Big Change: Certificate of Equivalency Now through NACID (since October 1)

As of October 1, 2025, the Bulgarian system for recognizing foreign higher education and issuing the Certificate of Equivalency / Recognition has undergone a major shift: the authority has moved from RDE to NACID (National Centre for Information and Documentation). This change marks a modernization of the process, aiming to offer more transparency, accessibility, and speed for applicants.

Below is what you should know about how the new system works and what to expect.

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What is NACID and Why the Change?

NACID is the centralized body in Bulgaria responsible for academic recognition of foreign education diplomas, ensuring that foreign qualifications are evaluated according to national standards.

Previously, various regional education directorates (RDEs) handled equivalency requests; now all of that authority has been consolidated under NACID. The aim is to create uniformity in decision-making and reduce administrative fragmentation.

NACID also operates an electronic services portal (portal.nacid.bg) and a unified information system for document submission and status tracking.

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Who is Affected & What Qualifications are Recognized

• The change affects anyone seeking academic recognition of a foreign higher education diploma (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or equivalent).
• The eligibility requirement remains: the foreign institution must be recognized by its national authority and the diploma must formally confer higher education in its country of origin.
• Some diplomas may be rejected (negative decision) if they don’t meet Bulgaria’s criteria for higher education.

Note: The certificate you receive through NACID is valid only in Bulgaria and does not automatically guarantee access to regulated professions (those professions for which additional licensing or examination is required by Bulgarian law).

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What Has Changed: New Steps & Process Flow

Below is a comparative look at how the process now works under NACID.

Old Process (through RDE)

• You would physically submit your documents to a regional directorate.
• Many steps were local, manual, and sometimes opaque.
• Tracking progress was harder; communication was largely in person or via mail.

New Process (through NACID)

• Online submission is now supported via the NACID e-Services portal. You scan your documents and upload them electronically. The submissions must include an electronic signature if applicable.
• Documents may now include QR codes / verification codes to facilitate authenticity checks. (These codes will help authorities quickly verify uploaded materials.)
• You can monitor the status of your application online using your incoming number, TIN / LNCH, and a security code in NACID’s portal.

• The procedure under NACID involves several stages:

  1. Verification of the foreign institution’s academic status

  2. Verification of document authenticity
  3. Assessment of equivalence (comparisons of curriculum, credits, degree structure, learning outcomes)
  4. Decision: recognition, refusal, or termination
  5. Issuance of a legally binding decision or certificate (in electronic form if requested)

If there are missing or incorrect documents, NACID may suspend the procedure or request corrections (normally within 7 days), or even terminate the procedure after a lapse of two months or non-response.

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What to Expect: Time, Certificate, & Outcomes

• The entire process is still designed to take around one month under typical circumstances.
• The certificate you receive is a pattern certificate of recognition, which includes your name, ID number, citizenship, the foreign institution and country, specialty, and the recognized Bulgarian degree/qualification.
• You can request the certificate in electronic form — signed digitally.
• If the recognition is refused, the decision is delivered in writing and may include suggestions for how to remedy gaps. You have the right to appeal under Bulgarian administrative law.
• In some cases, NACID may terminate the process (e.g. missing docs, failure to respond) or suspend until you fulfill requirements.

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Why This is a Positive Change (and Tips for Applicants)

Advantages & Expectations

• Uniformity & Fairness: A central authority ensures consistent decisions across Bulgaria, reducing regional differences.
• Speed & Efficiency: Digital submission and QR/verification codes should cut down delayed mail, lost documents, and in-person bottlenecks.
• Transparency: You can track your application online, see where it stands, and receive electronic notices.
• Modernization: Moving away from paper-only workflows aligns with broader e-government practices.

Tips for Applicants

1. Prepare high-quality scans of your diploma, transcript, and any supplementary documentation, all translated into Bulgarian (if necessary) and legalized/apostilled per your country’s rules.
2. Use electronic signature where required to validate your submission.
3. Make sure all required documents are included from the start — missing or incomplete applications risk suspension or termination.
4. Keep your incoming number, TIN / ID, and security code safe — you’ll need them to track the process.
5. Be responsive — if NACID requests clarifications or fixes, respond within their deadlines (often 7 days).
6. Choose carefully whether you want the certificate electronically signed or a physical copy — both are possible.