Security level:
Potential threats of terrorism cannot be ruled out in the Middle East, including the UAE. Travelers are advised to be vigilant when in public places, shopping malls, and tourist attractions, where large crowds tend to gather.

The UAE is considered one of the countries with the lowest crime rates in the Middle East. However, isolated incidents of pickpocketing are possible in large shopping centres, markets and events with large crowds. It is advisable not to accept drinks, cigarettes, etc. from strangers, and not to use unlicensed taxis and other transport services.

Healthcare:
It is not recommended to drink tap water. High humidity and increased levels of sand and dust particles in the air are a risk factor for people suffering from high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, or chronic respiratory diseases.

In order to use medical centers in the UAE, foreigners staying in the country for a short period of time must have medical insurance taken out in advance. Otherwise, the costs of medical care will be covered on the spot.

When registering for a long-term stay in the country, a series of medical tests for HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B are performed. Certificates issued outside the country are not recognized. If the test result is positive, the foreigner is subject to deportation from the UAE.

Bulgarian citizens traveling to the UAE can obtain additional information at the following links:

https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visiting-and-exploring-the-uae

https://www.moet.gov.ae/en/entry-requirements

https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/before-you-fly/

Local legislation:
Customs and laws in the UAE are largely based on Islamic religious norms. During the holy month of Ramadan, eating and drinking (including water or chewing gum), smoking in public places and in cars are prohibited, and most shopping centers have designated eating areas for tourists. Tourists are expected not to wear provocative clothing (short skirts, shorts, etc.). During all Muslim holidays, travelers are advised to show respect for local religious traditions. It is forbidden to preach any religion other than Islam in public places. The practice of other religions is permitted and takes place in religious temples approved by the authorities.

The use and possession of even the smallest amounts of narcotic substances (including less than 0.1 g) is strictly prohibited and punishable by imprisonment. The detection of narcotic substances in the blood, whether through a blood test or other means, is considered possession of drugs and is punishable. Transit passengers under the influence of narcotic substances may also be detained.

Alcoholic beverages are served only in licensed restaurants and establishments. Visibly inappropriate behaviour in public places as a result of alcohol abuse is punishable. Non-Muslim foreigners residing in the country for a long period of time are entitled to a licence to purchase and consume alcohol at home. In the emirate of Sharjah, the consumption and transport of alcohol (in luggage or vehicles) is prohibited.

Driving a motor vehicle after consuming even a minimal amount of alcohol is a serious offense. Your insurance may be declared invalid in such cases, and financial losses and claims are paid by the offending driver.

Indecent gestures, foul language, and offensive behavior in public places are punishable. Public displays of affection, such as kissing, hugging, etc., are not permitted in public places. There are no special restrictions for women. Women can drive cars and move freely and unaccompanied in public places.

It is not acceptable to photograph local residents without their express permission. It is prohibited to photograph government buildings, military bases, ports, airports, diplomatic and consular missions, industrial sites, etc. with a camera or mobile phone. Local authorities will confiscate the camera and impose a penalty, and during the investigation of the offense, foreigners will have their travel documents confiscated and will be prohibited from leaving the country.

Extramarital sexual relations are punishable. Homosexual relations and behaviour are punishable. Importing pornographic materials is illegal.

Customs requirements:

Special attention is required when carrying medicines for personal use, as the import of a number of medicines permitted in Bulgaria is prohibited in the UAE. Additional information is published on the UAE government website: https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/drugs-and-controlled-medicines. 

The link provided contains a list of medicines and medical devices that are subject to restrictions on importation into the country, in accordance with the requirements of the UAE Ministry of Health: https://u.ae/-/media/Information-and-services/Health/List-of-Medicines-2022.pdf

Разрешените за внос стоки и парични средства са изброени на следния линк: https://www.dubaicustoms.gov.ae/en/mobile/Pages/PermittedLuggageItems.aspx   

The address provided states that up to 4 liters of alcohol, no more than 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 500 grams of tobacco may be imported into the UAE.

Road traffic:

Bulgarian driving licenses have been recognized in the UAE since July 2018 only if used by travelers who are Bulgarian citizens. For long-term stays in the UAE, it is permissible to replace a Bulgarian driving license with an Emirati one without having to take a driving test. The UAE is among the countries that have signed the Convention on Road Traffic - Vienna, 1968.

The level of road safety is good. Driving requires constant attention and strict compliance with signs and speed limits. Running a red light can result in heavy fines and imprisonment for up to one month, especially if the violation has created a risk of an accident.

In the event of a traffic accident, you must comply with the rules of the emirate in which you are located. In Abu Dhabi, you should not move your car until the police arrive, even if it is obstructing traffic. In Dubai, you can only move your car if it is causing traffic problems. In other emirates, the car may be moved if the accident is minor and both parties involved have agreed on who is responsible for it. Leaving the scene of an accident before the police arrive is considered a serious offense.

Minor displays of irritation while driving, such as rude gestures, can lead to serious penalties.

Intercity highways are free of charge. The main roads in Dubai operate the "SALIK" toll system, with tolls varying depending on traffic congestion and the time of day. Detailed information on tolls can be found at the following link:https://www.salik.ae/en/Toll-Gates/variable-toll-rates  

When entering the central part of Abu Dhabi via the main roads, the DARB toll system is in operation. More information about the tariffs can be found at the following link: https://admobility.gov.ae/en/darb-fees 

As of November 1, 2016, a law is in effect whereby departure from the UAE is only possible after payment of all fines owed.

Local currency:

The local currency in the UAE is the Emirati dirham (AED). The official fixed exchange rate against the dollar is 1 USD = 3.67 AED.

Debit and credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shopping centers, and stores. Currency should only be exchanged at banks and exchange offices, as exchange outside these locations is punishable by law.

According to the agreement of May 6, 2015, EU citizens (except for citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland, who are not parties to the agreement) - holders of a valid ordinary passport or a diplomatic, service, official or special passport issued by an EU Member State, as well as UAE citizens - holders of a valid passport or a diplomatic, service, official or special passport issued by the UAE are exempt from the requirement to hold a short-stay visa when entering and staying in the territory of the other contracting party for a period of up to 90 days, for each period of 180 days from the date of entry.

The requirements for work and long-term visas remain unchanged. To start working, you must enter the country with a special work permit issued in advance.

Please note!

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of travel. Bulgarian diplomatic missions cannot assist you in entering the UAE if your passport is not valid for the required period.

Local authorities do not allow entry into the UAE with a temporary passport. Bulgarian citizens who are in the UAE and for some reason do not have a valid passport (if it has been lost, damaged, etc.) may leave the country with a temporary passport only if it has been issued by the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Dubai.

Local authorities do not allow entry into the UAE with an “X” indicated for the gender inside the passport.

Entry into the UAE is not allowed with a passport without a full date of birth. The date of birth is not complete if “00” or “XX” is indicated for the day, month or year.

The Emergency Travel Document /ETD/ is not yet officially recognized by the UAE.

In a letter dated June 1, 2018, to airlines operating flights to and from the UAE, the Emirati authorities announced the introduction of new rules for the travel of minors and unaccompanied minors, as well as for travel where the minor or unaccompanied minor is accompanied by only one parent.

When traveling with minors who are foreign citizens, a power of attorney for travel issued by the parents (or guardians or custodians) for travel, stating the permanent address of the traveler(s) and the address of residence in the UAE, including details of the persons meeting/receiving them.

This requirement also applies if the minor foreign citizens are accompanied by a third party.

A copy of the birth certificate of the minor traveller must also be presented at the border checkpoint.

If accompanied by a parent whose surname is different from that of the minor or underage person, a copy of the birth certificate showing the family relationship between the persons must be presented.

At present, the UAE has not introduced a mandatory form for the power of attorney that must be presented at border control at international airports. The authorities have not announced whether the documents need to be certified.

There is no requirement for the language of the power of attorney, and it is expected that documents issued in English and/or Arabic, or translations thereof, will be accepted. It is recommended to use multilingual extracts from birth certificates.

In case of reasonable doubt, local authorities reserve the right to deny entry to the UAE and to deport traveling minors and/or underage foreign nationals.

Further details and additional up-to-date information can be obtained from the airline with which the minor or underage person is planning to fly, as well as from the following website: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/passports-and-traveling/pregnant-women-children-and-infants/travelling-with-infants-and-children-

Bulgarian personal documents:

• First passport for persons under 14 years of age:
- both parents and the child must be present in person (if this is not possible, see "Important!");
- valid passports/ID cards of the parents – originals and photocopies;
- Bulgarian birth certificate of the child with their personal identification number (EGN) entered in it – original and photocopy; persons who acquired Bulgarian citizenship after their birth must present their foreign birth certificate;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (using the template) – completed in advance in Bulgarian. It shall be submitted by the parents/legal representatives of the child, who shall sign the application. Neither the child nor the parents shall sign in the signature field below the photograph;
- for persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship, the following shall also apply:
* certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address is declared in person or by a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95, paragraph 2 of the Civil Registration Act /ZGR/). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
* Copy of the decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria;
* Copy of national passport.

• Second and subsequent passports for persons under 14 years of age:
- both parents and the child must be present in person (if this is not possible, see "Important!");
- valid passports/ID cards of the parents – original and photocopy;
- Bulgarian birth certificate of the child with the personal identification number (EGN) entered in it – original and photocopy; persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship after their birth must present their foreign birth certificate.
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (using the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. It is submitted by the parents/legal representatives of the child, who sign the application. Neither the child nor the parents should sign in the signature field below the photo;
- Previous passport of the person - original and photocopy. If it has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it has not been returned within three months after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.

Passport for persons aged 14 to 18:
- both parents and the child must be present in person (if this is not possible, see "Important!");
- valid passports/ID cards of the parents – original and photocopy;
- Bulgarian birth certificate of the person with their personal identification number (EGN) entered in it – original and photocopy; persons who acquired Bulgarian citizenship after their birth must present their foreign birth certificate.
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (using the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. The application must be submitted in person and signed by the minor applicant in the designated place, and both parents must express their consent by signing the application in front of the consular officer;
- the person's previous passport - original and photocopy. If it has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it has not been returned within three months after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
- For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship, the following shall also apply:
- a certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address shall be declared in person or by means of a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95(2) of the Civil Registration Act (CRA)). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
- A copy of the decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- A copy of the national passport.

• Passport for persons aged 18 to 58:
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (according to the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. Submitted in person by the applicant and signed by them in the designated place; Bulgarian birth certificate of the person with their personal identification number (EGN) entered in it - original and photocopy; persons who acquired Bulgarian citizenship after their birth must present their foreign birth certificate.
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with the personal identification number (EGN) entered in it (original and photocopy). If the previous passport has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it has not been returned within three months after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following must also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
- For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship, the following also applies:
- a certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address shall be declared in person or by means of a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95(2) of the Civil Registration Act (CRA)). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
- A copy of the decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- A copy of the national passport.

• Passport for persons aged 58 to 70:
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (according to the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. It shall be submitted in person by the applicant and signed by him/her in the designated place;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (original and photocopy). If the previous passport has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it has not been returned within three months after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations on the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.

• Passport for persons over 70 years of age:
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (according to the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. It shall be submitted in person by the applicant and signed by him/her in the designated place;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (original and photocopy). If the previous passport has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it has not been returned within three months after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following must also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.

• Passport of a person with permanently reduced working capacity or with a type and degree of disability of 50% and over 50%:
- personal presence of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (according to a template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. Submitted in person by the applicant and signed by him/her in the designated place;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (original and photocopy). If the previous passport has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it has not been returned within three months after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following must also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
- an expert decision of the TELK (Territorial Expert Medical Commission) or the NELK (National Expert Medical Commission) – in original and photocopy.

Important! The presence of only one parent is possible when:
1. an original, expressly notarized power of attorney from the absent parent for the issuance of the passport is presented;
2. the other parent has been deprived of parental rights, as certified by a court decision;
3. a court decision is presented, which expressly states that the parent may submit documents for the issuance of a passport for the child without the consent of the other parent;
4. a document certifying that the other parent is deceased (death certificate);
5. a document from a Bulgarian or foreign court, confirmed by a Bulgarian court, that the other parent is missing;
6. if the father is unknown and this can be certified by a document.

Term and delivery of ready Bulgarian personal documents:
If the applicants have met the requirements of the relevant regulations and the information has been processed by the competent Bulgarian authorities, the applicant can receive the issued Bulgarian personal document at the Consulate General in Dubai. Since the Consulate General does not have regular diplomatic mail service with the Republic of Bulgaria, at present, the only option is express delivery, which takes 30 days to receive the document, but only if the applicant uses DHL services.

Delivery of new personal documents abroad with DHL:
Payment for the courier service to DHL is made only after the application has been approved and payment for the service for issuing the requested identity document has been made through the virtual POS terminal of the Automated Information System for Electronic Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The courier service to DHL should be paid by bank transfer only if you have chosen to use the "Express Service".
The service can be paid for by one person and used by up to 8 people. The prepaid courier service does not imply or include faster processing of the personal documents you have requested.
The cost of delivery by DHL to the Consulate General in Dubai is 47.25 euros. The price is fixed in a contract between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia and DHL.
The amounts for the service are transferred to the following bank account:

1. For payment in euros (EUR):
Recipient: DHL EXPRESS BULGARIA EOOD
Recipient's IBAN number: BG40UNCR70001523563800
Recipient's bank: UniCredit Bulbank AD
BIC/SWIFT code: UNCRBGSF
Address of the recipient's bank: 7, Sveta Nedelya Square, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

As information (reason) for the payment, please write: BDS_city name_your name (example: BDS Dubai Ivan Ivanov Ivanov). This is necessary so that the payment can be recognized as your payment for the delivery of prepared personal documents and confirmed by the financial department of the courier company.

A new passport can also be received in the Republic of Bulgaria if this is requested when submitting the documents, either in person or through an authorized representative with an explicit notarized power of attorney or by a person whose details are entered in the application form at the time of submission.

Receiving:
New documents are received in person at the consular office, and in exceptional cases – by an authorized person with an explicit notarized power of attorney or by a person whose details are entered when submitting the application. The relevant section for receipt in the application is filled in and signed.
Passports for persons under the age of 18 are received in person by a parent or a person authorized by the parents, who must prove their identity with a passport or identity card. The same person must also present the child's original birth certificate. Their names and details are recorded.
The old documents (ID card and/or passport) are declared invalid, which is recorded in the Ministry of Interior system, and cannot be used.
Upon receipt of the new passport, the previous passport must be returned to the consular service. A person who needs to present visas or border stamps affixed to their passport may retain it after its expiry date by presenting it to the consular service and submitting a standard application form / Annex No. 7 to Article 32, paragraph 2 of the PBLD/ The person is required to return the document within 3 months after the stated need has ceased to exist.

• First identity card for persons aged 14 to 16:
- personal presence of one of the parents and the child;
- valid passport/identity card of the parent present – original and photocopy;
- Bulgarian birth certificate of the child with their personal identification number (EGN) entered in it – original and photocopy; persons who acquired Bulgarian citizenship after their birth must present their foreign birth certificate.
- Application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (sample form) – completed in advance in Bulgarian. The application must be submitted in person and signed by the minor applicant in the designated place, and their parent must express their consent by signing the application in the presence of a consular service employee;
- For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship, the following also applies:
- certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address is declared in person or by a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95, paragraph 2 of the Civil Registration Act /ZGR/). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
- A copy of the decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- A copy of the national passport.

• Identity card for persons aged 18 to 58:
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (using the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. Submitted in person by the applicant and signed by him/her in the presence of a consular service employee at the designated location;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (EGN) entered in it - original and photocopy. If the identity card is lost, damaged or destroyed, or if it is not returned within 30 days after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
- For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship and are applying for their first identity card, the following shall also apply:
- a certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address shall be declared in person or by means of a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95(2) of the ZGR). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
- Foreign birth certificate.
- Copy of decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Copy of national passport.

• Identity card for persons aged 58 to 70:
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (according to the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. It shall be submitted in person by the applicant and signed by him/her in the designated place;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (EGN) entered in it - original and photocopy. If the identity card is lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it is not returned within 30 days after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship and are applying for their first identity card, the following shall also apply:
- a certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address shall be declared in person or by means of a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95(2) of the ZGR). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. 
The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
- Foreign birth certificate.
- Copy of decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Copy of national passport.

• Identity card for persons over 70 years of age (permanent):
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (using the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. It must be submitted in person by the applicant and signed by them in the designated place;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (EGN) entered in it - original and photocopy. If the identity card is lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it is not returned within 30 days after its expiry, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- a document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
- For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship and are applying for their first identity card, the following shall also apply:
- a certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address shall be declared in person or by means of a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95(2) of the ZGR). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified by the relevant municipality.
- Foreign birth certificate.
- Copy of decree and/or certificates of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Copy of national passport.

• Identity card for persons with permanent reduced working capacity or with a type and degree of disability of 50% and above:
- personal appearance of the applicant;
- application for the issuance of an identity document for a Bulgarian citizen (according to the template) - completed in advance in Bulgarian. Submitted in person by the applicant and signed by them in the designated place;
- valid/expired: passport, identity card, driving license, or Bulgarian birth certificate with personal identification number (EGN) entered in it - original and photocopy. If the identity card is lost, damaged, or destroyed, or if it is not returned within 30 days after its expiration, a fine shall be imposed in accordance with Articles 80 and 81 of the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act. The following shall also be submitted:
- a declaration under Article 17(1) of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Personal Documents;
- For persons who have acquired Bulgarian citizenship and are applying for their first identity card, the following shall also be submitted:
- a certificate of permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria - the permanent address shall be declared in person or by means of a notarized power of attorney in the relevant municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria (Articles 92 and 95(2) of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act). The permanent address may be private or business (Municipality of Sofia, Sofia, Sredets district, 6 Lege Street), but it must be located within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and certified in the proper manner in the relevant municipality. The certificate of permanent address must contain all the required details, i.e. it must be signed and stamped by the mayor and duly certified in the relevant municipality.
- foreign birth certificate.
- A copy of the decree and/or certificates for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
- A copy of your national passport.
- A document certifying these circumstances (if any), issued by the competent police authorities.
- Expert decision of the TELK (Territorial Expert Medical Commission) or the NELK (National Expert Medical Commission) - in original and photocopy;

Receiving:

New documents are received in person at the consular service, and in exceptional cases – by an authorized person with an explicit notarized power of attorney or by a person whose details are entered when submitting the application. The relevant section for receipt in the application is filled in and signed.
Identity cards for persons under 18 years of age are received in person by one of the parents, who proves their identity with a passport or identity card, or by a person expressly specified in the application for a BLD or with a notarized power of attorney. The same person must also present the child's original birth certificate. Their names and details are recorded.
Documents returned by applicants (ID card and/or passport) are declared invalid, which is recorded in the Ministry of Interior system, and cannot be used.
Upon receipt of the new ID card, the previous ID card must be returned to the consular service.
A new identity card can also be obtained in the Republic of Bulgaria, either in person or through an authorized representative with an explicit notarized power of attorney or by a person whose details are entered in the application form at the time of submission. The authorized person may receive the issued identity document from the Bulgarian Identity Documents Directorate, Sofia, 48 Knyaginya Maria Luiza Blvd. upon presentation of their identity document and return of the previous passport.

The Consular Service at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Sofia has started its work and provides services to Bulgarian and foreign citizens. All Bulgarian documents that need to be legalized for use in the UAE should first be certified by the Consular Service at the Emirati Embassy in Sofia and then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - MOFAIC).

Please note that MOFAIC has stopped accepting Bulgarian documents (diplomas, birth certificates, waybills, etc.) for legalization that have not been certified by the UAE Embassy in Sofia.

The procedure for legalizing Emirati documents that are required for use in Bulgaria remains unchanged. They must first be legalized by MOFAIC and then by the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Dubai.
For further information, please contact consulate.dubai@mfa.bg. 

Certifications and legalizations:

The United Arab Emirates has not acceded to the Hague Convention. For this reason, documents issued by Bulgarian institutions are recognized in the UAE only when they bear the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The document must then be translated into English or Arabic, and the translation must be certified by the Certification and Legalization Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai certifies the stamp and certification of the translation by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its stamp is certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.

Documents issued by institutions in the UAE are recognized in the Republic of Bulgaria only when they bear the original stamp of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE or have it attached to them. Documents issued in this way, accompanied by a certification from the Consulate General, must be translated into Bulgarian.

Detailed information on the conditions for certification and legalization of documents can be found at the following link: https://www.mfa.bg/bg/uslugi-patuvania/konsulski-uslugi/zaverki-legalizacia/obshta-informatsia 

The Consulate General has accredited translators whose translations are certified by the consular service:

- Nadia Hristova – +971 50 63 75 704, e-mail: uae.translate@gmail.com 
- Silvia Abdulrahman – +971 58 17 761 63, e-mail: s_abdulrahman@abv.bg 

Documents issued by Bulgarian institutions are recognized in the UAE only when they bear the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The document must then be translated into English or Arabic, and the translation must be certified by the Certification and Legalization Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Dubai certifies the stamp and certification of the translation by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its stamp is certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.

Civil status:

To register birth, civil marriage, or death certificates, an original document must be issued by the local authorities, certified by the Ministry of Interior, and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE. Once the necessary signatures and seals have been affixed by the local authorities, the document is submitted to the Consular Service. The consular officer certifies the signature and seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, and the document is sent/delivered to the municipality of the permanent address in Bulgaria by the interested party and/or their authorized representative.