All U.S. citizens must use their U.S. passports when entering or departing the United States. This applies to both children and adults, as well as dual national citizens holding foreign and U.S. passports.
If you depart the United States on your Bulgarian or other foreign passport, and you are unable to schedule an appointment with the embassy to apply for and receive a new U.S. passport while in Bulgaria, you should plan for delays in travel. The embassy will NOT issue emergency passports to U.S. citizens who have departed the country on their foreign passport solely for convenience, with the expectation they can receive an emergency travel document from the U.S. Embassy to return to the United States.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Effective June 5, 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria is accepting online fee payments for certain adult U.S. passport renewal applications. Paying online allows you to send your application via courier service to the U.S. Embassy without the need to apply in person. Please see our Passport Renewal page to determine if you are eligible for online fee payment.
We will open new online appointments as often as we can and reopen canceled appointments daily. Please continue to check our website for availability.
Please e-mail acs_sofia@state.gov if you require emergency services.
New passports are usually ready in about four weeks. If there are no appointments available and you have urgent travel plans, please send an email to acs_sofia@state.gov.
An appointment must be made for each person individually.
Please come 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time for Embassy security processing.
We reserve the right to reschedule your appointment if you are late or come unprepared.
Use the Form Filler tool and generate a barcoded passport application. The Form Filler will create the correct form for you based on the information you enter. Print the generated form and bring it to the interview. Applications filled out by hand may face delays.
Please print the application forms on SINGLE-SIDED PAPER – double-sided printing will not be accepted.
Please note: The Embassy may not hold newly-issued passports indefinitely. If a new passport has not been picked up or sent by courier within 30 days of first receipt of the notification email, the passport will be cancelled and returned to the U.S. To obtain a new passport, a new application, photo, and fees must be submitted.
