Reference · 2026
Documents to register a Bulgarian company
Every paper a non-resident needs for an OOD or EOOD in 2026: what you sign, what has to be notarised or apostilled, how the power of attorney works, and the mistakes that get a file rejected by the Commercial Register.
- Share capital
- BGN 2
- Register review
- 2-3 days
- Remote setups
- 95%
The full document list
We prepare most of these. Your part is usually the identity documents, the signatures and, where you are not travelling, the power of attorney.
| Document | Who provides it | Form required |
|---|---|---|
| Passport or EU ID copyNames are transliterated into Cyrillic for the register. Give us the exact spelling you use on bank accounts so the company file, the bank and your invoices all match. | Every shareholder and manager | Clear colour scan; original shown at notary or embassy |
| Articles of associationSets the company name, seat, scope of activity, capital and management rules. An EOOD uses a founding act rather than articles because there is only one owner. | Prepared by us, signed by the owners | Bulgarian, with an English translation for your records |
| Founding meeting minutes (protocol)Records the decision to incorporate, the capital split and the appointment of the manager. | Shareholders | Signed; notarised where a manager is appointed |
| Manager's consent and specimen signatureThis is the document most often done incorrectly abroad. The notary must certify the signature itself, not merely witness the identity of the signer. | Each manager | Notarised, apostilled if signed abroad |
| Declarations under the Commerce ActConfirms you are not disqualified from managing a company, that the documents are authentic and that the filing complies with the Act. | Managers and founders | Signed, filed electronically |
| Capital deposit certificateMinimum share capital is BGN 2, roughly EUR 1. Most founders deposit a slightly larger amount so the account looks credible to a bank later. | The company | Bank letter for the accumulation account |
| Registered address consentThe seat must be a real address in Bulgaria that can receive registered post from the NRA and the courts. | Address provider | Signed declaration plus lease or provider letter |
| Power of attorneyLets us sign, deposit and file on your behalf. This is what makes a fully remote registration possible for roughly 95% of our clients. | Founders who are not travelling | Notarised and apostilled, or signed at a Bulgarian embassy |
| Beneficial ownership declarationRequired where the owners are companies or where control sits with someone other than the registered shareholders. | The company, after registration | Filed to the register within the statutory deadline |
Prefer it as a printable list? Download the free setup checklist.
Registering remotely: the power of attorney route
1. We draft the power of attorney in Bulgarian and English
It is scoped to incorporation only: signing the founding documents, opening the capital account, filing with the Commercial Register and collecting correspondence. It cannot be used to trade, borrow or transfer shares.
2. You choose the embassy route or the notary route
At a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, the consular officer certifies the signature and no apostille is needed. At a local notary, the signature is certified locally and then apostilled by the competent authority in your country.
3. Certification of signature, not just identity
Ask the notary specifically for certification of the signature (and of the content where the document requires it). A simple identity attestation is the single most common cause of a rejected file.
4. Apostille where the embassy was not used
Countries in the Hague Convention apostille the notary's act. Non-Hague countries need consular legalisation instead, which takes longer, so plan an extra week.
5. Sworn translation into Bulgarian
The apostilled document is translated by a sworn translator and the translation is certified. We arrange this in Varna, usually within one working day of the originals arriving.
6. Couriered originals
Scans let us prepare everything, but the register needs the originals. Send them by tracked courier and we file the same day they land.
How long each stage takes
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Name check and document drafting | Same day to 1 day |
| You sign at notary or embassy | 1 to 5 days, depends on appointments |
| Apostille (if not using an embassy) | 1 to 10 days by country |
| Courier of originals to Varna | 2 to 4 days |
| Sworn translation and capital deposit | 1 day |
| Commercial Register review | 2 to 3 working days |
A stage-by-stage view of the whole process is on the 2026 formation timeline.
Why files get rejected
- The notary attested identity instead of certifying the signature. The register treats this as an unsigned document.
- Name transliteration differs between the passport, the power of attorney and the articles. Every spelling must be identical.
- The scope of activity is written so narrowly that later filings, such as VAT registration for consulting, no longer match the file.
- The chosen company name is already reserved or too close to an existing one. We run the check before anything is signed.
- Missing apostille on a document signed outside a Bulgarian embassy, or an apostille attached to the translation instead of the original.
- Capital deposit slip in the wrong name, or made to an ordinary current account rather than a capital accumulation account.
- An expired passport copy, or a scan where the machine-readable strip is cut off.
What happens after approval
UIC and register extract
The unique identification code doubles as the company number and the tax number. The extract is the document banks, marketplaces and payment providers ask for.
Convert the capital account
The accumulation account becomes, or is replaced by, an operating account once the UIC exists. Directors normally verify by video call or in person.
VAT and social security registrations
Intra-EU services trigger VAT registration from the first invoice, not at the turnover threshold. The manager also needs an insurance registration.
Accounting from month one
Bulgarian companies file monthly even with no activity once VAT registered. Set the bookkeeping up before the first invoice, not after.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to register a company in Bulgaria?
Passport or EU ID copies for all owners and managers, articles of association or a founding act, founding minutes, a notarised manager's consent with specimen signature, Commerce Act declarations, a capital deposit certificate for the BGN 2 minimum, registered address consent, and a power of attorney if you are not travelling to Bulgaria.
Do I have to travel to Bulgaria to register the company?
No. Around 95% of registrations are completed remotely using a notarised and apostilled power of attorney, or one signed at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, where no apostille is required.
Does the power of attorney need an apostille?
Only if it is signed before a local notary. Signing at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate removes the apostille step entirely, which usually saves a week.
How much share capital must I deposit?
The statutory minimum for an OOD or EOOD is BGN 2, about EUR 1. It is paid into a capital accumulation account and released to the company once registration is complete.
Do documents need to be translated into Bulgarian?
Yes. Anything signed abroad must be translated by a sworn translator and the translation certified. We arrange this locally so the wording matches what the register expects.
How long does the Commercial Register take?
Two to three working days once a complete file is filed. Most of the elapsed time in a remote registration is spent on notary appointments, apostilles and courier transit rather than on the register itself.
Can a non-EU citizen own 100% of a Bulgarian company?
Yes. There is no residency or nationality requirement for shareholders or managers of an OOD or EOOD, though banks apply their own onboarding checks to non-EU directors.
We prepare the whole file for you
Send a passport scan and tell us where you live. We draft the documents, tell you exactly what to say at the notary or embassy, and file the moment the originals arrive in Varna.
Related references
- Company registration service - what we handle end to end.
- Registered office address rules - the seat, consent declaration and virtual address limits.
- Commercial Register search - check a name or an existing company.
- Business bank account guide - the next step after the UIC.
- VAT registration guide - when the first invoice triggers it.
- Dividend tax guide - how to pay yourself afterwards.
- Bulgarian EOOD explained - the structure most solo founders choose.