The Commercial Register in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Trade Register functions through Registration Agency institution. The Agency was founded in 2004 with the adoption of the Law on Cadastre and Land Register published in the Official Gazette of Bulgaria and in 2005 it took another function - Leading the Trade Register. The Agency has 113 offices, and their employees handle registration procedures. The Commercial Register included and regulated by the Registration agency handles registration of all legal entities, including branches of foreign persons, traders, merchants, sole proprietorships, associations, interest groups, organizations and more.

The registration of Bulgarian companies is done through a centralized system and does not require company representatives to come to Sofia, to the Trade Register headquarter for this purpose. Applicants can download the required forms online. The register also holds information on companies, and for any fundamental changes, like replacement of managers or shareholders, capital issues, or new office, the institution has to be notified. The judges take the information provided into consideration and issue an approval, or request additional information.

The Commercial Register of Bulgaria holds information on file for companies in insolvency or liquidation. All the information on companies are open to the public, and under law, the Trade Register is obliged to provide authenticated copies of requested company documents.

Foreign persons engaged in trade or commercial activities are obliged, under law, to register with the Bulgarian Trade Register. Information about registration for foreign merchants is also available on the official website of the institution, and the Resolution has constitutive character. The Bulgarian Company Registrar makes daily updates to its database, at the request of traders, or as a result of collaboration with other institutions that provide it with information. The actualization of information is of great importance to merchants as it implies protection of their interests. Registration changes can be made through an application form also available online with digital certificate.

On the basis of the information in the database, the Bulgarian Trade Registry issues certificates for the status and financial situation of the registered companies providing legitimatization. The documents are issued in Bulgarian or in a foreign language on demand, and the application form can be downloaded and filed online.