General Conditions

Any Bulgarian citizen residing in a foreign country other than the EU Member States may file an application for renewal of his/her driving licensewith a diplomatic or consular mission.

At missions which have available the required technical capacity, the consular officer will, upon acceptance of the application, take digital images of applicant’s signature and face.

The following data are entered in the automated information system:

1. The personal data given in the application;
2. Information on the documents enclosed;
3. Applicant’s signature;
4. Applicant’s photograph.

Deadlines

Within 5 business days from submission of the application, the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (SDMI) will reply to the mission as to whether a driving license can be issued.

In case the driving license cannot be issued due to discrepancies in the data filled in, the mission will, within 7 business days, notify the applicant that the discrepancies have to be removed.

In case the discrepancies are not removed in full within one month after such notification, the procedure on the driving license application will be terminated.

Requirements to photographs

At missions which lack technical capacity to take digital images of signatures and faces, applicants have to submit their driving license applications enclosing a photograph.

Forwarding of driving license applications

Missions can forward accepted driving license applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

1. through their own official channels or
2. via a courier company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments if the applicant has requested and paid for the “forwarding via a carrier company” service DHL.

Delivery of the document

The driving license is issued by SDMI. The diplomatic or consular mission will, within 7 business days, notify the applicant that the document is issued. The document may be forwarded:

1. ex officio, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or
2. via a courier company certified as a carrier of valuable shipments if the applicant has requested and paid for the “forwarding via a carrier company” service DHL.