Residence in Ukraine

Do foreign documents need an apostille to be used in Ukraine?

Published 29 October 2026 · facts checked against the primary sources on 2026-10-29 · Ukraine For ALL, Kyiv

The rule is written into each procedure that a foreigner meets. For residence cards: "documents issued by the competent authorities of a foreign state … are subject to legalisation in the established procedure, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Ukraine", submitted "with a translation into Ukrainian, certified by a notary" (Cabinet Resolutions No. 322 and No. 321, para. 13). The Immigration Law and the civil registration rules contain the same requirement.

Apostille or consular legalisation?

The Convention covers court documents, administrative documents, notarial acts and official certificates on private documents. It excludes documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents and administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations (Art. 1). The apostille certifies the signature, the capacity in which the signer acted and, where needed, the seal or stamp (Art. 5).

Which documents usually need it?

How does the translation work?

For residence cards the foreign documents come with a Ukrainian translation certified by a notary (Resolutions No. 322 and No. 321, para. 13). For the immigration permit the translation is "certified in the established procedure" (Law No. 2491-III, Art. 9). For marriage, a document in a foreign language comes with its Ukrainian translation (Rules of civil registration, Section II).

Do wartime rules waive the apostille?

Only in narrow cases.

• Resolution No. 107 of 4 February 2023. During martial law and six months after it, foreign documents are accepted without legalisation or an apostille only if they were accepted that way on 24 February 2022. Everything that needed an apostille before the war still needs one.
• Resolution No. 1232, para. 4. For citizenship cases and DMS services during martial law and six months after it, documents drawn up or certified in Belarus are accepted without legalisation or an apostille.

Martial law was extended from 31 October 2026 for 90 days (Presidential Decree No. 1060/2026).

How do you apostille a Ukrainian document for use abroad?

Cabinet Resolution No. 61 of 18 January 2003 divides the work between six authorities:

At the State Migration Service the apostille costs UAH 51 (three tax-free minimum incomes) and is done within 10 working days. Identity documents are not apostilled (DMS service page). The MFA accepts documents for apostille and consular legalisation by Nova Poshta courier only, and legalises civil status documents only when they were issued or certified by the regional justice departments (MFA consular services page).

FAQ

Is Ukraine a member of the Apostille Convention?

Yes. Ukraine acceded by Law No. 2933-III of 10 January 2002; the Convention entered into force for Ukraine on 22 December 2003 (HCCH status table).

Who puts the apostille on my US or UK birth certificate?

The competent authority of the state that issued it (Convention, Arts. 3 and 6). A Ukrainian authority cannot apostille a foreign document.

Does the translation have to be done in Ukraine?

For residence cards the translation must be certified by a notary (Resolution No. 322, para. 13).

Do I need an apostille for documents from Belarus?

For citizenship cases and DMS services during martial law and six months after it, Belarusian documents are accepted without it (Resolution No. 1232, para. 4).

How long is a criminal record certificate valid?

For citizenship files, such certificates are valid for the term stated in them, or three months from issue if no term is stated (DMS citizenship page). Plan the apostille and translation inside that window.