Bulgarian ID Card

The local main Police station with your relevant  documents.

Before december 31st

You have to apply to the local immigration office, ours is attached to the main police station in our nearest town. You will need to take someone who can  read and write bulgarian...if you can do this then you dont need a translator......The forms have to be filled in both in english and bulgarian.
Click on the word Discover above and you will find lots of information....

Good luck...you really need to get this sorted sooner than later, but with this virus and lockdowns it may prove difficult...

Mine took three days, I did it at the Kat office in VT and had the help of a translator. You should be able to get five years on your first application by the way, I did. Seemed too easy to me!

Hi can u tell me what docs u provided and cost thanks

Thanks for the replies.  Would I need to book an appointment or can I just turn up at the police station?

Good morning, we just turned up and waited in the queue, most translators are known at their local immigration office and get seen quite quickly, or ours and others certainly did. In answer to your other question about documents, we took our passports, EHIC card, bank statement that we had printed out, although they never asked to see that, at other offices I know people have been asked for one...hit and miss, different areas different rules....house documents, I took all of mine but only one document was needed. I cant remember which one, sorry. A declaration was needed to say we could keep ourselves financially, on the first application, so a trip to a notary was required. If you look at the top of this page there are things you can click on to give you more information, in the blue line across the top...click discover....

Ok many thanks

I believe it has to be immigration rather than police station.

We are in the Brexit "transition period", and until 31 December 2020 UK citizens are treated as EU Citizens for immigration purposes, which makes it's much easier. On January 1, 2021 you would be treated as a non-EU citizen, and the process for getting a Residence Permit becomes significantly more difficult.

As an EU Citizen you should be issued with a Long Term Residence Permit valid for 5 years.

- You need a proof of residence in Bulgaria, in the form of a long term rental contract (in Bulgarian, for a Bulgarian property) or your Notary Act (deed) for your apartment in Bansko.

- You need proof of medical coverage, which can be a Bulgarian "Medical Insurance for Foreigners" policy which is issued immediately at most insurance offices for about 80 euros. I don't know if all immigration offices accept your UK EHIC card, but certainly mine (in Plovdiv) did. So I would certainly get/bring this if possible.

- You need proof of finance. This used to be a BG bank account with a couple of thousand leva, but not sure if this is still required. I think they will now accept a declaration and perhaps a debit/credit card. The declaration is in Bulgarian, and you have to notarize it. For my renewal (a couple of weeks ago) I submitted a declaration and a copy of my UK and BG debit cards.

- There is an application form too, of course, and I'd bring multiple copies of your passport and supporting documents.

The process (if all goes well) is that you stand in line for a few hours to submit your application... then come back and stand in line for another few hours to get your photo and fingerprints taken... then come back and stand in line again for another few hours to collect your card. :-)

At Plovdiv, this took me 3 business days (Wed/Thurs/Fri) but it's possible in 2 business days if you get there early on Day 1 and charm them into doing your photo/fingerprints same day.

If you're lucky and you get a friendly bureaucrat they may speak a little English, or they may be happy to help you via Google Translate. But I would not bet on it. So I think it's safer to find a translator / Bulgarian helper who will help with the application and declaration and navigating bureaucracy (and hopefully when/how you can avoid a few hours standing in line).

I decided to pay my attorney in Plovdiv to do it. He charges 1,000 euros if he provides the Bulgarian rental contract, or 500 euros if you have a Notary Act (as I did, and you do). As you're short of time, it might be 500 euros well spent to make sure you have all documents 100% correct, and you can fly in for just 3 days and get it done.

Very helpful. Many thanks.

Would anyone know what I should do myself and my partner have residency cards that expire in March we are in the Uk so with travel restrictions can’t visit Bulgaria to renew will I still be able to renew when we can travel again thanks .

Immigration office not the police offices....they are next to each other in our town...

Hi pal just need to know did you give them fingerprints or just photograph

Citizens Outside EU give fingerprints, and citizens from EU - not.