Check if your Bulgarian ID card is valid: deadlines, fines
How to check with the Interior Ministry (МВР) if your Bulgarian ID card is valid and the new one is ready, when it expires, the cost in euro and fines.
The date on the back of your ID card shows when the period it was issued for runs out. It does not show whether the card is valid today. These are two different things, and the law regulates them in two different places.
The Ministry of the Interior (МВР) maintains two separate online checks for personal documents. One answers the question “is the card I am holding valid”, the other “is the new card I applied for ready”. People often mix them up, because both are called “справка” (a check or certificate).
❓How do I check whether my ID card is valid?
Source: МВР, electronic services
The two МВР checks are not the same thing
The difference is practical. The validity check asks for the number of the document itself, so you need to have the card in hand or to have written its number down. If the card is lost or stolen and the number is not written down anywhere, this check cannot help you.
The check for issued and uncollected documents works by ЕГН and surname. It says nothing about the validity of your old card, only whether there is a new document waiting for you.
| Validity check | Check for issued and uncollected documents | |
|---|---|---|
| What question it answers | Is this document valid | Is the new document ready |
| What you enter | Type of document, document number, date of birth | Type of document, ЕГН, surname in Cyrillic |
| Does it work without the document in hand | Only if you know its number | Yes, as long as you know your ЕГН and surname |
| Covers | ID card, driving licence (СУМПС), passport, seaman’s passport and documents of foreigners | ID card, driving licence (СУМПС), passport, seaman’s passport |
| Limit | Up to 11 requests per 10 minutes | Up to 11 requests per 10 minutes |
The two electronic МВР checks, compared by the fields and warnings on the pages themselves.
Where the two checks are
Write your surname exactly as in the application
The date on the card is not the same as validity
Art. 32(1) of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД) lists ten separate grounds on which an ID card can be declared invalid. An expired period is only one of them.
The ground that most often comes as a surprise is a change of permanent address. As soon as you change your permanent address, the old card is liable to be declared invalid, whatever date is printed on it. In addition, Art. 9(2) ЗБЛД obliges you to apply for a new ID card within 30 days.
When an ID card is declared invalid
The grounds under Art. 32(1) of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act. Invalidity is declared by the authority that issued the card (Art. 32(2)).
The person has lost their Bulgarian citizenship
The person has declared the card lost, stolen or destroyed
The period of validity has expired
There is a change in personal data
The person has changed their permanent address
The person has died
The person has had their identity documents taken away under Art. 68(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (НПК) and has not handed them in on time
The person has expressly stated that they want the card declared invalid
The card has been found to be forged
The person has received a new ID card and has not returned the previous one, in which case the previous one is declared invalid
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 32(4)
Art. 32 lists the grounds for declaring an ID card invalid and states that this is done by the authority that issued the card. Paragraph 4 adds that the declaration is final.
Official Bulgarian text
„Обявена за невалидна лична карта не може да бъде обявена за валидна.“
The last sentence is important. A declaration of invalidity is not reversed. If you have declared your card lost and then find it, it can no longer be used and you must replace it. If you keep using it, you risk a fine under Art. 81(2), item 4 ЗБЛД.
How long an ID card is valid in 2026
With the amendment promulgated in State Gazette (ДВ) No. 52 of 27 June 2025, the indefinite ID card was abolished. Until then the law divided cards into fixed-term and indefinite and gave an indefinite card to everyone who turned 58. Now there is no such provision.
The threshold for the indefinite card was 58 years, not 70. Anyone between 58 and 70 who gets a new ID card today receives a card for 10 years. For those who have turned 70, the law allows a card with a term of 30 years.
| Age at issue | Before the 2025 amendment | Now |
|---|---|---|
| from 14 to 18 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| from 18 to 58 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| from 58 to 70 years | indefinite card | 10 years |
| aged 70 or over | indefinite card | 10 years, and a card with a term of 30 years may be issued |
Art. 30 of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act before and after the amendment promulgated in ДВ No. 52 of 27 June 2025.
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 30(1)
Sets the period of validity of the ID card by age. Amended by ДВ No. 52 of 2025. The old text said that indefinite ID cards were issued to persons who have turned 58.
Official Bulgarian text
„Лична карта на българските граждани от 14- до 18-годишна възраст се издава със срок на валидност 4 години, а на навършилите 18-годишна възраст - със срок на валидност 10 години. На лицата, навършили 70-годишна възраст, може да се издаде лична карта със срок на валидност 30 години.“
The law says “may be issued”, so 30 years is a possibility, not a mandatory term. If you are over 70 and want such a card, say so when you submit the application. Separately, Art. 30(2) provides for a card with a term of 12 months when it is temporarily physically impossible to take your fingerprints.
If you read “indefinite ID card” somewhere
Ask Pravko and get an answer with citations from the law.
Until when the old cards are valid: 2 August 2031
Above Bulgarian law stands a European regulation on the security of ID cards. Originally this was Regulation (EU) 2019/1157. The Court of Justice of the EU declared it invalid on 21 March 2024 (case C-61/22) because of the wrong legal basis, but maintained its effects until a new act was adopted. Since July 2025 the same rules are in Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1208. Bulgarian law still refers to the old number.
The regulation works with two dates. ID cards that do not meet the requirements of its Art. 3 cease to be valid when they expire or on 3 August 2031, whichever is earlier. For cards that do not meet the minimum security standards in Part 2 of ICAO Document 9303 or do not have a functional machine-readable zone, the end date was 3 August 2026.
Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1208
Art. 5, § 1
Phasing out ID cards that do not meet the new requirements. Paragraph 2 contains the earlier date of 3 August 2026 for cards without the ICAO minimum standards or without a functional machine-readable zone, and an exception for the cards of people who were aged 70 or over on 2 August 2021.
Official Bulgarian text
„Личните карти, които не отговарят на изискванията, установени в член 3, престават да бъдат валидни при изтичане на срока им на валидност или на 3 август 2031 г., като се прилага по-ранната дата.“
The date of 3 August 2026 should not affect Bulgarian ID cards. Art. 20(1) ЗБЛД provides that Bulgarian identity documents are machine-readable, and the law defines machine-readable documents as made to ICAO requirements, Document 9303. That is our reading of the two texts. A sure answer for a specific card comes from the validity check.
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 20(1)
Provides that Bulgarian identity documents are machine-readable. Paragraph 2 lists the data in the machine-readable zone.
Official Bulgarian text
„Българските лични документи са машинночитаеми.“
What matters more is what the Bulgarian legislator wrote when introducing the regulation. The transitional provisions to the 2023 amendment of the law give two different dates for two different documents.
2 August 2031
Last day of validity of an ID card that does not meet the European requirements
Source: Transitional and Final Provisions to the Act Amending the ЗБЛД, ДВ No. 65 of 2023, § 24(2)
3 August 2026
Last date for non-conforming residence cards of family members of Union citizens, not for ID cards
Source: Transitional and Final Provisions to the Act Amending the ЗБЛД, ДВ No. 65 of 2023, § 24(3)
Act Amending and Supplementing the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ДВ No. 65 of 2023)
§ 24(2) of the Transitional and Final Provisions
Sets a general end date for ID cards that do not meet the regulation, including indefinite ones.
Official Bulgarian text
„Личните карти, които не отговарят на изискванията на Регламент (ЕС) 2019/1157, включително издадените след 2 август 2021 г., са със срок на валидност до 2 август 2031 г., ако срокът им на валидност не е изтекъл преди това.“
The two dates describe two different documents
The practical significance is mostly for indefinite cards. They have no expiry date, so if they do not meet the regulation, the end date from the transitional provision applies to them. A sure sign that your card does not meet the regulation is the absence, on the front, of a blue rectangle with “BG” surrounded by 12 yellow stars. This sign is required by Art. 3, § 4 of the regulation.
Unclear case: an indefinite card of a person over 70
The regulation most likely also explains why Bulgarian law changed in 2025. It allows Member States to issue cards with a validity of more than 10 years only to people aged 70 and over. An indefinite card for a 58-year-old does not fit within this framework, while 30 years for those who have turned 70 does.
The МВР note on the state of emergency
Is the new card ready and when can you collect it
The time for issue depends on the service you paid for. Art. 31 ЗБЛД gives three time limits for an application submitted in Bulgaria and two for an application submitted at a consular or diplomatic mission.
| Service | Time limit for issue in Bulgaria | Time limit at a consulate |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | up to 30 days | up to 45 days |
| Fast | up to 3 working days | up to 30 days |
| Express | up to 8 working hours | not provided for by the law |
The time limits under Art. 31(4) and (5) of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act, counted from acceptance of the application.
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 31(4)
Art. 31 regulates where ID cards are issued and replaced, the obligation to apply within 30 days for an expired, damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen card, and the time limits for issue.
Official Bulgarian text
„Личните карти се издават при обикновена услуга в срок до 30 дни, при бърза услуга - до три работни дни, а при експресна услуга - до 8 работни часа, от приемане на заявлението.“
Readiness is checked through the second check. The МВР instructions for it describe when you can collect the document once the check shows that it has been issued.
From application to collection
You apply in person and pay the fee
In Bulgaria at a district police station of the МВР or at a Regional Directorate of the МВР (ОДМВР), abroad at a consular mission. An application through an attorney with an express power of attorney certified by a notary is possible only if there has been no change in your names, ЕГН, sex, citizenship or image, and your biometric data was taken within the last 59 months (Art. 17(5) and (6) ЗБЛД).
You keep the registration slip
For an ordinary service it states the date on which you can collect the document.
The check for issued and uncollected Bulgarian identity documents on the МВР website.
You collect the document
For an express service, on the day the document is issued. For a fast service, on the same day if the application was submitted at an ОДМВР and the time limit for an express service has passed, and if it was submitted at a district station, after 14:00 on the next working day. For an ordinary service, on the date on the slip.
The document is collected in person
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 31а(6)
Regulates who may collect the issued ID card.
Official Bulgarian text
„Личната карта се получава лично, а по изключение, когато заявлението е било подадено лично - от упълномощено лице след представяне на нотариално заверено изрично пълномощно или от лице, чиито данни са посочени от заявителя пред длъжностното лице в заявлението при подаването му.“
If you need more on the power of attorney itself, see what a power of attorney must contain and how it is certified.
How much the ID card costs in 2026
The fees are in Tariff No. 4 on the fees collected in the МВР system. From 1 January 2026 the tariff states them directly in euro. The amounts were introduced by a decree of the Council of Ministers of 9 October 2025.
| Case | Ordinary | Fast (×2) | Express (×5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First card at 14 to 16 years | no fee | no fee | no fee |
| Card for 4 years, ages 14 to 18 | 10.74 € | 21.48 € | 53.70 € |
| Card for 10 years, ages 18 to 70 | 15.34 € | 30.68 € | 76.70 € |
| Aged 70 or over | no fee | no fee | no fee |
| Permanently reduced working capacity of 50 per cent or more | 1.53 € | 3.06 € | 7.65 € |
| Card for 12 months when fingerprints cannot be taken | 1.53 € | 3.06 € | 7.65 € |
Fees under Art. 32, item 1 of Tariff No. 4. Exemptions are under Art. 33, the increases for fast and express service under Art. 35.
Tariff No. 4 on the fees collected in the system of the Ministry of the Interior under the State Fees Act
Art. 32, item 1, Art. 33 and Art. 35
Art. 32, item 1 sets the fee for an ID card by term and age, Art. 33 exempts from the fee the first card at 14 to 16 years and the card of those who have turned 70, and Art. 35 increases the fee two times for a fast and five times for an express service. The amounts in euro were introduced by Decree No. 206 of 9 October 2025 (ДВ No. 85 of 2025) and apply from 1 January 2026.
The numbers in the fast and express columns are calculated from the basic fee by the rule on increases. The tariff gives the multipliers, not the finished amounts. For an application at a consulate, the fast service (up to 30 days) is also charged at double the fee under Art. 36(1) of the tariff.
The “no fee” rows follow the same logic. Art. 33 exempts from the fee itself, and Art. 35 increases a fee that in these cases does not exist. The tariff does not say explicitly how a fast or express service is paid for by a person who is exempt. This is a reading of the text, not an express provision, so for a fast or express service confirm the amount at the counter.
Who has the right to ask for your ID card
The obligation to prove your identity does not apply to anyone who asks you for it. Art. 6 ЗБЛД links it to competent officials designated by law.
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 6
Obliges citizens to prove their identity on request by the competent officials designated by law.
Official Bulgarian text
„Гражданите са длъжни при поискване от компетентните длъжностни лица, определени със закон, да удостоверят своята самоличност.“
Separately, Art. 11 ЗБЛД prohibits a personal document from being given or accepted as a pledge. The prohibition applies to both sides: both the person who gives the document and the person who accepts it. The law does not mention the word “guarantee”, but holding on to your card until you return a rental car or a hotel room key is in essence a pledge. This is a reading of the text, not an express provision.
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 11
Prohibits a personal document from being given or accepted as a pledge, and from being used or transferred to another person.
Official Bulgarian text
„Никой няма право да дава или приема в залог, както и да използва или преотстъпва български личен документ на друго лице.“
Holding someone else’s document is an offence
Fines after the 2025 changes
The amounts of the fines under the ЗБЛД were increased by the amendment promulgated in ДВ No. 52 of 27 June 2025. The fine under Art. 80 was from 50 to 300 BGN, under Art. 81(1) from 20 to 150 BGN, and under Art. 81(2) from 30 to 200 BGN. The lower limits more than doubled.
The law still writes the amounts in leva. From 1 January 2026 they are treated as amounts in euro under Art. 11(2) of the Act on the Introduction of the Euro: the amount is divided by 1.95583 and rounded to the cent.
| Offence | Fine under the law | In euro |
|---|---|---|
| Using someone else’s or a forged document, holding someone else’s document, pledge, failure to produce a document on request (Art. 80) | from 120 to 500 BGN | from 61.36 to 255.65 € |
| Failure to apply within 30 days where a card has expired, there is a change of data or address, or on loss or theft (Art. 81(1)) | from 50 to 250 BGN | from 25.56 to 127.82 € |
| Loss or damage of a document, failure to declare a loss within three days, use of an irregular document (Art. 81(2)) | from 80 to 300 BGN | from 40.90 to 153.39 € |
| Repeat offence under Art. 81(2) (Art. 81(3)) | from 120 to 500 BGN | from 61.36 to 255.65 € |
Amounts in euro are at the fixed rate of 1.95583 BGN to 1 euro, with conversion and rounding under Art. 12 and Art. 13 of the Act on the Introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 81
Paragraph 1 punishes failure to apply within 30 days in the listed cases, including after validity expires. Paragraph 2 punishes the loss, damage and destruction of a document, failure to declare them within three days, and the use of irregular documents. Paragraph 3 deals with a repeat offence. Amended by ДВ No. 52 of 2025.
The law also allows an on-the-spot fine by notice (фиш) when the offence is established at the moment it is committed (Art. 82 ЗБЛД).
80 BGN (40.90 €)
Notice for an offence under Art. 80
Source: ЗБЛД, Art. 82(1), item 1
30 BGN (15.34 €)
Notice for an offence under Art. 81(1)
Source: ЗБЛД, Art. 82(1), item 2
50 BGN (25.56 €)
Notice for an offence under Art. 81(2)
Source: ЗБЛД, Art. 82(1), item 3
Seven days, after which the notice becomes a penal decree
Bulgarian Identity Documents Act (ЗБЛД)
Art. 82(5)
Art. 82 regulates the on-the-spot fine by notice, the content of the notice, drawing up a statement when it is disputed or signing is refused, and the consequences of non-payment within 7 days.
Official Bulgarian text
„Издаден фиш, глобата по който не е платена доброволно в 7-дневен срок от датата на издаването му, се смята за влязло в сила наказателно постановление и се изпраща за събиране на публичния изпълнител.“
When a document is “irregular”
The use of an irregular document is a separate offence under Art. 81(2), and the definition is wider than most people assume. It includes not only an expired period but also the state of the chip and the photo.
When a personal document is irregular
Part of the definition in § 1, item 2 of the Additional Provisions of the ЗБЛД.
It does not allow identification of the person from the photo
It has alterations, crossings-out, erasures or additions
There are signs of the photo having been replaced, the stamp is unclear or the face in the photo does not match the real appearance
The period of validity has expired
There are discrepancies between the data on the electronic carrier and the visual part of the document
The electronic carrier cannot be read because of damage
The last two points are the reason a cracked or warped card is a problem even when everything on it can be read by eye. If your card has a chip and it cannot be read, the document falls within the definition. In the event of substantial and permanent changes in your appearance, Art. 9(1) ЗБЛД requires an application for a new document within 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check the validity of an ID card by ЕГН alone?
No. The validity check form asks for the type of document, the document number and the date of birth. The ЕГН is used in the other check, the one for issued and uncollected documents.
How many checks can I make at one time?
Both МВР forms warn that within 10 minutes you can make at most 11 requests, after which access is temporarily suspended. When 10 minutes have passed since your last request, access is restored.
Within what time must I apply for a new card?
Within 30 days. This time limit applies when the card has expired, is damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen, and also on a change of names, ЕГН, sex, citizenship, permanent address or on substantial and permanent changes to appearance (Art. 9 and Art. 31(2) ЗБЛД).
Can I get a new card before the old one expires?
Yes. Art. 31(3) ЗБЛД expressly allows a new ID card to be issued at the person’s request before the period of validity expires. The old card is returned to the authority that issued it. If you do not return it, it is declared invalid.
Is my indefinite ID card still valid?
Yes, if it has not been declared invalid on another ground, for example because of a change of permanent address. If the card does not meet the European requirements, it is valid until 2 August 2031 at the latest. The only exception may be the unclear case of people over 70 described above. Check the specific card through the МВР validity check.
I lost my card and don’t remember the number. What do I do?
The validity check will not help you without the number. A loss is declared within three days at the nearest МВР unit, and abroad at the consular mission (Art. 8(2) ЗБЛД). Then you apply for a new card within 30 days.
Is an ID card mandatory for a 14-year-old child?
Yes. Every Bulgarian citizen living in the country must, within 30 days of turning 14, request the issue of an ID card (Art. 29(1) ЗБЛД). A parent, guardian or trustee who does not do what is necessary risks a fine under Art. 81(1), item 2. The first card for a child aged 14 to 16 is free of charge.
- Checking an issued driving licence uses the same МВР check, but for a different document.
- Documents for replacing a driving licence shows what is required for the other document that is replaced at МВР units.
- Declaration for a child travelling abroad explains what a child travelling with an ID card or passport needs.
- The Act on the Introduction of the Euro explains by what rules leva amounts in laws are read as euro.
⚠️ Important
Pravko provides legal information, but it does not replace advice from a lawyer. For important legal matters, consult a licensed lawyer.
