Topic: Birth and Marriage Registration
Getting a Bulgarian Passport for a Child
To get a Bulgarian passport for a child you first need birth registration and an EGN. See the steps, documents and common mistakes, then have your file checked.
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To get a Bulgarian passport for a child, the child’s Bulgarian citizenship must first be entered in the records. If one parent is a Bulgarian citizen, the child is a Bulgarian citizen by birth. The birth is registered at the municipality and the child receives an EGN. After that, the ID and passport application is made through the consulate or the competent unit in Bulgaria.
When can a child get a Bulgarian passport?
The child of a Bulgarian citizen is a Bulgarian citizen by birth. A passport, however, is not issued to a person who is not in the records. So the order is: first the birth is entered in the Bulgarian civil register, then the EGN, and last the passport.
Before you apply for the passport, make sure the registration is complete. Most delays come from incomplete registration, not from the passport stage. We explained the general framework in birth registration and Bulgarian citizenship for children.
Step by step: a Bulgarian passport for your child
- Register the birth. A birth abroad is registered at the municipality of the mother’s permanent address (the father’s if the mother is a foreigner). The deadline for this obligation is 6 months, so do it on time. After registration a Bulgarian birth record exists.
- Get the EGN. With the registration the child receives an EGN (the Bulgarian personal number). The EGN is the basis for the passport too. Read what is EGN and how to get it.
- Apply for the ID and passport. The passport is part of the process of identity documents for Bulgarian citizens. You apply at the Bulgarian mission in your country of residence or at the competent unit in Bulgaria.
- Complete the parental consent. For a child, the consent of the parent(s) is needed. If one parent cannot attend, a notarised consent may be requested.
- Collect the passport from the indicated place when it is ready.
For the whole passport process, see also how to get a Bulgarian passport.
Who counts as a Bulgarian child?
Clarify first whether the child is a Bulgarian citizen, because the passport follows from that.
- If at least one parent was a Bulgarian citizen at the child’s birth, the child is a Bulgarian citizen by birth. Where the child was born does not matter.
- If the parent became a citizen later, the child’s position depends on the date of birth and the child’s age. A minor child can be included depending on the parent’s citizenship. In that case it is safest to show the file to a specialist.
- If the child is over 18, a separate application is needed. See Bulgarian citizenship for adult children.
For children born in Bulgaria to non-Bulgarian parents the rules differ; see does a child born in Bulgaria get citizenship.
Passport versus ID card
Bulgarian citizens receive two main documents: the identity card (Bulgarian лична карта) and the passport. The ID card serves as an identity document in Bulgaria and for travel within the EU. The passport is needed for travel outside the EU. Families often want both. You can decide which one to get first for the child according to your travel plans. Both documents rely on the EGN and the registered birth data.
Documents needed for the child
In general, the following are needed. The consulate or competent unit gives the current list at the application.
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Foreign birth certificate | Apostilled and officially translated into Bulgarian |
| The Bulgarian parent’s documents | ID card or passport |
| Parents’ marriage certificate | If needed, the marriage must be in the Bulgarian record |
| The child’s photo | Biometric, recent |
| Application form | Signed by the parent |
| Parental consent | Notarised if only one parent applies |
We do not state the passport fee or the processing time here; check the official page of the institution you will apply to. The validity of a child’s passport may depend on age.
If the parents are unmarried or divorced
One Bulgarian parent is enough for the child’s citizenship. For the passport application, however, the other parent’s consent matters. For divorced parents too, the other parent’s consent is generally requested when applying on the child’s behalf. If a custody decision exists, add it to the file. If your marriage or divorce needs to be entered in the Bulgarian records, see registering a foreign marriage in Bulgaria.
If a parent is a foreigner: residence
The foreign parent of a child who holds Bulgarian citizenship can apply for residence in Bulgaria through the child. The child’s Bulgarian citizenship must be on record, and steps such as the D visa follow. See family reunification for children and Bulgaria family reunification visa and documents. Our service page: family reunification.
How long does it take?
The total time depends on three stages: birth registration, EGN and the passport application. In practice birth registration takes 2-3 months. The passport time depends on the institution you apply to. So do not plan the child’s international travel before registration is finished. If you have an urgent trip, tell your adviser early.
Common mistakes
- Applying for the passport before registering the birth: a child who is not in the records gets no passport.
- Missing the 6-month obligation period: delaying registration makes the process harder.
- Missing apostille or translation: a foreign birth certificate is not accepted incomplete.
- Forgetting parental consent: prepare a consent document if only one parent applies.
- Name differences: the child’s name must match the spelling in the parents’ passports; Bulgarian transliteration differences can cause problems.
How we can help
We follow all the child’s steps from birth registration to EGN and passport. Our service page: birth and marriage registration. Have your documents reviewed for free or book an online appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Does the child's age matter for a Bulgarian passport?
There is no age limit for the child to be a citizen by birth. For the passport application, different rules (parental consent, validity period) apply by age. Confirm the current conditions with the institution you apply to.
Birth registration first, or the passport?
Birth registration first. The birth is entered in the Bulgarian civil record and the child gets an EGN. The passport is issued on the basis of that record.
Is there a deadline for registering the birth?
Yes. The obligation period for registering a birth abroad at the municipality is 6 months. The registration process itself can take 2-3 months in practice.
Can the child get a passport if only the mother is Bulgarian?
One Bulgarian parent is enough for the child to be a citizen by birth. Registration is made at the mother’s municipality. The other parent’s consent may be requested for the passport.
Does the child lose another citizenship when they get a Bulgarian passport?
A Bulgarian passport does not automatically end the child’s other citizenship. We recommend also checking the dual-citizenship rules of your own country.
