Bulgaria Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Bulgarian Business

TL;DR. Bulgaria’s official company register, the Targovski Registar (Commercial Register), is publicly accessible at brra.bg without an account or Bulgarian identity. Basic searches are free. Certified extracts cost BGN 5-30 (~USD 3-17). The portal offers partial English. Bulgaria is on the FATF grey list as of May 2026, which compliance buyers should account for in their due diligence approach.

What is the official Bulgaria business registry?

Bulgaria’s commercial registration system is administered by the Registry Agency (Agentsiya po Vpisvaniyata), a government body subordinate to the Ministry of Justice. The Registry Agency maintains the Targovski Registar (Commercial Register), accessible at brra.bg. The statutory basis for the Commercial Register is the Commercial Act (Targovski zakon) of 1991, as amended, and the Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (Zakon za Targovskiya Registar i Registara na Yuridicheskite Litsa s Nestopanska Tsel) of 2006.

The Targovski Registar covers all commercial entities in Bulgaria: druzhestvo s ogranichena otgovornost (OOD, private limited), enolichno druzhestvo s ogranichena otgovornost (EOOD, single-member private limited), aktsionerno druzhestvo (AD, joint-stock), komandintno druzhestvo (KD, limited partnership), sabiratelno druzhestvo (SD, general partnership), klonove na chuzhdesrani lica (branches of foreign companies), and European company (SE) forms.

The same portal also maintains the Registar na Yuridicheskite Litsa s Nestopanska Tsel (Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities), covering associations, foundations, and other non-commercial entities.

The Registry Agency took over commercial registration from the district courts in 2008, centralizing what had been a court-based system into a single national database. The transition materially improved search accessibility and reduced processing times. Bulgaria participates in the EU Business Registers Interconnection System (BRIS), providing basic Bulgarian company data through the European Business Register network.

What can you search?

The brra.bg portal supports the following searches without an account or fee:

• Company name (full or partial)
• EIK (Edinyen Identifikatsionen Kod, Unified Identification Code), the primary entity identifier
• BULSTAT number (predecessor to EIK for entities registered before 2008, where applicable)
• Registered seat municipality

Free search results include:

• Company name, legal form, EIK, date of first registration, registered seat, current status (active, in liquidation, struck off)
• Current management body members (managers, directors, board members)
• Registered capital amount
• Subject of activity
• List of filed documents available for download

Paid certified extracts and documents include:

• Udostoverenie za aktualnosut (certificate of current status): the current registered state certified by the Registry Agency
• Udostoverenie za istoriya (historical certificate): the full history of all changes since registration
• Copies of specific filed documents (articles of association, shareholder agreements, annual accounts)

Data is updated on a registration-event basis, typically within 1-3 business days of the Registry Agency processing a filing.

How much does it cost?

BGN/USD conversion used: 1 BGN = ~USD 0.56 (approximate, May 2026; the Bulgarian lev is pegged to the euro at BGN 1.9558 per EUR; verify at point of purchase). Payment accepts credit card and bank transfer; foreign credit cards are accepted.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No Bulgarian identity document or local company registration is required for basic searches or document viewing.

The brra.bg portal is fully open for company name and EIK searches and data card views without any account. To order certified extracts online, account registration is required. Registration accepts international email addresses and does not require a Bulgarian personal identification number (EGN). Payment by international credit card completes the transaction, and the electronic certificate is delivered to the registered account.

Is the website in English?

Partial. The brra.bg portal has an English interface option that translates navigation menus, field labels, and status descriptions. Company records themselves appear in Bulgarian (Cyrillic script). Company names, addresses, purpose descriptions, and officer names are recorded in Cyrillic.

Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic script, which presents a practical barrier for foreign compliance buyers unfamiliar with the alphabet. The Registry Agency uses a standard transliteration for company names in its English-interface mode, converting Cyrillic names to Latin characters, but this is an automated transliteration rather than a legal translation.

For compliance purposes, the authoritative version of any Bulgarian company name is the Cyrillic form. Transliterated Latin versions should be used only for reference, not as definitive identifiers.

The EU BRIS portal provides English-language access to basic Bulgarian company data (name, EIK, status) in a cross-border format without navigating the Cyrillic interface.

What’s the turnaround time?

For free searches and basic data card views, results are instant. The brra.bg portal responds in real time.

For electronic certified extracts ordered online, the document is typically generated and delivered to the portal account within minutes to a few hours of payment. Electronic extracts carry a qualified electronic signature.

For paper-certified extracts obtained at Registry Agency offices in person, same-day or next-day service is typically available.

Changes filed with the Registry Agency are processed within 1-3 business days. The Bulgarian system, since its 2008 centralization, has generally been faster than the court-based systems it replaced.

Is there an API?

No public API is available for the Targovski Registar as of May 2026. The Registry Agency does not offer a documented programmatic interface for third-party queries.

The Bulgarian government’s open data portal (opendata.government.bg) publishes some registry bulk data, but these are periodic exports rather than live APIs.

The National Revenue Agency (NRA, nra.bg) provides a free VAT number validation tool for Bulgarian VAT numbers (DDS numbers), which is useful for basic EIK/VAT cross-checks.

For programmatic access to Bulgarian company data, the options are: commercial data providers with normalized Bulgarian registry databases, or EU BRIS cross-border access for basic company name and status queries.

What you legally cannot do

The brra.bg terms of use and Bulgarian and EU law place the following limits on data reuse:

• Automated bulk scraping of brra.bg is prohibited. The portal terms restrict systematic automated querying and replication of register data through the portal interface.
• GDPR constraints on personal data: Directors, shareholders, and partners appearing in register entries are natural persons protected under EU GDPR as implemented in Bulgarian law (Personal Data Protection Act, as amended to align with GDPR). Reusing their data for marketing, contact list building, or other non-compliance purposes is not a valid legal basis.
• Certified extract authenticity: Electronic and paper-certified extracts carry Registry Agency authentication. Distributing altered or unauthenticated versions, or presenting them as independently produced, creates legal liability under Bulgarian law.
• Non-commercial use restriction for bulk data: The Registry Agency’s terms distinguish between individual company lookups (permitted without restriction for public data) and bulk data extraction for commercial database purposes (requires a data sharing agreement with the Registry Agency).

For a broader framework on using multiple registries in international due diligence, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• EIK is the anchor identifier. The EIK (Edinyen Identifikatsionen Kod, 9-digit for companies, 13-digit for branches) is the primary identifier for all entities in the Bulgarian register. The EIK serves as both the company registration number and the VAT registration base (VAT number = “BG” + EIK). Always verify EIK directly from the register.
• Cyrillic name handling. For compliance documentation, record both the Cyrillic form (from the register) and the transliterated Latin form. The transliteration standard used in Bulgaria follows an official government transliteration table. Machine-translated or informally latinized names are not authoritative.
• Status field. Active companies show “Vpisano / Deystvashto” (registered / active). Companies in liquidation show “V likvidatsiya.” Companies subject to insolvency proceedings show “V nesastoyatelnost.” Struck-off companies show “Zalicheno.” Insolvency proceedings are published in the State Gazette (Darzhaven Vestnik) and the trade register.
• OOD vs. AD disclosure. An OOD (Druzhestvo s Ogranichena Otgovornost) is similar to a German GmbH or a UK private limited company. Annual financial statements are required to be filed and are available through the brra.bg document repository. An AD (Aktsionerno Druzhestvo, joint-stock) has higher disclosure obligations. Financial statements filed with the Registry Agency are publicly accessible at no charge.
• FATF grey list context. Bulgaria is on the FATF grey list as of May 2026 (increased monitoring). This means heightened AML risk at the country level. For any Bulgarian counterparty, enhanced due diligence (EDD) protocols under EU 5AMLD and 6AMLD are warranted beyond the standard registry check. Third-party risk tools and banking partner requirements may flag Bulgaria automatically. This is a factual regulatory status, not a disqualifying finding for all transactions, but it raises the documentation bar.
• Euro adoption timeline. Bulgaria has been in ERM II since July 2020 and formally applied for euro adoption. The BGN/EUR peg is fixed at 1.9558, making currency risk negligible, but confirm that the adoption has or has not occurred at the time of your transaction, as it may affect invoicing and contract terms.
• EU BRIS for initial screening. Before navigating the Cyrillic interface at brra.bg, the EU BRIS portal in English provides a faster initial check on Bulgarian company name, EIK, and status.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

The Cyrillic interface and FATF grey list status together make Bulgarian company verification more complex than for most EU peers. Practical alternatives include:

• EU BRIS portal: Basic company name, status, and EIK for Bulgarian companies available in English through the European Business Register network. Free, no account required. Does not deliver certified extracts.
• NRA VAT validation (nra.bg): Free tool to validate Bulgarian VAT numbers and confirm VAT registration status.
• Aggregator search: OpenCorporates indexes Bulgarian register data but lags official records. Not suitable for compliance-grade verification.
• State Gazette (Darzhaven Vestnik) (dv.parliament.bg): Official publication for legal notices, including insolvency and dissolution notices. Free public search.

Local data suppliers

• Coface Bulgaria (coface.bg). Credit insurance and commercial information provider. Covers Bulgarian OOD, AD, and other entities with credit opinions and payment behavior assessments. Part of the Coface global network.
• Creditreform Bulgaria (creditreform.bg). Part of the European Creditreform network. Provides Bulgarian company credit reports combining registry data with payment history and financial statement analysis. Targeted at trade credit risk assessment.

Use the Targovski Registar for the authoritative registry extract. Use a commercial credit bureau when you need payment behavior, financial risk scoring, or enhanced due diligence layering appropriate to Bulgaria’s FATF grey list status.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access Bulgaria’s Commercial Register directly?

Yes. The brra.bg portal is publicly accessible worldwide without a Bulgarian identity document or local address. Basic company searches and data card views are free and require no account. To order certified extracts online, account registration on brra.bg is required, but this is open to foreign buyers without Bulgarian eID. International credit cards are accepted for payment.

What is the EIK number in Bulgaria?

The EIK (Edinyen Identifikatsionen Kod) is Bulgaria’s unified identification code assigned to every registered legal entity. For most companies, the EIK is 9 digits. For branches of foreign companies, it is 13 digits. The EIK is used across all Bulgarian government systems and serves as the base for the Bulgarian VAT number (BG + EIK). The EIK replaced the older BULSTAT identification system for entities registered after 2008; entities registered earlier retained their BULSTAT numbers, which are equivalent in function. Always verify the EIK directly from brra.bg.

What entity types are registered with the Targovski Registar?

The Targovski Registar registers: OOD (private limited), EOOD (single-member private limited), AD (joint-stock), EAD (single-member joint-stock), KD (limited partnership), SD (general partnership), branches of foreign companies, and European company (SE) forms. Sole traders (Ednolichen targovets, ET) are also registered in the Commercial Register. Non-profit associations and foundations are in the separate Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities on the same brra.bg platform.

Does Bulgaria have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Yes. Bulgaria established a UBO register (Registar na deystvitelnite sobstvenitsi) under the Measures Against Money Laundering Act (ZMIP), implementing EU 5AMLD. Bulgarian companies are required to declare their beneficial owners. The UBO data is maintained by the Registry Agency alongside the Commercial Register. Public access to the UBO register in Bulgaria is available through brra.bg for basic queries. The register aligns with FATF Recommendation 24 on transparency of legal persons. Given Bulgaria’s current FATF grey list status, UBO verification is particularly relevant for enhanced due diligence on Bulgarian counterparties. The EU 6AMLD framework also applies to Bulgaria as an EU member state.

How current is the Targovski Registar data?

The register is updated on a filing-event basis, typically within 1-3 business days of the Registry Agency processing a submission. Since the 2008 centralization, processing times have improved substantially compared to the prior court-based system. The public data card at brra.bg reflects the current accepted state of the register. For very recent filings, a short processing lag may apply.

Is Bulgaria on the FATF grey list?

Yes. Bulgaria is on the FATF grey list (Increased Monitoring) as of May 2026. Bulgaria was added to the list and remains under FATF monitoring. This status indicates that the country has identified strategic deficiencies in its AML and counter-terrorist financing framework and has committed to an action plan with FATF. For compliance buyers, this means Bulgarian counterparties carry elevated country-level AML risk. Enhanced due diligence measures under EU 5AMLD and 6AMLD are applicable. Check fatf-gafi.org for the current grey list and Bulgaria’s specific action plan status. This is a factual regulatory designation; it does not prohibit business with Bulgarian entities, but it raises the documentation and verification standard.

What is the difference between the Commercial Register and financial statement filings in Bulgaria?

The Targovski Registar records company formation, legal form, officers, and corporate status. Annual financial statements are filed with the National Statistics Institute (NSI, nsi.bg) and also with the Registry Agency directly for larger entities. Financial statements filed with the Registry Agency are publicly accessible through the brra.bg document repository. For financial health due diligence, accessing both the registry and the NSI financial statement database gives the most complete picture.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Registry Agency Bulgaria (brra.bg), National Revenue Agency Bulgaria (nra.bg), FATF (fatf-gafi.org), EU Business Registers Interconnection System (bris.ec.europa.eu). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.