The law recognizes an association or a foundation as a legal person after its registration in the Register for not-for-profit legal entities by the Registry Agency to the Minister of Justice.

The provision also provides that no organisation shall establish clandestine or paramilitary structures or shall seek to attain its aims through violence.

Article 19 of the Non-profit Legal Entities Act recognizes as associations, the organizations that are established by three or more persons united for performing activities that pursue non-profit objectives.

Under Article 19 minimum three founding persons are required. When an Association is designated for performing activities in public benefit at least seven natural persons or three legal persons must establish it.

There are two types of membership-based NGOs under the Non-profit Legal Entities Act - the public benefit and mutual benefit association.

The Bulgarian Non-profit Legal Entities Act generally does not differentiate between foreign and domestic legal and natural persons.

There are no special restrictions on the extent to which an association/foundation can act. There are exceptions regarding the economic activity (NGOs can perform related economic activities only) and the property distribution after the liquidation.

The law specifies only the minimum Statute content.

Generally in order to be recognized as and to receive status of legal persons the associations/foundations should be registered by the Register for not-for-profit legal entities by the Registry Agency.

NGOs freely determine the means for achieving their purposes. Limitations to the means for achieving the purposes of the non-profit legal entities can be solely determined by a law.