Bulgaria: Information on the procedures that a Bulgarian citizen must follow to renew a passport that expired while s/he was travelling in the United States; on the supporting documents that must be presented; on whether the original supporting documents are required; and on whether the procedure can be completed by mail
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR20434.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Information on the procedures that a Bulgarian citizen must follow to renew a passport that expired while s/he was travelling in the United States; on the supporting documents that must be presented; on whether the original supporting documents are required; and on whether the procedure can be completed by mail, 1 May 1995, BGR20434.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace68.html [accessed 10 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided in a 10 May 1995 telephone interview with a counsellor from the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ottawa. He stated that the information provided below applies to every Bulgarian citizen travelling in any foreign country.
In order for a Bulgarian citizen to renew a passport that expired while s/he was travelling abroad, s/he must contact the local Bulgarian embassy or consulate and fill out an application form, and submit it along with his/her expired passport. In addition, those who are between 17 and 30 years of age must present proof that they have either done their military service, or have been released from it either temporarily or permanently. The applicant must produce original documents in order to have the passport renewed. If the applicant is abroad temporarily at the time the passport expires, the passport is extended for one year and he/she must pay a charge of CDN$ 30 to renew it. If the applicant holds dual citizenship or lives abroad permanently, the passport is extended for five years; in this case the renewal fee is CDN$ 55. Passport renewals are processed at the local Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
Only passports issued after 1 September 1989 can be renewed. Holders of passports issued before 1 September 1989 that expired while they were abroad must obtain new passports. In order to obtain a new passport, the person must follow the same procedure as described above, and, in addition, must include three photographs and CDN$ 50 to cover processing costs. Only when it is necessary to obtain a new passport will the applicant's old passport and relevant documents be sent to the Passport Department of the Ministry of the Interior in Bulgaria. This procedure may take 2 to 6 months.
Renewing a passport or obtaining a new passport can be done either in person or by mail.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ottawa. 10 May 1995. Interview with a counsellor.
