Bulgarian Translation Services in London and the UK

What is the difference between certified, sworn, notarised, and apostilled Bulgarian translation?

Certified Bulgarian translation carries the agency’s signed statement of truth, sworn translation is signed by a translator registered with the Bulgarian Embassy, notarised translation adds a UK notary public’s seal, and apostilled translation receives FCDO legalisation for use abroad. Choosing the wrong level is the single most common reason Bulgarian documents are rejected by UKVI, the Home Office, and Bulgarian authorities.

When do you need a certified Bulgarian translation?

A certified Bulgarian translation is needed for UKVI visa applications, Home Office settlement claims, university admissions, and right-to-work checks, where the receiving body requires a signed statement of accuracy from the translation agency. Our Certified Translation Services include the statement of truth, agency contact details, translator credentials, and date on every certificate, matching the Home Office and UKVI acceptance criteria.

When do you need a sworn Bulgarian translator registered with the Bulgarian Embassy?

A sworn Bulgarian translator registered with the Bulgarian Embassy is required when the translated document will be used inside Bulgaria, including property deeds, court submissions in Sofia, civil registry filings, and notarial acts before a Bulgarian notary. Our Sworn Translation Services route Bulgarian-bound files through translators whose signatures are deposited with the Bulgarian Embassy in London or the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When do you need notarisation or an apostille on a Bulgarian translation?

Notarisation is needed when a UK authority requires a notary public’s seal on the translator’s affidavit, and an apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office is needed when the translated document must be legally recognised in Bulgaria under the 1961 Hague Convention. Our Notarised Translation Services handle both the notary appointment and the FCDO submission as a single package.

How does FCDO apostille legalisation work for Bulgarian documents?

FCDO apostille legalisation works in 3 steps: the document is signed by a UK solicitor or notary, it is submitted to the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes, and an apostille certificate is attached confirming the signature for use in Bulgaria.

1. A UK notary public witnesses the translator’s affidavit on the Bulgarian translation.
2. The notarised pack is couriered to the FCDO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes.
3. The FCDO attaches the apostille (the 10-point Hague certificate) and returns the document for use before any Bulgarian authority.

Bulgarian translation certification comparison table

The table below maps each certification type to the accepting authority, typical document, turnaround, and price band so you pick the correct level before ordering.

Certification level	Accepting authority	Typical Bulgarian document	Turnaround	Price band
Certified (statement of truth)	Home Office, UKVI, UK ENIC, universities, employers	Birth certificate, diploma, police record	Same-day to 24 hours	£30–£60 per page
Sworn (Bulgarian Embassy translator)	Bulgarian courts, notaries, civil registry	Property deed, court submission, POA	2–4 working days	£45–£80 per page
Notarised (UK notary seal)	HMCTS, foreign embassies, some universities	Affidavit, contract, academic transcript	3–5 working days	£75–£120 per document + base rate
Apostilled (FCDO legalisation)	Bulgarian authorities under the 1961 Hague Convention	Marriage certificate, company extract, deed	5–10 working days	£80–£150 per document + base rate

Which Bulgarian document translations do we deliver most often?

We deliver 7 categories of Bulgarian document translation most often: civil certificates, academic transcripts, legal contracts, court documents, medical reports, financial statements, and technical or patent specifications, each handled by native Bulgarian linguists under ISO 17100. Subject-matter specialists handle each field; generalists are excluded from regulated content.

How do you translate a Bulgarian birth, marriage, or death certificate?

Bulgarian civil certificate translation converts акт за раждане, акт за граждански брак, and акт за смърт into certified English accepted by UKVI, the Home Office, and the General Register Office. Same-day delivery is available for single-page civil records under 1,000 words.

How do you translate a Bulgarian academic transcript and diploma?

Bulgarian academic translation converts диплома, академична справка, and приложения into certified English for UK ENIC statements of comparability, university admissions, and professional registration. Grade scales (Отличен 6, Много добър 5, Добър 4, Среден 3, Слаб 2) are rendered with explanatory notes so UK admissions officers read them without ambiguity.

How do you translate Bulgarian legal and court documents?

Bulgarian legal translation covers contracts, powers of attorney, court judgements, witness statements, and police records, certified for HMCTS, UK solicitors, and the Home Office. Police clearance certificates (свидетелство за съдимост) used in UK background screening are delivered as part of our Background Check Certificate Translation, and broader litigation files run through Legal Translation Services in London and the UK.

How do you translate Bulgarian medical and pharmaceutical documents?

Bulgarian medical translation covers patient records, clinical trial documents, and pharmaceutical labelling, produced by linguists with life-sciences specialisation under ISO 17100. Confidentiality is enforced through ISO 27001 controls and signed NDAs on every project.

How do you translate Bulgarian business, financial, and patent documents?

Bulgarian business translation covers contracts, annual accounts, marketing campaigns, websites, and patent specifications, charged per source word and delivered with confidentiality under ISO 27001. Marketing content runs through our Marketing Translation Services in London and the UK, and IP filings through Patent Translation Services in London and the UK.

How fast can a Bulgarian translation be delivered in the UK?

A Bulgarian translation can be delivered same-day for short civil documents under 1,000 words, within 24–48 hours for legal and academic packs, and on agreed milestones for technical projects above 10,000 words, all under ISO 17100 quality control. Same-day delivery is available for single-page certificates submitted before 11:00 GMT, because a document of that length passes through translation and independent review within a standard working day. Turnaround for larger packs — such as a full visa application containing a passport bio-page, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and academic transcripts — is 24 to 48 hours, giving the reviewer sufficient time to check terminology consistency across every document in the set. For high-volume technical or legal projects, milestone delivery keeps your own deadlines on track by releasing reviewed sections as each is completed rather than holding the entire project until the final page is finished.

1. Same-day — single-page civil certificates received before 11:00 GMT.
2. 24 hours — up to 2,500 words of legal or academic content.
3. 48 hours — visa application packs (passport, certificates, transcripts) up to 5,000 words.
4. 3–10 working days — contracts, annual accounts, medical reports up to 20,000 words.
5. Milestone delivery — patent portfolios, e-commerce catalogues, and clinical trial dossiers above 10,000 words.

Every turnaround option includes the full ISO 17100 two-stage workflow — independent translation and a separate editorial review — so faster delivery never means a reduced quality process. If your document also requires a sworn translator surcharge, UK notary public notarisation, or FCDO apostille legalisation, we factor those steps into the timeline we confirm in writing at the quoting stage, so the date you receive is the date the fully legalised document is in your hands.

Do you provide Bulgarian interpretation as well as translation?

Yes, we provide 4 modes of Bulgarian interpretation alongside written translation: consecutive interpretation for legal meetings, simultaneous interpretation for conferences, telephone interpretation for hearings and calls, and video remote interpretation for medical and immigration appointments. Each mode is matched to the setting it suits best — consecutive interpretation is the standard choice for solicitor consultations and court proceedings because the interpreter speaks after each natural pause, leaving a clear record; simultaneous interpretation is used for conferences and large-scale events where delegates need real-time Bulgarian or English output without interrupting the speaker’s flow.

Telephone and video remote interpretation are particularly in demand for immigration tribunal hearings, GP appointments, and social services meetings, where travel is impractical or where an appointment arises at short notice. Bulgarian interpreters are available in London on next-day notice and across the UK on 48-hour notice, and all interpreters working on legally sensitive assignments hold relevant professional credentials and are bound by our confidentiality policy, which is backed by our ISO 27001 information security management standard. Whether you need a brief telephone session or a full-day simultaneous interpreter at a London conference venue, we confirm availability and a fixed fee at the quoting stage.