Bulgarian citizenship

What is a criminal record certificate?

A criminal record certificate is an official document, which shows whether you have been convicted of a crime and if you are – what are the kind of crimes you have committed. 

If you never committed a crime in your life, in your certificate it will be noted that you have a clean criminal record. 

When do you need a criminal record certificate?

Most often, a criminal record is required when:

• You are applying for Bulgarian citizenship.

Last Updated 29/10/2019

When you can apply

If you were granted refugee status in Bulgaria, you can apply for citizenship 3 years after the day you got your status.

If you were granted humanitarian protection, you can apply 5 years after the day you got your status. Make sure to renew your ID card after 3 years — you’ll need it to apply for citizenship later.