Bulgaria: notarized landlord rules
A recent legal amendment in Bulgaria has introduced an important change concerning notarized landlord declarations required for immigration procedures for foreigners.
Previously, notarization of landlord declarations, a mandatory requirement for obtaining a residence permit, focused only on verifying the landlord’s identity and signature.
With the latest amendment to the Law of Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (paragraph 1, item 20 of the additional provisions, Нова – ДВ, бр. 97 от 2017 г., изм., бр. 34 от 2019 г., бр. 52 от 2025 г.), the notary must now also verify the content of the declaration. This means the notary confirms not only the authenticity of the signature but also that the information in the document is accurate and reflects the signatory’s intent.
In addition, we have observed that immigration authorities more frequently retain original documents, such as employment and lease contracts, if a notarized copy is not available.
Implications for tenants and landlords
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Tenants (foreign nationals): Applicants are advised to prepare notarized copies of their lease-related and employment documents for submission, while keeping originals for their records. Authorities may retain originals if notarized copies are not provided.
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Landlords: Declarations must now be notarized with verification of both signature and content. Declarations verified only by signature will no longer be accepted by the authority.
Tenants should retain original documents and submit notarized copies to ensure compliance and avoid administrative complications. Landlords must ensure that the notary verifies both the signature and the content when signing the landlord’s declaration. This guarantees that the declaration meets legal standards and will be accepted by immigration and police authorities.