After birth, the baby must receive a name from its parents, with which it is entered into the register of the Maternity Ward.
The name of a child who is not a Bulgarian citizen is recorded as declared by the parents.
If one parent is a Bulgarian citizen, the child will receive a given name, patronymic name, and family name (the father's), in accordance with Art. 9 of the Civil Registration Act: "The name of a Bulgarian citizen born on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria consists of a given name, patronymic name and family name."
Children of the same parents are registered with the same family name.
The patronymic name of a child who has not been acknowledged by the father is formed from the mother's given name or its root, and the family name taken is the mother's family name or the name of her father.
The grandfather may give consent for his name to be used as the child's patronymic name. In this case, the mother's family name is taken as the family name.
Within 5 days (not counting the day of birth itself), a written notification of the birth must be sent to the civil registration office in Sofia Municipality (in accordance with Art. 43, para. 1 of the Civil Registration Act). At Hospital VITA, this is the responsibility of the Chief Midwife of the Maternity Ward.
Based on this notification, a civil registration official draws up a birth certificate with the child's personal identification number (EGN). Based on this certificate, the parents receive a Birth Certificate from the municipal administration, as well as an electronic birth certificate.
The ORIGINAL birth certificate can be obtained by one of the two parents upon presentation of an identity document within 14 working days after the birth of the child (at the GRAO office). For patients from Sofia, the document is obtained from the district administration corresponding to the mother's address registration, and for women from the rest of the country - from the civil registration office of Oborishte district.
Birth after marriage
According to Bulgarian legislation, the mother's husband is the father of the newborn and will be registered as such.
If the marriage was contracted outside Bulgaria, the marriage certificate must be accompanied by a legalized translation into Bulgarian.
Birth during divorce or if the parents are not married
In this case, the mother's family status is determining. In case of divorce, a court decision for divorce must be presented (in the case of divorce abroad, the document must be translated and legalized).
If no more than 300 days have passed since the divorce, the former spouse is registered as the father of the newborn.
If more than 300 days have passed since the divorce, he will not be recognized as the father.
If the parents are not married, the biological father can acknowledge the child before the civil registration officials. At Hospital VITA, this option is provided immediately after birth, if the father declares personally and in writing that he acknowledges the child. This can also be done with a notarized declaration (required if the father is a foreigner). Valid identity documents of both parents are also required (identity cards for Bulgarian citizens, and for foreign persons - passport, residence permit, etc.).
If the father is unknown, this will be indicated in the birth certificate (the father will be recorded as unknown).
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