Created on 15.12.2025
If you are over 14 years of age and have international protection in Bulgaria or have been granted asylum, you should know that your refugee card, your humanitarian status card, or your foreigner with asylum card is your Bulgarian identity document and has a specific period of validity:
• The refugee card is valid for 5 years;
• The humanitarian status card is valid for 3 years;
• The foreigner's card, to whom the president has granted asylum, is valid for 5 years.
Important! The fact that your identity document has expired does NOT MEAN that you have to reapply for international protection. You still have refugee/humanitarian status. You only need to renew your refugee or humanitarian status card.
In addition to when your refugee or humanitarian status card or asylum card has expired, there are other cases in which you need to issue a new card. In this article, you will learn more about when and how to renew your card.
I. When should I request a new identity document?
You need a new identity document within 30 days when:
- The validity of your previous ID expires
- If your previous ID is lost, stolen or damaged
- If your surname has changed – for example, you have married and taken your spouse's surname;
- If you change your permanent address, including if you’re registered at a service address after being deregistered. For more information about address registration and business addresses, see here.
II. Where and how can I request a new identity document?
To renew your ID you need to go personally to the Bulgarian Identity Documents Sector of the Regional Directorate of Ministry of Internal Affairs of your permanent address, where you need to:
1)Submit an application for issuance of an identity document (it is given to you at the registry)
2)Return your expired identity document – if it is not lost or stolen
3) Submit a Certificate of permanent address –if you have changed your permanent address before renewing your ID
4)Pay the state fee:
30 leva for a refugee card/card of a beneficiary of humanitarian protection;
40 leva for a card of a person granted presidential asylum.
You can pay the fee at the desk where you are submitting your document in cash or by debit card.
The new document will be issued within 30 days. You can request it to be renewed within 10 days, but in that case you would need to pay a double fee.
You can receive your new Bulgarian identity document in person or by an authorised representative.
III. What should I do if I am registered at a service address?
Important! If you have not lived at the property where you were originally registered for a long time (e.g., because you were abroad) and you have no contact with the property owner, it is possible that the owner has requested that you be deregistered from that address. This means that the municipality has officially deleted your address registration and assigned you a service address. For more information on what an official address is, see here.
If you want to check whether you are registered at a service address, you can submit an Application for a certificate of permanent and/or current address. It will indicate your permanent and current address (if they are different).
The application is submitted to the mayor of the municipality where your last known address is located. You can obtain a sample application form at the counter. A state fee of BGN 5 is payable for this service for a standard order and BGN 7.50 for an express order.
If you are registered at a service address, you are again required to request a new identity document. You must do this as soon as possible, as you only have 30 days from the date of registration at your service address to reissue your identity document.
If you have difficulties renewing your identity document or need additional clarification and information, we advise you to seek assistance from a lawyer.
Finding a good lawyer in Bulgaria
IV. Penalties
If you fail to obtain identity documents on time or fail to obtain new ones in case of loss, theft, or damage, the State Agency for Refugees may initiate proceedings to revoke or terminate your international protection, unless you can provide evidence that there are objective reasons why you were unable to renew your document.
For information on the issuance of travel documents: