Registering a Bulgarian organisation abroad

A Bulgarian community group abroad — a society, a Sunday school, a folk ensemble, a church community — usually registers as an association under the law of the country where it operates. Registration is with the local authorities. A Bulgarian non-profit legal entity is entered in the register of non-profit legal entities at the Registry Agency in Bulgaria and makes sense if the organisation will run activities and money from Bulgaria.

The two main options

For most communities the practical choice is a local association: it can rent premises, open a bank account and apply to local funders, and the Ministry of Education programme for Sunday schools is aimed precisely at such organisations. A Bulgarian non-profit makes sense if your activity is mainly in Bulgaria or if you plan to apply to programmes that require a Bulgarian applicant.

Common steps

1. Define the aims and the founders

   Write down what the organisation will do — for example Bulgarian language teaching, cultural events, community support. Bring the founders together.

2. Adopt a statute

   The statute sets out the name, seat, aims, governing bodies, membership and representation rules. Its requirements are set by the law of the country where you register.

3. Register with the local authority

   Which body, fees and timescales depend on the country. Ask the local administration, the court or the register of associations; if needed, a local lawyer.

4. Open a bank account

   Bulgarian institutions transfer programme funds only to the organisation’s own account.

5. Inform the embassy or consulate

   The Ministry of Education programme requires a letter from the embassy confirming that the organisation may carry out the activity in that country. Contact with the mission also helps with joint events.

6. Contact the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad

   The Agency keeps a catalogue on its website, “The Bulgarian community around the world”, listing societies, schools, media, folk ensembles and church communities by country.

What registration gives you

• Eligibility for the Ministry of Education and Science programme “Native Language and Culture Abroad” — for organisations of Bulgarians registered under the law of their country that run a Sunday school.
• Partnerships with the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, the embassy and the Bulgarian cultural institutes.
• The right to propose polling station locations to the embassy or consulate, up to 25 days before an election.
• Standing with local authorities and funders: renting premises, signing contracts, receiving donations.

Documents for Bulgarian programmes

When applying to the Ministry of Education you submit the organisation’s registration document in an official Bulgarian translation. Other documents are also in Bulgarian; if the original is in another language, attach a translation certified by the organisation itself. Depending on the issuing country, an apostille may be needed.

A Bulgarian non-profit in brief

• An association is founded by three or more persons; for public-benefit activity — by at least 7 individuals with full legal capacity or 3 legal entities.
• It is entered in the register of non-profit legal entities at the Registry Agency; the state fee is set by the Agency’s tariff.
• The name is written in Bulgarian and clearly states the type of entity — for example “association”.
• The choice of public-benefit status cannot be reversed once registered.