A divorce granted in Türkiye is not entered into the Bulgarian civil register automatically. A person who still appears married in the register cannot register a new marriage in Bulgaria, cannot change their surname, and their marital status is wrong in official procedures. The final decision is submitted to the civil registrar of the municipality with an apostille and a Bulgarian translation; if the conditions are met, it is entered without a separate court case.
If your marriage was registered in Bulgaria, your divorce must be registered there too. We handle the divorce registration from start to finish: reviewing the decision, preparing the documents, apostille, translation, submission and confirming that the record has been updated.
Who needs divorce registration?
- People whose marriage was entered into the Bulgarian register and who divorced in Türkiye (or another country)
- People who have remarried and want to register the new marriage in Bulgaria
- People who want to change the surname they took through marriage in the Bulgarian records
- People whose marital status must be correct for inheritance, property or residence procedures
- People whose foreign spouse holds a residence right based on the former marriage
If your marriage was never registered in Bulgaria, divorce registration may not be needed; however, when registering a new marriage you may be asked how the earlier marriage ended. We clarify your situation in the preliminary assessment.
What happens if you do not register?
- A new marriage cannot be registered: the earlier marriage remains open in the register.
- Children’s procedures can become harder: the father’s details and surname may cause problems in the birth registration of a child from the new marriage.
- The surname does not change: to return to your former surname, the divorce must be registered first.
- Conflicting records: Turkish and Bulgarian records do not match in inheritance, property, banking and residence procedures.
Required documents
| Document | Where it is obtained |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of the divorce decision | The family court that issued it |
| Annotation or certificate of finality | The same court |
| Notarised declaration | Notary |
| Apostille | Governorship or district governorship in Türkiye |
| Official Bulgarian translation | Sworn translator (including the apostille) |
| Bulgarian ID and marriage record details | Bulgarian ID, Bulgarian marriage certificate |
We can obtain all documents on your behalf. If you do not have your Bulgarian marriage certificate, see our article how to get a Bulgarian marriage certificate. Translation and apostille are handled together with our sworn translation service.
The process step by step
- Preliminary review: we review the divorce decision, its finality and the Bulgarian marriage record together.
- Preparing the documents: a certified copy and certificate of finality are obtained from the court, and a declaration is drawn up at a notary.
- Apostille and translation: the documents are apostilled and translated into Bulgarian.
- Submission: the file is submitted to the civil registrar of the municipality where you are registered, or through the consulate.
- Entry and confirmation: the divorce is entered in the register; we confirm that your marital status has been updated and let you know.
If the documents are complete, the process usually moves forward within a few weeks. Timing may vary by municipality and by file.
Divorce and new marriage registration together
If you have remarried, planning both procedures together saves time: first the divorce is registered, then the new marriage. We prepare the documents at the same time and submit the applications one after the other. For marriage registration, see our birth and marriage registration service.
If the application is refused
The civil registrar may refuse the entry because of a missing document or condition. When the refusal is due to a missing document, we complete it and reapply. If the reason is legal, recognition of the foreign decision is sought through the courts; at that stage we work together with a Bulgarian lawyer. Most files are resolved at the registrar stage when the documents are prepared correctly.
Detailed guide
We explain the legal basis of recognition and what the registrar checks in our article recognition of a Turkish divorce in Bulgaria. For surname procedures, see surname after marriage and Bulgarian records.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file a new divorce case in Bulgaria?
No. A final foreign divorce decision is, as a rule, recognised directly in Bulgaria; the civil registrar checks the conditions and enters it. The court route only comes up if the registrar refuses the entry.
Do I need to travel to Bulgaria?
Usually not. With a power of attorney we handle the application on your behalf.
Does divorce registration affect my children's citizenship?
No. Divorce does not change the children's Bulgarian citizenship or birth registration.
Can a very old divorce still be registered?
Yes. As long as the final decision and the required documents can be obtained, divorces from many years ago can also be registered.
Fill in the form below for a free preliminary assessment; our expert will call you and explain the steps for your file. If your documents are ready, you can also upload them to our free document review.