Conditions

Adoption between persons, one of whom is a Bulgarian citizen, is admissible according to the regulations of the Family Code. When the adopted person is a Bulgarian citizen, the consent of the Minister of Justice is required and the adoption is effected by the Sofia City Court.
A Bulgarian citizen who is over 1 year of age and is entered into the register of the Ministry of Justice, can be adopted by a foreigner who has presented a permit for the adoption of a child according to the legislation of his home country and entered into the register of the Ministry of Justice.
A foreigner who is permanently residing in another country should also correspond to the adoption requirements according to the laws of his permanent place of residence. As an exception, with regard to the health status of the child, or when other important circumstances are present, it can be adopted before reaching the age of one year, if this is in its exceptional interest.
ОAdoption between persons of the same citizenship is admissible under the conditions of the legislation of their home country. If they have different citizenship, adoption is admissible under the conditions of the legislation of their home countries.
In case of an adoption of a child – a Bulgarian citizen by a Bulgarian citizen, who has another citizenship and lives permanently abroad, the latter has to conform to the adoption requirements according to the legislation of their permanent residence.
In case of an adoption of a child – citizen of a country – party to the Convention for the Protection of Children and Collaboration in the Sphere of International Adoption, the adoption shall be acknowledged after presentation of a certificate by the central body.
The adoption is full and is allowed only between an adoptive parent and a child to be adopted, entered into the register of the Ministry of Justice.
The adoptive parent should be at least fifteen years older than the child to be adopted. There is no regulated maximal age difference in the law, but the legislation of the home country of the adoptive parent should also be taken under consideration.
There is also no legal impediment for the adoption of a child by one single adoptive parent, but the spouses adopt simultaneously. Twins are adopted together.