Lost or stolen documents abroad

If a Bulgarian identity document is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you must declare it within 3 days at the nearest Ministry of Interior office or at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate (Art. 8(2) of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act). You then apply for a new document and, if you need to travel at once, for a temporary passport.

deadline

within 3 days

to declare the loss

temporary passport

€50

free after robbery, with a report

new passport

up to 45 days

plus delivery to the mission

Step by step

1. Report it to the local police

   For theft or robbery, ask for a written report. It is not required for the declaration, but without it you cannot be exempted from fees.

2. Declare the loss within 3 days

   At the mission you fill in a declaration under Art. 17(1) of the Regulation on Bulgarian Identity Documents and attach the police document if you have one. In Bulgaria, go to the nearest Ministry of Interior office.

3. If you must travel — temporary passport

   The mission issues it on the spot: €50, within 8 working hours €75, within 4 working hours €100. It is valid for up to 12 months.

4. Apply for new documents

   Passport and ID card are applied for separately — at the mission or in Bulgaria. Abroad it takes up to 45 days plus delivery.

If you have no document at all

The mission first has to establish your identity. These help:

• an expired or damaged Bulgarian document, or a driving licence;
• a birth certificate — original and copy;
• exceptionally, at the consular officer’s discretion — a declaration by two witnesses, Bulgarian citizens with valid documents who know you (Art. 578(5) of the Civil Procedure Code).

The Embassy in Berlin says an application for a regular passport from someone with no documents is accepted once their identity has been confirmed through the temporary passport procedure. So if you have nothing at all, start with the temporary passport.

Fees after theft or disaster

If your documents were taken by force, damaged or destroyed in a robbery, natural disaster, accident, crash or emergency medical treatment, and you have a document from the competent authorities, the temporary passport is free (Art. 13(4) of Tariff No. 3) and no Ministry of Interior fee is charged for the new passport and ID card (Art. 39(1) of Tariff No. 4). We found no such exemption for the €20 consular fee on a new passport or ID card. After an ordinary loss, all fees apply.

If the mission is far away

If there is no Bulgarian embassy or consulate in the country, as an EU citizen you can ask the embassy of another EU country for help. It can issue an EU emergency travel document so you can get home. For emergencies, see also the guide on consular assistance.