct my birth certificate?
Obtaining the birth certificate and correcting the date and place of birth are usually handled by power of attorney. For the process, see Bulgarian citizenship for 1989 emigrants.
Let us handle the procedures on your behalf
To have us prepare your power of attorney and carry out your procedures in Bulgaria, see our documents from Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizenship pages. We explain which steps can be done online in our article on applying online.
