---
title: "Documents from Bulgaria: Birth, Marriage, Death and Criminal Records"
url: https://bulgaristanvatandas.com/en/services/document-retrieval/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-23
description: "Without travelling to Bulgaria, we obtain your birth, marriage and death certificates, criminal record and archive documents, apostilled and translated."
source: BulgaristanVatandas.com (https://bulgaristanvatandas.com)
---
# Documents from Bulgaria: Birth, Marriage, Death and Criminal Records
**Birth, marriage and death records in Bulgaria are issued by the civil registration office of the municipality where the person is registered. Criminal records come from the courts, and old migration and population records from the archives. If these documents will be used in Türkiye, they are apostilled in Bulgaria and then given a sworn Turkish translation. With a power of attorney we carry out all of this on your behalf, without you having to travel to Bulgaria.**
Getting a document from Bulgaria often means being there in person, finding the right municipality and corresponding in Bulgarian. We work with these documents every day in citizenship and civil registration files. We know which document is obtained from which institution and in which form, and we deliver it ready to use, together with the apostille and translation.
## Which documents do we obtain?
| Document | What is it used for? |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate (and duplicate) | Citizenship, passport, inheritance, civil registration in Türkiye |
| Marriage certificate | Registering the marriage in Türkiye, family reunification, surname procedures |
| Death certificate | Inheritance, pension, citizenship applications through a deceased emigrant |
| Marital and family status certificates | Marriage procedures, inheritance and citizenship files |
| Certificate of heirs | Dividing property and rights left in Bulgaria |
| Criminal record certificate | Visa, residence, work and citizenship applications |
| Address and residence records | Proof of address in official procedures |
| Archive and migration records | Proving Bulgarian origin and the year of emigration |
| Title deed and property records | Identifying property left in Bulgaria |
If you need a document that is not on the list, write to us through the form; we will find out which institution issues it and get back to you.
## Where are the documents used?
- **In Türkiye:** registering a birth, marriage or death at the civil registry, court and notary procedures, inheritance and pension applications
- **In Bulgaria:** citizenship, passport and ID procedures, municipal and land registry procedures
- **In other countries:** marriage, work and residence applications in Germany or another EU country
For details on the birth certificate see [how to get a birth certificate from Bulgaria](/en/how-to-get-a-birth-certificate-from-bulgaria/), and for the marriage certificate see [how to get a Bulgarian marriage certificate](/en/bulgarian-marriage-certificate/).
## The process step by step
1. **Initial information:** we collect the document holder's name, place and date of birth, Bulgarian personal number (EGN) if any, and copies of old documents.
2. **Power of attorney:** a notarised power of attorney is prepared so that we can act on your behalf. We provide the wording.
3. **Request:** the document is requested from the relevant municipality, court or archive.
4. **Apostille:** documents to be used in Türkiye or another country are apostilled in Bulgaria.
5. **Translation:** the document is given a sworn translation into Turkish (or the required language) and notarised if needed.
6. **Delivery:** the document is delivered in person, by courier or added directly to your application file.
Translation and notarisation are handled together with our [sworn translation](/en/services/translation/) service.
## Name and record differences
In Bulgarian records names are written in Cyrillic and sometimes differently from the Turkish records. The date or place of birth may also differ. When obtaining the document we identify these differences and, if needed, also plan corrections or a [name equivalence certificate](/en/name-equivalence-certificate-bulgaria/). Every old document you have (an old Bulgarian ID, a migrant certificate, even notes on the back of family photos) helps to find the right person's record.
## Timing
Timing depends on the type of document, the municipality and how old the record is. Current and electronic records can be obtained quickly, while finding old archive records can take longer. Once we receive your request, we tell you the estimated time.
## Is it for your citizenship file?
If you need the document for Bulgarian citizenship, a passport or a birth registration, planning the whole file together saves time and costs instead of obtaining documents one by one. In that case see our [Bulgarian citizenship](/en/services/citizenship/) or [birth and marriage registration](/en/services/birth-and-marriage-registration/) pages.
## Frequently asked questions
Do I need to go to Bulgaria to get a document?
No. With a notarised power of attorney we obtain the document on your behalf.
Can I get the documents of my deceased mother or father?
Yes. With documents showing that you are an heir or a close relative, the birth, marriage and death records of the deceased person can be obtained.
Can a document be obtained without a Bulgarian personal number (EGN)?
Yes, but information such as the place of birth, date of birth and parents' names becomes more important for finding the record. We recommend sharing all the old documents you have.
Are the documents delivered apostilled?
We complete the apostille and translation according to the country where the document will be used and deliver it ready to use.