Do You Need a Power of Attorney to Register Remotely?

Local representative using a Power of Attorney at the bank to open a capital account for a remote founder.
Picture of Ivailo Petrov | Expert Accountant

Ivailo Petrov | Expert Accountant

Ivailo Petrov, Bulgarian expert accountant and legal tax-advisor, specialized in helping foreign entrepreneurs since 2017.

To register a company in Bulgaria without travelling, you do need a properly drafted Power of Attorney (PoA) that lets a trusted local representative open the capital account, sign the incorporation documents, file at the Commercial Register, and convert your bank account after approval in 2026.

Power of Attorney for Remote Company Registration: The Essentials

A Bulgarian company can be formed without you flying in—provided your local representative acts under a valid PoA. In practice, the agent opens the temporary capital account, secures the capital deposit certificate, submits the pack, and converts the account once the company is registered. If you are still mapping the overall path, compare the no-travel process in our remote company formation in Bulgaria overview and use the full remote registration guide as your step-by-step companion.

Do You Need a PoA?—Scenarios at a Glance
Scenario PoA Needed? What the PoA Must Cover Notes
100% remote setup from abroad Yes Banking, signing & e-filing, receiving decisions, answering queries Classic use case for remote founders
Founder in Bulgaria for a week Often No In-person notary + bank appointments can replace PoA
Multiple shareholders abroad Yes (each) Collective filings, bank steps Coordinate notarisation/apostille per country
Post-registration banking/VAT tasks Useful Account conversion, tax registrations Save another trip and keep timelines tight

What a Bulgarian PoA Should Say (and Why Wording Matters)

Think of your PoA as a “task list with legal teeth.” Clear, specific verbs avoid bank or registry hesitation. Below is a field-tested scope that keeps your remote file moving.

Recommended PoA Scope—Authority and Use
Authority Used For Why It Matters
Open temporary capital account Bank KYC & IBAN allocation Enables capital deposit before filing
Deposit/confirm share capital Obtain capital deposit certificate Must match Articles, avoids queries
Sign & e-file incorporation documents Articles/Founding Act, declarations Core to no-travel formation
Respond to registry queries Clarifications during review Prevents avoidable delays
Convert capital account to operating IBAN Day of decision Lets you invoice immediately
Arrange VAT/tax registrations With tax authority Smooth compliance post-go-live

How to Prepare and Legalise the PoA (Notary, Apostille, Translation)

Your country of signing determines whether an apostille is needed. The Commercial Register is the system of record for incorporations (Commercial Register & Registry Agency), and the online route is outlined on the Bulgarian e-Government portal. For cross-border recognition of documents and apostille basics, see EU guidance at the European e-Justice Portal.

PoA Legalisation—Step, Owner Action, and Timing
Step Your Action Typical Cost (EUR) Typical Time Common Pitfall
1) Draft PoA Use a clear template with defined scope 0–150 Same day Vague or missing banking wording
2) Notarise signatures Sign in front of a notary 30–150 Same day Signature mismatch with passport
3) Apostille (if required) Apply per local authority 40–120 1–3 days Skipping apostille when needed
4) Sworn translation Translate into Bulgarian if requested 50–120 1–2 days Non-sworn translation rejected
5) Courier originals Send tracked to your agent 30–60 1–3 days Untracked or delayed delivery

Remote Timeline with a PoA (From Draft to First Invoice)

Once your legalised PoA reaches your representative, the remaining steps are quick—especially for Ltd. structures. The “official” approval is just one piece of your calendar: plan the pre-filing logistics too.

Remote Incorporation Timeline—Realistic Founder Plan
Phase Output Typical Time What Speeds It Up
Draft & legalise PoA PoA notarised/apostilled, translated 2–5 days Book notary + apostille back-to-back
Courier of originals Agent receives PoA 1–3 days Express tracked courier
Capital deposit Bank capital certificate Same day Pre-share KYC documents
E-filing & review Case number & decision 1–3 business days Consistent documents
Bank conversion Operating IBAN Same day Pre-book conversion on decision day

Company Types, Ownership, and Transformations—How PoA Fits

Foreigners can own 100% of a Bulgarian company; directors can be non-resident. EOOD (single-member Ltd.) and OOD (multi-member Ltd.) are most popular with remote founders. Joint-stock forms (EAD/AD) suit investor-ready teams and require 25,000 EUR capital. If you start lean, you can transform later as you scale.

Company Types for Remote Founders—PoA Viability
Form Owners Min. Capital (EUR) PoA Viability Best For
EOOD 1 ~1 Excellent Solo consultants, micro-SaaS
OOD 2+ ~1 (total) Excellent Small agencies, co-founders
EAD 1 25,000 Good (more paperwork) Investor-ready ventures
AD 2+ 25,000 Good (board governance) Scale-ups, financing rounds

Registered Address, Banking, VAT—PoA in the Real World

A valid Bulgarian registered address is mandatory; banks and the tax authority use it for notices and KYC. Your PoA allows your agent to execute the essential banking steps (capital deposit and account conversion) and help with tax registrations. For an up-to-date sense of the regulatory ecosystem, the Bulgarian National Bank publishes banking rules, and EU VAT frameworks are maintained by the European Commission.

Address & Banking—What Banks Expect Under a PoA
Item What Proves It Why Banks Care Founder Tip
Registered address Contract/consent with full details Contactability & compliance Use bank-friendly wording
Capital deposit Capital certificate matching Articles Evidence of paid-in capital Mirror the exact figure
Operating IBAN Registry decision + bank conversion Payments & invoicing Pre-book conversion slot

Costs You Should Expect with a PoA-Based Setup

Remote formation adds a few logistics costs (apostille, translation, courier) but remains efficient. For a broader snapshot beyond the PoA topic, see how much it costs to set up your company. After launch, line up bookkeeping and VAT support to keep filings on time.

Lean Remote Budget (EUR)—Typical Ranges
Item Typical Cost When Notes
Legal drafting & e-filing ~450 Day 1 Clean pack = faster approval
Registered address (annual) ~120 Day 1 Bank KYC + registry
State/registry fees ~60 On filing Official processing
Notary, apostille, translation ~270 Before filing Varies by country of signing
Courier of originals ~40 Before filing Use express tracked delivery
Accounting (monthly) from ~120 After go-live VAT, payroll, returns

If you want one partner to handle bookkeeping, VAT, and payroll from month one, explore our Bulgarian accounting services. For the big-picture rationale to choose Bulgaria in the first place, skim the reasons Bulgaria is a strong base for company formation, and when you’re ready for a quick summary of the whole path, use this six-step overview to register a company in Bulgaria. We deliver fast, secure and tax-optimized company registration in Bulgaria from name check to VAT.

Who Can Act as Your Attorney-in-Fact?

Founder comparing a formation firm and a lawyer to choose the right attorney-in-fact under a Power of Attorney.

Pick someone established in Bulgarian filings and banking who is available to answer registry queries on short notice. Below are typical options we see work well.

Choosing Your Local Representative (Pros & Trade-Offs)
Option Strengths Watch-outs Best Fit
Specialist formation firm Turnkey process, banking know-how Scope must be explicit in PoA Most remote founders
Law firm Complex cases, JSCs, transformations Higher fees Investor-ready teams
Trusted individual Personal attention May lack bank/registry fluency Simple EOOD/OOD with guidance

Compliance After Go-Live (What Your PoA Can Still Help With)

Some founders keep a limited, post-registration PoA in place for VAT registration, occasional bank updates, or document pickups. National tax registrations and returns run through the National Revenue Agency.

Cross-Checks and Status: Where to Verify

You (or your agent) can file and monitor your case at the official Commercial Register & Registry Agency portal. The Bulgarian e-Government portal outlines the online procedures and forms in one place.

Talk to a Specialist—Free 30-Minute Call

Tell us your model (consulting, e-commerce, SaaS), country of signing, and launch date. We’ll map a precise remote plan—PoA wording, document pack, calendar, banking, VAT, and monthly compliance—for 2026. Book your free 30-minute consultation and start from a clean, compliant template.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Power of Attorney to register a Bulgarian company remotely?

Yes, you do need a Power of Attorney to register a Bulgarian company remotely, because it authorises your representative to handle banking, sign documents, e-file the pack, and respond to registry queries on your behalf.

Does the PoA have to be apostilled if I sign it outside Bulgaria?

Yes, the PoA generally has to be apostilled if you sign it outside Bulgaria, because cross-border recognition typically requires an apostille plus a sworn translation depending on the country of signing.

Can one PoA cover multiple shareholders who are abroad?

No, one PoA cannot usually cover multiple shareholders who are abroad, because each owner normally issues their own PoA so the agent can act for each person in filings and banking steps.

Is a PoA still helpful if I plan to travel and sign in person?

Yes, a PoA is still helpful if you plan to travel and sign in person, because it lets your representative handle urgent bank conversions or registry clarifications when you are unavailable.

Can my PoA allow post-registration tasks like VAT registration?

Yes, your PoA can allow post-registration tasks like VAT registration, because you can extend its scope to cover tax registrations and occasional bank updates after the company is formed.

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