Service Description

Copying of archival records

Legal grounds

• Art. 26; Art. 27; Art. 28 of the Regulation on the procedure for the use of the records from the National Archival Funds.

Specification

Upon request by individuals and legal entities the state archives copy archival records on paper, microfilm and digital media (photocopies, printouts, microfilm copies, digital copies, negative photocopies). Making digital copies of archival records by applicant’s own equipment shall be done under the terms and conditions set in the Rules on the order and organization of the use of archival records in the Archives State Agency.

The copying shall be possible when there is no restriction on access to archival documents; the physical condition of the requested documents allows reproduction; the technical capabilities of the archives, storing the documents allow it (Art. 30 (1), 1-3 of the Regulation on the procedure for the use of the records from the National Archival Fonds). Digital copies of documents shall be provided with the technical parameters, as follows: resolution - up to 300 ppi, file format - JPEG or TIFF, gray scale or RGB; digital copies beyond these parameters are prepared in the presence of technical possibilities (Art. 30 (2) and (3) of the Regulation on the procedure for the use of the records from the National Archival Fonds). Copying of entire fonds, of particularly valuable records, of records that need to unstitch the archival unit or need restoration and conservation shall be carried out with the written permission of the Head of the archives (Art. 31 of the Regulation on the procedure for the use of the records from the National Archival Fonds). The proper type of copying of damaged and / or endangered during the copying documents shall be determined by the archives (Art. 32 (1) of the Regulation on the procedure for the use of the records from the National Archival Fonds).

At the request of applicant the state archives certify the copies on paper (photocopies and printouts). The certification authenticates the copy.

Competent authority

Central State Archives Directorate, State Military Historical Archives Directorate – Veliko Tarnovo and the State archives departments.

Submitting requests for issuing

• at desk;
• via licensed post operator;
• electronically;

Necessary documents

If the applicant is entitled to a discount, it is necessary to attach the documents proving it.

Receiving the service product

• at desk;
• electronic notification;
• via post/currier service on the declared correspondence address;
• via post/currier service on a different address;
• via post/currier service to a mail box;

Fees and service payment

• Submitting a standard application – 5.00 BGN (if the applicant has a valid reader’s card, he/she shall not pay fee for submitting an application);
• Copying of one page of an archival record:
  1. А4 – 1 copy – 0.25 BGN
  2. А3 – 1 copy – 0.50 BGN
  3. А2 – 1 copy – 1.00 BGN
  4. А1 – 1 copy – 3.00 BGN
  5. А0 – 1 copy – 6.00 BGN
• Copying of one page of non-archival document – 1 copy – 0.10 BGN
• Digitizing an archival record:
  1. Digital copy (max 300 ppi JPEG/TIFF image) – one page/picture – 3.00 BGN
  2. CD/DVD record – 1 item – 1.00 BGN
• Digitizing an archival record with the applicant's own equipment – one page / picture – 0.20 BGN.
• Microfilming an archival record (photographing, developing and fixing of black and white negatives) – 35 mm:
  1. Up to 500 frames – 1 frame – 0.50 BGN
  2. More than 500 frames – 0.30 BGN
• Copying (black and white) of an archival record:
  1. 13/18 cm – 1 copy – 2.00 BGN
  2. 18/24 cm – 1 copy – 3.00 BGN
  3. 24/30 cm – 1 copy – 4.00 BGN
  4. 30/40 cm – 1 copy – 10.00 BGN
• Printing of a digital image and microfilm/micro-card:
  1. black and white, format А4 – 1 copy – 1.00 BGN
  2. Color, format А4 – 1 copy – 3.50 BGN
  3. Color, format А3 – 1 copy – 6.50 BGN

Note: For fast and express services, the price is increased by 50 percent (fast) and 100 percent (express).

Discounts shall be made (excl. the fee for certifying an archival record), as follows:

• Students and teachers, undergraduates and graduates, scientists at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences or other learned units and institutes, lecturers at universities in the country and abroad and employees at archival institutions in the country – 50%;
• Disabled people – 50%;
• Retirees – 50%;
• Individuals and their direct heirs who have donated records to the state – free copies of the records donated by them and reader’s card free of charge.
• Political parties, non-profit legal entities and companies – free copies of the records donated by them.

Note: The copies shall be made and received after they are paid for.

For up to date information you may check the Quick Links section, the pages Fees for the fees collected by the “Archives” SA and Service charges, provided by the “Archives” SA.

Payment method

• at desk;
• bank payment;
• online via bank card and virtual POS terminal;

Term for providing the service

• an ordinary service shall be provided within 7 workdays;
• a fast service shall be provided within 3 workdays;
• an express service shall be provided within 24 hours.

The terms of service are dependent on the volume, the type of copies requested, the technical capabilities of the archive and the physical condition of the documents and, if necessary, are further negotiated. The period for making the copies starts running from the date of payment for the service.

Internal service proceedings

• Following the successful registration of the application in the records management system of the Archives State Agency the applicant receives notification on the provided email address, containing information about: unique registration identification (URI) number of the application in the records management system of the Archives SA, the date of the application registration and unique numerical access code. With this information the applicant can track the progress on his or her document in section “Service status” in the Archives State Agency electronic services portal;
• The following steps in the process of application processing are detailed in the Law on the National Archival Fonds (LNAF), the Regulation for the procedure of use of the National Archival Fonds' records and the Rules for the procedure and the organization of the archival records' use in the Archives State Agency.

Note: If the application is incomplete (text not properly completed or lack of information for issuing reader’s card), the applicant shall be notified with instruction to fix the problem within three days (art. 30 of the Administrative Procedural Codex).*

Service outcome

Copies of archival records.