According to the Web site of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior, Bulgaria has begun to issue what it calls "new identity documents" (13 Jan. 2005d). The new documents are designed to reflect the country's new coat of arms, improve security features and meet European Union (EU) document standards (Bulgaria 13 Jan. 2005l). There are three primary types of identity documents for Bulgarian citizens: identification cards (ID cards), passports and driver's licences (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005e). In some cases, citizens may also apply for and receive a temporary passport allowing a return to Bulgaria, a temporary passport allowing "definitive leaving of the Republic of Bulgaria," or a border permit (ibid.).

The Law for the Bulgarian Identification Documents was enacted on 11 August 1998 and last amended on 20 May 2005; it "settles the conditions and the order of issuance, using and keeping [of] Bulgarian identification documents" (Bulgaria 11 Aug. 1998, Art. 1.1). At age 14, all Bulgarians who live in Bulgaria are required to apply for an ID card (ibid., Art. 29.1). They must renew their ID cards when they reach 18 and every 10 years thereafter until they are 58, after which ID cards are valid indefinitely (ibid., Art. 30.2). Passports are valid for five years (ibid., Art. 36.1) and driver's licences for ten years, except for persons with disabilities, who must renew their licences every five years (ibid., Art. 51.2).

Application procedures

In order to obtain identity documents, Bulgarians must complete and submit an application form (Bulgaria 13 Jan. 2005f), which can be purchased from the Identity Documents and Passport Regime Units at the Sofia and regional offices of the Directorate of Interior, as well as from District Police Stations (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005i). The speed of processing of an application for an ID card or passport varies depending upon where it was submitted (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005j). The Identity Documents and Passport Regime Units of District Police Stations issue documents within thirty days, except for those in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bourgas, which issue documents within three working days (ibid.). The Identity Documents and Passport Regime Units at the Sofia and regional offices of the Directorate of the Interior can issue documents within eight working hours (ibid.). Bulgarians who live abroad must apply for passports at diplomatic or consular missions (Bulgaria 13 Jan. 2005g).

Instructions on how to fill out the application form can be found on the Web site of the Ministry of the Interior and on the back of the application form itself (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005c). First-time applicants must present a birth certificate (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005f). In addition, all applicants must submit a professional photograph that meets government specifications (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005h) and a document indicating "civic status showing any changes in personal data" (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005f). Further information on the civic status document could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. According to the Ministry of Interior, one may apply for all three identity documents (ID cards, passports and driver's licences) using the same application form (ibid.).

Adults can apply for their own identity documents, while minor applicants must be accompanied by their parents, guardians or trustees (Bulgaria 13 Jan. 2005k). If one parent, guardian or trustee is not present, he/she must submit notarized consent (ibid.). Similarly, authorized persons can apply for identity documents on behalf of someone else provided they have notarized power of attorney (ibid.). However, it was unclear whether this privilege is granted to adults applying on behalf of other adults; adults other than parents, guardians or trustees applying on behalf of minors; or both.

Adult applicants must receive their identity documents in person, but "[t]he identity document of juveniles, minors and persons under judicial disability shall be received by their lawful representative" (Bulgaria 13 Jan. 2005b).

Costs

Costs for acquiring identity documents vary depending on several factors, including the type of document, the age of the applicant, whether it is his/her first document and the requested speed of processing (ibid. 13 Jan. 2005a). Charges for ID cards vary from no cost to fifty Bulgarian leva [approximately CAN$37 (XE.com 24 July 2006a)], charges for passports vary from seven leva [approximately CAN$5 (ibid. 24 July 2006b)] to one hundred fifty leva [approximately CAN$111 (ibid. 24 July 2006c)], and charges for driver's licences range from no cost to thirty-six leva [approximately CAN$27 (ibid. 24 July 2006d)] (Bulgaria 13 Jan. 2005a).

Passport description

According to Keesing Reference Systems, the cover of Bulgaria's most recent national passport is red, and the passport contains the following features:

Validity
5 years, page 2 entry 'Date of expiry'
one 6-month extension possible
Booklet
c. 125 x 88 mm / 4.9 x 3.5 in.

32 pages, pages 1 and 2 not numbered

Laminate
page 2, clear kinegraphic laminate, not sewn in
Photo
integrated, photograph is repeated in microtext on right side of the same page
Numbering
9 digits
page 2, machine-written
page 3, printed
page 3 - back cover, laser perforated
Observations
This passport was first issued 11 August 2003 (n.d.).

Lost or missing passports

Bulgarians who lose their Bulgarian documents must report the loss to the Ministry of Interior within three days (Bulgaria 11 Aug. 1998, Art. 8.2). According to correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Bulgaria in Montreal:

In cases when applicants have lost their passports or the passports have been stolen, they have to submit a copy of the police report that their passports had been reported lost or stolen so that they will not be charged a fine. If they cannot present a police verification for the loss or theft reported, they do not have to explain why the old one is missing but will have to pay a fine and can re-apply for a new passport (4 Apr. 2006).

The Law for the Bulgarian Identification Documents stipulates that Bulgarian citizens who lose, damage or destroy their Bulgarian identification documents must pay a fine of between 20 and 150 leva [from approximately CAN$15 (XE.com 4 Aug. 2006) to CAN$111 (ibid. 24 July 2006c)] (Bulgaria 11 Aug. 1998, Art. 81.1).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.

References

Bulgaria. 4 April 2006. Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Montreal. Correspondence from the Honorary Consul.

_____. 13 January 2005a. Ministry of Interior. "Charges." http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_10.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005b. Ministry of Interior. "How Shall We Receive the New Identity Documents?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_9.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005c. Ministry of Interior. "How Should We Fill In the Application Form?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_6.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005d. Ministry of Interior. "The New Bulgarian Identity Documents." http://www.mvr.bg/en/guide/new_BG_documents.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005e. Ministry of Interior. "What Are the New Documents Like?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_2.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005f. Ministry of Interior. "What Do We Have to Submit?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_3.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005g. Ministry of Interior. "What if We Are Abroad?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_11.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005h. Ministry of Interior. "What Should the Picture Be Like?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_4.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005i. Ministry of Interior. "Where Can We Buy an Application Form from?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_5.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005j. Ministry of Interior. "Where Do We Have to Submit It?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_7.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005k. Ministry of Interior. "Who Can Submit the Application?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_8.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 13 January 2005l. "Why Do We Need New Identity Documents?" http://www.mvr.bg/en/Guide/new_BG_documents_1.htm [Accessed 24 July 2006]

Bulgaria. 11 August 1998 (Last amended 20 May 2005). Law for the Bulgarian Identification Documents. http://eu.mvr.bg/NR/rdonlyres*C1CF73E2-D317-4F62-9762-17A7A329A15A/0/02_Law_BG_Identification_Documents_EN.pdf [Accessed 11 Aug. 2005]

Keesing Reference Systems. N.d. "Bulgaria - National Passports: Cover (P3)." http://www.documentchecker.com/rdo.dll [Accessed 24 July 2006]

XE.com. 4 August 2006. "Universal Currency Converter." http://www.xe.com/ucc/ [Accessed 4 Aug. 2006]

_____. 24 July 2006a. "Universal Currency Converter." http://www.xe.com/ucc/ [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 24 July 2006b. "Universal Currency Converter." http://www.xe.com/ucc/ [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 24 July 2006c. "Universal Currency Converter." http://www.xe.com/ucc/ [Accessed 24 July 2006]

_____. 24 July 2006d. "Universal Currency Converter." http://www.xe.com/ucc/ [Accessed 24 July 2006]