To support the viability of intercountry adoption as an option for permanency for children in Bulgaria, the Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Embassy in Sofia sought information from the Bulgarian Central Authority regarding its legal requirements for the authorization of adoption service providers (ASP), pursuant to Article 12 of the Hague Adoption Convention.

Bulgaria ratified The Convention on May 15, 2002 and it entered into force in Bulgaria on September 1, 2002.

Bulgaria does not authorize U.S. ASPs to provide intercountry adoption services in Bulgaria. Instead, Bulgarian law requires U.S. ASPs to work through a Bulgarian ASP that has been registered and authorized by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice to perform intermediary adoption activity with the United States, or to establish a branch office in Bulgaria that becomes fully accredited through the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice.

ASPs with questions about the information above or about working in Bulgaria should contact the Bulgarian Central Authority, Ministry of Justice, Department of International Legal Child Protection and Intercountry Adoptions, No 1, Slavyanska Str. 1040 SOFIA, Bulgaria.

Contact:

Milena Parvanova, Chief of the Adoption Directorate
Email: M_Parvanova@justice.government.bg
Phone: (+359 2) 9237 396
Website: http://www.mjs.bg/

For additional information, ASPs may wish to review the Bulgaria country-information page.