Registering a Foreign Marriage in Bulgaria: How the Marriage Notification Works

If a Bulgarian citizen marries abroad, for example in Türkiye, the marriage must also be entered in the Bulgarian civil register. This is the marriage notification, sometimes called “marriage confirmation”. The marriage is valid from the date it took place; the notification only makes it visible in Bulgarian records. You need an international marriage extract, an apostille, an official Bulgarian translation and ID documents.

This guide explains what the notification is, who needs it, which documents are required and how the steps work.

What is a marriage notification?

A marriage held in your home country (for example Türkiye) is entered in that country’s civil register. Bulgaria does not learn about it automatically. When a Bulgarian citizen marries abroad, the marriage has to be entered in the Bulgarian civil register as well. In Bulgarian this is called вписване на брак, сключен в чужбина: the entry of a marriage concluded abroad.

An important point: the notification is not a new marriage. The marriage was already validly concluded abroad and is valid from the date it took place. The notification only records this fact in the Bulgarian register.

Who should register the marriage?

• Any Bulgarian citizen who married in another country.
• Persons who became Bulgarian citizens after the wedding and want the marriage shown in their records.

The spouse may be a foreign national. The spouse does not need to be Bulgarian. The person who files the notification is the Bulgarian spouse.

Why does the notification matter?

It may look like a formality, but many other procedures depend on it:

• Registering children: If the parents’ marriage is not in the Bulgarian records, the municipality may ask for it first when you register a birth. See birth registration and Bulgarian citizenship for children.
• Residence for the foreign spouse: A foreign spouse who wants residence as a family member of a Bulgarian citizen needs the marriage to appear in Bulgarian records. We explain this in residence through a Bulgarian spouse.
• Surname: A surname change after marriage reaches your Bulgarian documents only once the marriage is recorded. See surname change after marriage in Bulgarian records.
• Marital status: Your Bulgarian ID and documents then show the correct civil status.

Required documents

Document	Where to get it	Note
International marriage extract	Civil registry office of the country where you married (e.g. Türkiye)	Multilingual international form
Apostille	Issuing authority designated by that country	Attached to the document
Official Bulgarian translation	Sworn translator	The apostille is translated too
Bulgarian spouse’s ID or passport	The spouse	Personal number (EGN) should be visible
Foreign spouse’s ID document	The spouse	Passport or ID copy
Power of attorney (if we act for you)	Notary	Apostilled and translated

For help preparing the papers, read our civil registry extract and apostille guide.

Step-by-step marriage notification

1. Get the extract: Request the international marriage extract from the civil registry in the country where you married.
2. Apostille: Have the document apostilled by the competent authority.
3. Official Bulgarian translation: The document and the apostille are translated into Bulgarian in the form accepted in Bulgaria.
4. Application: File the dossier at the municipality of the Bulgarian spouse’s permanent address. You can apply directly or through a Bulgarian consulate.
5. Entry in the register: The registrar (длъжностно лице по гражданското състояние, the civil status officer) checks the papers and enters the marriage.
6. Result: Your marriage now appears in the Bulgarian civil register. You can also request a Bulgarian marriage certificate; see how to get a Bulgarian marriage certificate.

Note: The application belongs to the municipality of the Bulgarian citizen’s permanent address in Bulgaria. If you are unsure which municipality that is, check your civil registration first.

Applying through a consulate

If you cannot travel to Bulgaria, the file can be submitted through a Bulgarian consulate in the country where you live. The consulate receives the papers and forwards them to the competent municipality. This suits people who prefer not to issue a power of attorney. We help you decide which route is more practical, depending on your documents and the municipality of your permanent address.

How long does it take?

Preparing the documents abroad (extract, apostille, translation) usually takes from a few days to two weeks. The entry in Bulgaria depends on the municipality and on whether the file is complete. We can give you an estimate for your file at the first consultation, but we do not promise exact dates.

Marriage notification is not a citizenship application

The notification updates the record of someone who is already a Bulgarian citizen. If your spouse is not Bulgarian, the notification does not make them a citizen. A foreign spouse has other routes, most commonly a residence permit, and the marriage record is a precondition for that application.

Most common mistakes

• Submitting documents without an apostille: Foreign documents are not accepted without it.
• Inconsistent names in the translation: If the spouses’ names differ from the Bulgarian records, the procedure stops. A name equivalence certificate may be needed.
• Applying at the wrong municipality: The right one is the municipality of the permanent address.
• Waiting too long: When a child is born or a residence application is planned you may be forced to hurry. Registering soon after the wedding is easier.
• Forgetting an earlier marriage: If a previous marriage is still open in Bulgarian records, the divorce may need recognition too. See recognition of a foreign divorce in Bulgaria.

Why get professional support?

The papers look simple, but finding the right municipality, keeping names consistent in the translation and submitting a complete file takes time. In our birth and marriage notification service we handle the process for you, from the documents abroad to the entry in Bulgaria. You can send your papers for a free document review or book an online appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Is the marriage notification compulsory?

The marriage is valid from the date it took place, but it must be notified for Bulgarian records to show it. It is also usually a precondition for registering a child’s birth, a spouse’s residence and surname procedures.

My spouse is a foreign national. Can I still register the marriage?

Yes. The Bulgarian spouse files the notification. The other spouse does not need to be Bulgarian; a copy of their ID document is added to the file.

Do I have to travel to Bulgaria?

No. You can file through a Bulgarian consulate, or authorise someone by power of attorney to act at the municipality for you.

From which date is the marriage valid?

From the date it was concluded abroad. Entering it in the Bulgarian register does not change that date; it only reflects the marriage in Bulgarian records.

Which documents do I need?

An international marriage extract, an apostille, an official Bulgarian translation and the spouses’ ID documents. Additional papers may be requested depending on your file.