At the Admin Office

Добър ден!

Dobar den!

Good day!

Stepping up to the desk at the municipality or a government office.

Трябва ми удостоверение.

Tryabva mi udostoverenie.

I need a certificate.

The core request for the paperwork that gets any bureaucratic errand started.

На кое гише?

Na koe gishe?

At which counter?

The classic office question — you're sent from window to window until you find the right one.

Може ли да подам документите тук?

Mozhe li da podam dokumentite tuk?

Can I submit the documents here?

Checking you're at the right window before you hand your papers over.

Какво трябва да донеса?

Kakvo tryabva da donesa?

What do I need to bring?

Saving yourself a second trip by asking about required documents up front.

Има ли формуляр?

Ima li formulyar?

Is there a form?

Finding out whether you need to fill something in before the counter will help you.

Как да попълня формуляра?

Kak da popalnya formulyara?

How do I fill in the form?

Staring at a Cyrillic form and needing the clerk to walk you through the boxes.

Колко време отнема?

Kolko vreme otnema?

How long does it take?

Asking whether it's ready today or you'll be coming back next week.

Нямам ЕГН, аз съм чужденец.

Nyamam EGN, az sam chuzhdenets.

I don't have an EGN, I'm a foreigner.

When the clerk asks for your Bulgarian ID number and you still only have a foreigner's number.

Може ли да ми покажете къде?

Mozhe li da mi pokazhete kade?

Can you show me where?

When the clerk waves vaguely at the form or the room and you need it pinned down.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

The moment the official jargon loses you — this resets the exchange.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

The clerk lists the steps fast — this slows the instructions down.

Благодаря ви!

Blagodarya vi!

Thank you!

Stepping away from the counter with your certificate or a ticket number in hand.

Търся отдел Миграция.

Tarsya otdel Migratsiya.

I'm looking for the Migration department.

Residence permits are handled by отдел „Миграция“ inside the regional police directorate (written ОД на МВР) — this is how you ask for it at the door or at the info desk.

На кой етаж е адресната регистрация?

Na koy etazh e adresnata registratsiya?

Which floor is address registration on?

Адресна регистрация happens at the общината (municipality), usually one specific floor with its own counters — ask in the lobby rather than wandering.

До колко часа работите?

Do kolko chasa rabotite?

Until what time are you open?

Asked at the door or on the phone. Вие form (работите) — you are always on вие with an official, never ти.

Работим до пет, но приемаме документи до четири и половина.

Rabotim do pet, no priemame dokumenti do chetiri i polovina.

We are open until five, but we accept documents until half past four.

Something you hear when you arrive late in the day — the counter closes for intake before the office closes, which is why people queue from early morning.

В момента сме в почивка, елате след половин час.

V momenta sme v pochivka, elate sled polovin chas.

We are on a break at the moment, come back in half an hour.

Something you hear through a closed window — the counter shuts for a break mid-morning and the queue simply waits.

Вземете си номерче от машината.

Vzemete si nomerche ot mashinata.

Take a ticket from the machine.

Something you hear the second you walk in without a ticket. Номерче (little number) is the everyday word for the queue ticket — nobody says талон.

Кой бутон да натисна за адресна регистрация?

Koy buton da natisna za adresna registratsiya?

Which button do I press for address registration?

The ticket machine offers six unlabelled-looking services in Cyrillic — ask the guard or the person behind you before you press.

Изчакайте да ви извикат по номер.

Izchakayte da vi izvikat po nomer.

Wait until your number is called.

Something you hear if you walk straight up to a counter — you are sent back to the seats until the screen shows your number.

Кой е последен?

Koy e posleden?

Who's last in the queue?

The iconic Bulgarian queue question, asked to the room when there is no ticket machine — you then keep track of that one person and go after them. Fixed formula: it stays последен whoever answers.

Номер сто и три, гише четири.

Nomer sto i tri, gishe chetiri.

Number one hundred and three, counter four.

Something you hear from the ceiling speaker while you stare at your ticket — the number first, then the counter. Learn to catch just the two numbers.

Гише четири, вдясно.

Gishe chetiri, vdyasno.

Counter four, on the right.

Something you hear as an answer to "На кое гише?" — гише is the window itself, and offices number them rather than name them.

Следващият, заповядайте!

Sledvashtiyat, zapovyadayte!

Next, please!

Something you hear as the counter frees up. It is a fixed call and stays in the masculine (следващият) regardless of who is next — you only ever hear it, never say it.

По какъв въпрос?

Po kakav vapros?

What is it regarding?

Something you hear as the clerk's opening line — literally "on what question". Answer with one noun phrase: "За адресна регистрация."

Идвам за адресна регистрация.

Idvam za adresna registratsiya.

I've come to register my address.

Your one-line answer at the municipality counter. Present tense идвам avoids any gendered participle, so it works for any speaker.

Дойдох да подам документи за пребиваване.

Doydoh da podam dokumenti za prebivavane.

I've come to submit documents for a residence permit.

The line at the Migration counter. Дойдох is the past aorist and carries no gender, so one recording serves everyone.

Един момент, ще проверя в системата.

Edin moment, shte proverya v sistemata.

One moment, I'll check in the system.

Something you hear as the clerk turns to the screen with your document — it means wait quietly, not that anything is wrong.

Документ за самоличност, моля.

Dokument za samolichnost, molya.

Identity document, please.

Something you hear before anything else at any counter. It means passport or residence card — hand it over without asking which.

Заповядайте, това е паспортът ми.

Zapovyadayte, tova e pasportat mi.

Here you are, this is my passport.

Passing the document across the counter. Заповядайте is the all-purpose "here you go" you will use every single visit.

Кажете ми единния граждански номер.

Kazhete mi edinniya grazhdanski nomer.

Tell me your personal identity number.

Something you hear when the clerk needs to find you in the register. Written on documents as ЕГН and usually said as the three letters — the full form is единен граждански номер.

Имам личен номер на чужденец.

Imam lichen nomer na chuzhdenets.

I have a foreigner's personal number.

What you say when asked for a Bulgarian ЕГН that you do not have — the number on your residence card is the личен номер на чужденец, written on forms as ЛНЧ.

Как се пишат имената ви на кирилица?

Kak se pishat imenata vi na kirilitsa?

How are your names written in Cyrillic?

Something you hear because every Bulgarian record spells your name in Cyrillic — the transliteration on your residence card is the one to copy, and it must match everywhere.

Кои документи точно ми трябват?

Koi dokumenti tochno mi tryabvat?

Which documents exactly do I need?

The single most useful question in this whole scenario — точно (exactly) is what stops a vague answer and a wasted second trip.

Има ли списък с документите?

Ima li spisak s dokumentite?

Is there a list of the documents?

Most services have a printed or posted list — asking for it gets you something you can read slowly at home instead of catching it by ear.

Трябват ви три документа: заявление, копие от паспорта и документ за платена такса.

Tryabvat vi tri dokumenta: zayavlenie, kopie ot pasporta i dokument za platena taksa.

You need three documents: an application, a copy of your passport and proof of the fee being paid.

Something you hear as a fast list — the shape almost never changes: a заявление (application form), a copy of your ID, and proof of payment.

Трябва ли още нещо?

Tryabva li oshte neshto?

Is anything else needed?

The follow-up that catches the document the clerk forgot to mention — ask it before you leave the counter, every time.

Липсва ви един документ.

Lipsva vi edin dokument.

You are missing one document.

Something you hear as your papers are pushed back across the counter — follow it with "Кой точно?" to find out which one.

В какъв вид трябва да е документът — оригинал или копие?

V kakav vid tryabva da e dokumentat — original ili kopie?

In what form does the document have to be — original or a copy?

The question that saves the return trip. Bulgarian offices are strict about оригинал versus копие, and they rarely volunteer which they want.

Елате пак с оригинала.

Elate pak s originala.

Come back with the original.

Something you hear when you brought only a copy — the most common reason an errand here takes two visits.

Правите ли копия тук?

Pravite li kopiya tuk?

Do you make copies here?

Bigger offices have a copy point or a shop next door; small ones send you out to find one. Worth asking before you lose your place in the queue.

Трябва ли копието да е заверено при нотариус?

Tryabva li kopieto da e zavereno pri notarius?

Does the copy have to be certified by a notary?

Заверено копие means a notary has stamped it as a true copy. Anything to do with property or powers of attorney will need one, and the notary is a separate paid visit.

Документът трябва да е с легализиран превод.

Dokumentat tryabva da e s legaliziran prevod.

The document has to have a legalised translation.

Something you hear about any foreign-issued paper — a translation by an approved agency, not one you did yourself, and the stamp is what makes it count.

Този документ трябва ли да е с апостил?

Tozi dokument tryabva li da e s apostil?

Does this document need an apostille?

The апостил is the international stamp your home country puts on birth or marriage certificates. Ask before you send anything home to be reissued.

Оригинала ви връщам, копието остава при нас.

Originala vi vrashtam, kopieto ostava pri nas.

I am giving you the original back, the copy stays with us.

Something you hear as the clerk sorts your pile — reassuring, because you usually want that original back for the next office.

Не е този формуляр, трябва ви другият.

Ne e tozi formulyar, tryabva vi drugiyat.

That is not the right form, you need the other one.

Something you hear after you have carefully filled in the wrong sheet — ask straight away where the right one is.

Откъде да взема формуляра?

Otkade da vzema formulyara?

Where do I get the form from?

Forms live on a side table, at a different window, or only online — none of it is signposted, so ask.

Попълнете го с печатни букви.

Popalnete go s pechatni bukvi.

Fill it in in block capitals.

Something you hear before you start writing — печатни букви means printed capitals, and a form in joined-up handwriting will be handed back.

Какво да напиша в това поле?

Kakvo da napisha v tova pole?

What do I write in this box?

Pointing at one box on the form rather than asking about the whole page — you get a much more useful answer.

Тази графа я оставете празна.

Tazi grafa ya ostavete prazna.

Leave that box empty.

Something you hear about the fields meant for Bulgarian citizens. Графа is the bureaucratic word for a box on a form — you will hear it far more than поле.

Сгреших, може ли нов формуляр?

Sgreshih, mozhe li nov formulyar?

I made a mistake, can I have a new form?

Crossings-out are not accepted on official forms. Сгреших is the aorist and carries no gender, so it works for any speaker.

Подпишете тук и тук.

Podpishete tuk i tuk.

Sign here and here.

Something you hear with a finger tapping the page twice — signatures are almost never in one place only.

Къде точно да се подпиша?

Kade tochno da se podpisha?

Where exactly do I sign?

When the clerk waves at a dense page — точно pins the answer down to a line.

Този документ трябва да се подпечата на гише две.

Tozi dokument tryabva da se podpechata na gishe dve.

This document has to be stamped at counter two.

Something you hear that sends you to another window and back again — the печат (stamp) is what makes the paper real here.

Трябва ли печат върху документа?

Tryabva li pechat varhu dokumenta?

Does the document need a stamp on it?

Worth asking before you walk out with an unstamped paper the next office will reject.

Каква е таксата?

Kakva e taksata?

What is the fee?

Every service here has a fixed state такса. Ask for the amount rather than guessing — it changes by service and by how fast you want it.

Таксата се плаща на касата.

Taksata se plashta na kasata.

The fee is paid at the cash desk.

Something you hear at the counter — the clerk who takes your documents almost never takes your money; there is a separate каса, often on another floor.

Къде се плаща таксата?

Kade se plashta taksata?

Where do I pay the fee?

The follow-up once you know there is a fee — the каса may be a window in the lobby or a bank branch across the street.

Таксата може ли да се плати с карта?

Taksata mozhe li da se plati s karta?

Can the fee be paid by card?

Many municipal cash desks now take cards, but some smaller offices are still cash only — ask before you queue at the wrong window.

Върнете се с документа за платена такса.

Varnete se s dokumenta za platena taksa.

Come back with the proof of payment.

Something you hear as you are sent to the cash desk — the slip you get there is itself one of the documents in your file, so do not lose it.

Колко време е валидно удостоверението?

Kolko vreme e validno udostoverenieto?

How long is the certificate valid for?

Bulgarian certificates expire fast — many are only good for six months, so a paper you got last year will be refused.

До кога трябва да подам документите?

Do koga tryabva da podam dokumentite?

By when do I have to submit the documents?

The other half of the timing question — не "how long does it take", but the legal deadline you are already inside.

Имате срок от четиринадесет дни.

Imate srok ot chetirinadeset dni.

You have a deadline of fourteen days.

Something you hear about address registration and similar duties — срок is the word for a legal deadline and it is the one to listen for.

Този документ вече не е валиден, издаден е преди повече от шест месеца.

Tozi dokument veche ne e validen, izdaden e predi poveche ot shest mesetsa.

This document is no longer valid, it was issued more than six months ago.

Something you hear when you bring an old certificate — the fix is usually to order a fresh one, not to argue.

Днес ли е последният ден за подаване?

Dnes li e posledniyat den za podavane?

Is today the last day to submit?

Checking whether you are about to miss a deadline while standing in the wrong queue.

Така не мога да ви приема документите.

Taka ne moga da vi priema dokumentite.

I can't accept your documents like this.

Something you hear as the whole file slides back at you — така ("like this") means something is fixable, so ask what.

Какво точно не е наред?

Kakvo tochno ne e nared?

What exactly is wrong?

The calm follow-up to a refusal. Точно again — it turns a shrug into an actionable list.

Елате пак утре преди обяд.

Elate pak utre predi obyad.

Come back tomorrow before noon.

Something you hear when the system is down or the right colleague is away — note the time, because afternoons often are not possible.

Може ли да го донеса по-късно днес?

Mozhe li da go donesa po-kasno dnes?

Can I bring it later today?

Trying to save the trip when what is missing is one paper you have at home.

Трябва ли пак да чакам на опашка?

Tryabva li pak da chakam na opashka?

Do I have to queue again?

The practical question after being sent away — sometimes you can come straight back to the same window, sometimes you take a new number.

Не е при нас, това е в общината.

Ne e pri nas, tova e v obshtinata.

It is not with us, that is at the municipality.

Something you hear constantly — the same errand is split between общината, Миграция and the tax office (НАП), and each sends you to the other.

Качете се на втория етаж, стая двеста и три.

Kachete se na vtoriya etazh, staya dvesta i tri.

Go up to the second floor, room two hundred and three.

Something you hear with a wave at the stairs. Catch the floor and the room number — those two numbers are the whole message.

Може ли адреса на тази служба?

Mozhe li adresa na tazi sluzhba?

Could I have the address of that office?

When you are sent to a different building entirely — ask for the address before you leave the counter, not from the pavement.

Може да го подадете и по електронен път.

Mozhe da go podadete i po elektronen pat.

You can also submit it electronically.

Something you hear increasingly often — по електронен път is the official phrase for the e-government portal, and it can save you the whole queue.

Кога ще бъде готово?

Koga shte bade gotovo?

When will it be ready?

Asked as you hand the file over — you almost never walk out with the document the same day.

Готово е след седем работни дни.

Gotovo e sled sedem rabotni dni.

It will be ready in seven working days.

Something you hear as the standard answer. Работни дни (working days) is the key phrase — weekends and the many public holidays do not count.

Има ли бърза услуга?

Ima li barza usluga?

Is there an express service?

Most services have обикновена, бърза and експресна tiers at rising fees — asking can turn seven days into one.

Ще ви се обадим, когато е готово.

Shte vi se obadim, kogato e gotovo.

We will call you when it is ready.

Something you hear at smaller offices — make sure the phone number on the form is right, because that call is the only notification you get.

Идвам да си получа документа.

Idvam da si polucha dokumenta.

I have come to collect my document.

Your opening line on the return visit — collection is often a different counter from submission.

Носите ли разписката?

Nosite li razpiskata?

Do you have the receipt slip with you?

Something you hear at the collection window — the разписка you were given when you submitted is what they match against, so keep it in your passport.

Може ли друг човек да го получи вместо мен?

Mozhe li drug chovek da go poluchi vmesto men?

Can someone else collect it instead of me?

Useful if you will be abroad on the day — the answer is usually yes, but only with paperwork.

Трябва нотариално заверено пълномощно.

Tryabva notarialno zavereno palnomoshtno.

A notarised power of attorney is required.

Something you hear the moment anyone acts on your behalf. Пълномощно is the power of attorney and it must be stamped by a нотариус to count.

Може ли да ми обясните защо?

Mozhe li da mi obyasnite zashto?

Could you explain to me why?

The polite way to question a refusal. Може ли plus вие keeps it respectful — raised voices get you nowhere at a Bulgarian counter.

Такива са изискванията, не зависи от мен.

Takiva sa iziskvaniyata, ne zavisi ot men.

Those are the requirements, it is not up to me.

Something you hear when you have pushed as far as the clerk can go — genuinely true more often than not, and the cue to ask who else you can speak to.

С кого мога да говоря по този въпрос?

S kogo moga da govorya po tozi vapros?

Who can I speak to about this?

Asking for the supervisor without saying so — a neutral phrasing that does not put the clerk on the defensive.

Къде мога да подам жалба?

Kade moga da podam zhalba?

Where can I file a complaint?

The last resort, said calmly. Every institution has a formal жалба procedure and a book or inbox for it.

Може ли пак, малко по-бавно?

Mozhe li pak, malko po-bavno?

Could you say that again, a bit slower?

Softer than a bare "По-бавно" and it asks for the whole thing again rather than just slower — the workhorse repair line at a counter.

Може ли да ми го напишете на лист?

Mozhe li da mi go napishete na list?

Could you write it down for me on a piece of paper?

The single most valuable move here — a list of documents on paper beats anything you catch by ear, and clerks do it willingly.

Какво значи тази дума?

Kakvo znachi tazi duma?

What does this word mean?

Pointing at one word on the form instead of admitting you missed the whole sentence — keeps the exchange in Bulgarian.

Значи трябва да донеса оригинала, правилно ли разбрах?

Znachi tryabva da donesa originala, pravilno li razbrah?

So I have to bring the original — did I understand correctly?

Repeating the instruction back before you leave. Разбрах is the aorist and carries no gender, so it suits any speaker.

Благодаря за търпението.

Blagodarya za tarpenieto.

Thank you for your patience.

A genuinely disarming line after you have made a clerk repeat themselves three times — it lands well.

Готово, приятен ден!

Gotovo, priyaten den!

All done, have a nice day!

Something you hear as your papers are stapled and pushed back — your cue that the visit is over.

Опитах на български, но не се получава. Може ли на английски?

Opitah na balgarski, no ne se poluchava. Mozhe li na angliyski?

I tried in Bulgarian, but it is not working. Could we do it in English?

The one English fallback in this file, and only after a visible attempt in Bulgarian — leading with it lands badly, following a real try is forgiven immediately. Опитах is the aorist and carries no gender.