The following Bulgarian personal documents may be issued to Bulgarian citizens residing abroad:
1.      passport;
2.      identity card;
3.      driving licence;
4.      temporary passport.

1.      Passport
 
Any Bulgarian citizen residing abroad may submit a passport issuance application at a diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria.

At diplomatic or consular missions where the required technical capacity is available, upon acceptance of the application, the consular officer shall take digital images of the applicant’s signature, face and fingerprints.

Upon acceptance of the application, the consular officer shall enter into an automated information system: 1. the personal data entered into the application; 2. information on the documents enclosed; 3. the signature; 4. the photograph, and 5. the fingerprints of the applicant, and shall register the application as a “Passport Issuance Request”.

The passport issuance request shall be sent to the Ministry of Interior electronically, through a protected communication connection. The Ministry of Interior shall, within 5 working days, reply in electronic form to the diplomatic or consular mission as to whether the passport can be issued.

In case the passport’s issuance is prevented by certain discrepancies in the data filled in, the Ministry of Interior shall send to the mission in electronic form instructions for elimination of such discrepancies. The mission shall notify the applicant thereof within 7 working days. In case not all discrepancies are eliminated within one month after such notification, the passport issuance request procedure shall be terminated by the Ministry of Interior.

At diplomatic or consular missions where no technical capacity is available for taking digital images of an applicant’s signature, face and fingerprints, no passport issuance applications shall be accepted.

After the passport is issued by the Ministry of Interior, it shall be sent via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the relevant diplomatic or consular mission, which shall notify the applicant of the issuance of his/her document within 7 working days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may send personalised passports to the diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad through its own official channels or via a company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments if the applicant has requested the “forwarding via a carrier company” service and has paid for that service.

2.      Identity card
 
Any Bulgarian citizen residing abroad may submit an identity card issuance application at a diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria.

At missions where the required technical capacity is available, upon acceptance of the application, the consular officer shall take digital images of the applicant’s signature and face.
The consular officer accepting the application shall enter into the automated information system: 1. the personal data entered into the application; 2. information on the documents enclosed; 3. the signature, and 4. the photograph of the applicant, and shall register the application as an “Identity Card Issuance Request”.

The identity card issuance request shall be sent to the Ministry of Interior electronically, through a protected communication connection. The Ministry of Interior shall, within 5 working days, reply in electronic form to the mission as to whether the identity card can be issued.

In case the issuance of the identity card is prevented by certain discrepancies in the data filled in, the Ministry of Interior shall send to the mission in electronic form instructions for elimination of such discrepancies. The mission shall notify the applicant thereof within 7 working days. In case not all discrepancies are eliminated within one month after such notification, the identity card issuance request procedure shall be terminated by the Ministry of Interior.

At missions where no technical capacity is available for taking digital images of applicants’ signatures and faces upon acceptance of their applications, they shall submit their identity card issuance applications with a photograph enclosed.       Missions may send identity card issuance applications thus accepted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the official channels or via a company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments. Applications shall be sent via a carrier company provided that the “forwarding via a carrier company” service is available in the relevant country of residence and the applicant has paid for that service.
After the identity card is issued by the Ministry of Interior, it shall be sent via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the relevant mission of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad, which shall notify the applicant of the issuance of his/her document within 7 working days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may send personalised identity cards to the diplomatic or consular missions through its own official channels or via a company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments if the applicant has requested the “forwarding via a carrier company” service and has paid for that service.

3.      Driving licence

Any Bulgarian citizen residing in a foreign country other than the EU Member States may file an application for renewal of his/her driving licence at a diplomatic or consular mission.

At missions where the required technical capacity is available, upon acceptance of the application, the consular officer shall take digital images of the applicant’s signature and face. Upon acceptance of the application, the consular officer shall enter into the automated information system: 1. the personal data entered into the application; 2. information on the documents enclosed; 3. the signature, and 4. the photograph of the applicant, and shall register the application as a “Driving Licence Issuance Request”.

The driving licence issuance request shall be sent to the Traffic Police Department of the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior electronically, through a protected communication connection. The Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior shall, within 5 working days, reply in electronic form to the mission as to whether the driving licence can be issued. In case the issuance of the driving licence is prevented by certain discrepancies in the data filled in, the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior shall send to the mission in electronic form instructions for elimination of such discrepancies. The mission shall notify the applicant thereof within 7 working days. In case not all discrepancies are eliminated within one month after such notification, the driving licence issuance request procedure shall be terminated by the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

At missions where no technical capacity is available for taking digital images of applicants’ signatures and faces upon acceptance of their applications, they shall submit their driving licence issuance applications with a photograph enclosed.

Missions may send driving licence issuance applications thus accepted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the official channels or via a company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments. Applications shall be sent via a carrier company provided that the “forwarding via a carrier company” service is available in the relevant country of residence and the applicant has paid for that service.

After the driving licence is issued by the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, it shall be sent via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the relevant mission, which shall notify the applicant of the issuance of his/her document within 7 working days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may send personalised driving licences to the missions through its own official channels or via a company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments if the applicant has requested the “forwarding via a carrier company” service and has paid for that service.

4.      Temporary passport
Temporary passports shall be issued by the diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria to Bulgarian citizens who reside abroad but do not hold valid travel or identity documents. Temporary passports shall be valid for up to 12 months, depending on the time needed for the relevant citizen’s return to Bulgaria.
A temporary passport shall be issued based on an application. Upon acceptance of the application, the consular officer shall enter into the automated information system: 1. the personal data indicated in the application; 2. information on the documents enclosed; 3. digital images of the applicant’s signature and face.  The application shall be registered as a “Temporary Passport Issuance Request” and shall be sent via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Interior for coordination, within 3 working days after the date of the application’s acceptance.
Within 3 working days the Ministry of Interior shall, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notify the diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad of its opinion concerning the issuance of the temporary passport requested.
Bulgarian personal documents issuance terms:

1. Passport     – regular issuance services are completed within 90 days.
                  – accelerated issuance services are completed within 60 days.
2. Identity card          - regular issuance services are completed within 90 days.
- accelerated issuance services (applicable to identity card replacement only) are completed within 60 days.

3. Driving licence – (applicable to driving licence replacement only)
issuance services are completed within 90 days.
 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BULGARIAN CITIZENS RESIDING ABROAD
1. Bulgarian citizens residing abroad and holding a valid Bulgarian personal document are under no obligation to have that document reissued prior to the expiration of its period of validity.

Bulgarian personal documents shall be valid until their period of validity expires.

2. The period of validity of identity cards and driving licences the original expiry dates whereof are in 2010 shall expire 6 months after the expiry date indicated thereon.

This shall apply only to identity cards and driving licences used within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and not to those used abroad.