Recognition of higher education acquired at foreign higher educational institutions
Section 3. WHAT LEGALIZATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS ARE NECESSARY?
Countries
Search the country and define the category (3.1, 3.2 or 3.3)
If the country is missing below - see category 3.4
3.1. Albania
3.2. Algeria
3.1. Andorra
3.3. Antigua and Barbuda
3.3. Argentina
3.1. Armenia
3.1. Australia
3.1. Austria
3.1. Azerbaijan
3.3. Bahamas
3.3. Bahrain
3.3. Barbados
3.1. Belarus
3.1. Belgium
3.3. Belize
3.1. Bosnia and Herzegovina
3.3. Botswana
3.3. Brazil
3.3. Brunei
3.3. Burundi
3.3. Cabo Verde / Cape Verde
3.1. Canada
3.3. Chile
3.2. China
3.3. Colombia
3.1. Croatia
3.2. Cuba
3.1. Cyprus
3.1. Czech Republic
3.2. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
3.1. Denmark
3.3. Dominica
3.3. Dominican Republic
3.3. Ecuador
3.3. El Salvador
3.1. Estonia
3.3. Fiji
3.1. Finland
3.1. France
3.1. Georgia
3.1. Germany
3.1. Greece
3.3. Grenada
3.3. Guatemala
3.3. Guyana
3.3. Honduras
3.1. Hungary
3.1. Iceland
3.3. India
3.1. Ireland
3.1. Israel
3.1. Italy
3.3. Japan
3.1. Kazakhstan
3.3. Kingdom Eswatini
3.3. Kosovo
3.3. Kosta Rica
3.2. Kuwait
3.1. Latvia
3.2. Lebanon
3.3. Lesotho
3.3. Liberia
3.2. Libya
3.1. Liechtenstein
3.1. Lithuania
3.1. Luxembourg
3.3. Malawi
3.1. Malta
3.3. Marocco
3.3. Marshall Islands
3.3. Mauritius
3.3. Mexico
3.3. Monaco
3.2. Mongolia
3.3. Mongolia
3.1. Montenegro
3.3. Namibia
3.1. New Zealand
3.3. Nicaragua
3.3. Niue
3.1. North Macedonia
3.1. Norway
3.3. Oman
3.3. Panama
3.3. Paraguay
3.3. Peru
3.3. Philippines
3.1. Poland
3.1. Portugal
3.1. Republic of Kyrgyzstan
3.1. Republic of Moldova
3.3. Republic of South Africa
3.1. Romania
3.1. Russian Federation
3.3. Saint Kitts and Nevis
3.3. Saint Lucia
3.3. Saint Vincent and Grenadines
3.3. Samoa
3.1. San Marino
3.3. Sao Tome and Principe
3.1. Serbia
3.3. Seychelles
3.1. Slovak Republic
3.1. Slovenia
3.3. South Korea
3.1. Spain
3.3. Suriname
3.3. Swaziland
3.1. Sweden
3.1. Switzerland
3.2. Syrian Arab Republic
3.1. Tajikistan
3.3. The Cook Islands
3.1. The Holy See
3.1. The Netherlands
3.3. The Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong And Macao (China)
3.3. Tonga
3.3. Trinidad and Tobago
3.1. Turkey
3.1. Ukraine
3.1. United Kingdom (Of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
3.3. Uruguay
3.1. USA
3.2. Uzbekista
3.3. Vanuatu
3.3. Venezuela
3.2. Vietnam
3.2. Yemen
3.1. My diploma does not need legalization and certification - it is issued in a country- party to the Lisbon Recognition Convention, or in a member-state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
The diploma and the diploma supplement, with the exception of the European diploma supplement, must be accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian as the signature of the translator must only be notarized.
It is not necessary the signature of the translator to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The document certifying the change of applicant’s names under item 4 that is submitted in a foreign language, it must be accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian.
3.2. My diploma is issued in a country outside category 3.1, with which Bulgaria has a bilateral agreement for legal assistance (so-called consular certification).
For the countries with which Bulgaria has signed bilateral legal assistance agreements and in which there are texts about documents' exemption of legalization with an apostille, the issued documents should have a stamp by the authorized institution in the bilateral agreement.
In this case the necessary documents (a diploma for higher education and a diploma supplement) need only translation into Bulgarian. The translator’s signature must be notarized.
3.3. My diploma is issued in a country outside Categories 3.1 and 3.2, which had ratified the Hague Convention (Apostille).
The documents (a higher education diploma and a diploma supplement) should be certified with an apostille in the country where they were issued. No other certifications by the authorities of this country are required.
The certified documents must be accompanied by a legalized translation into Bulgarian. The translator’s signature must be notarized.
The documents (higher education diploma and diploma supplement) should be certified with an apostille in the country where they were issued. There is no need of any other certifications in the home country.
The certified documents must be accompanied by a legalized translation in Bulgarian, i.e the translator’s signature must be certified by the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular representation in that country or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
3.4. My diploma is issued in a country that is not in any of the above categories (legalization under the general order)
In this case, the documents are certified (legalized) by the general order.
The general order for legalization in different countries can be different depending on the structure of the official authorities at the location.
In general, the sequence of certification is the following:
The diploma and the diploma supplement are certified by the Ministry, the Agency or the authority that is responsible for higher education in the respective country of origin. (certification of the signature and the official function of the rector of the university who has signed the diploma.).
A certification done by the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country. (certification of the signature and the official function of the previous authority).
The seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the foreign country should be certified by the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular representation in that country. (certification of the signature and the official function of the previous certifying authority). If there is no Bulgarian Embassy/Consulate in the issuing country, the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be certified/legalized by the Embassy of that country in Bulgaria. The signature and the certification of the Embassy Consular Office must be certified by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The certified documents must be accompanied by a legalized translation into Bulgarian. The translator’s signature must only be notarized.
All questions related to translation of documents and/or certification of translation are within the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
www.mfa.bg
In the "Frequently asked questions" section, you can find answers to questions related to our procedure.