Check if your Bulgarian driving licence is ready (2026)

Have you applied for a new, replaced or duplicate driving licence and are wondering whether it is ready to collect yet? There is no need to go to the Traffic Police (КАТ) for nothing. The Ministry of Interior (МВР) has a free online check that tells you whether the document has been issued and when you can pick it up, using only your personal number (ЕГН) and surname.

In this article you will see where the check is, what details you need and how to read the result. We will also clear up a common misunderstanding: checking whether your licence is ready to collect is different from checking whether your licence is still valid.

What you need for the check

The check is short and needs no electronic signature or registration. All you need is the details from the application you submitted and access to the official МВР website.

Steps for checking the status online

The whole check takes less than a minute. Follow the steps through the official МВР portal to see the current status of your document.

Ready or valid: two different checks

This is the most common confusion. People search for “check driving licence” and land on different services. In fact there are two separate questions, and they need different checks.

This article covers the first one: whether a newly applied-for document is ready to collect. If you have not yet applied, first see what documents are needed to replace a driving licence and how the whole procedure runs.

When you can collect the finished licence

When the document will be ready depends on the type of service you chose when applying. The deadlines and fees are set in Tariff No. 4 of the Ministry of Interior (Тарифа № 4 на МВР).

The registration ticket you receive when you submit the application is your most accurate guide. It states the date on which the document will be ready. The online check confirms when it was actually issued.

Important to know

Frequently asked questions

Can I check without an ЕГН?

No. The ЕГН and surname are mandatory for the check. There is no way to check the status of the document by name alone or by application number alone.

Why does the check show nothing?

There are two main reasons. The first is that the document has not been issued yet: wait for the deadline stated in the registration ticket. The second is a difference in the details: the surname must match exactly the spelling in the application. Check for mistakes in the Cyrillic.

What is the difference between a ready and a valid licence?

“Ready” means that the new document has been produced and is waiting to be collected at the КАТ. “Valid” means that an existing licence is within its validity period and the rights it gives are active. For readiness, use the check of issued and uncollected documents; for validity, a separate check of the status and validity period.

Where do I collect the finished licence?

At the КАТ office, ОДМВР or district police department where you submitted the application. Collection is in person. If you applied through a representative, in some cases you are required to appear yourself to collect it.