For millions of Ukrainians living outside the country, document legalisation is an essential aspect. Whether you are taking up employment, enrolling at a university, applying for a residence permit or completing other important procedures, the apostille is the bridge that gives Ukrainian documents legal effect in other states.
What is an apostille, and why does it matter?
An apostille is an international certification that confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signer and the seal on a Ukrainian document. With an apostille, documents are recognised in 136 countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Convention, which makes legalisation far simpler than consular authentication.
For Ukrainians abroad, the apostille helps to move things forward efficiently since it:
- Removes the need for additional consular legalisation
- Speeds up submission to foreign authorities
- Ensures international recognition of Ukrainian documents
Common situations when an apostille is required
Typical use cases include:
- Moving abroad and applying for a residence permit
- Starting a job with a foreign employer
- Changing citizenship or arranging dual citizenship
- Marrying a foreign national
- Studying at an overseas institution
- Buying or selling real estate
- Setting up a business and corporate registrations
Demand in practice
The current demand for apostilles is significant. In October 2023 alone, civil registry offices in Ukraine issued apostilles for 6,507 documents, highlighting the significant number of Ukrainians who rely on this procedure for use abroad.
How to obtain an apostille
In most cases, you will submit:
- The original document or a properly certified copy
- Proof of payment or evidence of fee exemption
- An application from the person filing the papers
Remember that an apostille is issued in Ukraine for documents created by Ukrainian authorities. If your document was issued in another country, the apostille is obtained there.
Documents that can receive an apostille
An apostille is commonly affixed to:
- Documents of Ukrainian courts
- Papers from the prosecutor’s office and justice authorities
- Administrative documents
- Education records and academic titles
- Documents prepared by state or private notaries
- Official certificates of registration and signature authentication
Documents that do not receive an apostille in the original
No apostille is placed on the following originals:
- Passports and military IDs
- Employment record books and firearms permits
- Vehicle registration certificates
- Legislative or regulatory texts
Where permitted, a notarised copy can be apostilled instead.
Where the Ukrainian apostille is recognised
The Ukrainian apostille is accepted in 136 countries and regions, including:
- All member states of the European Union
- The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia
- Most countries in Asia and Latin America
Ukraine also maintains bilateral agreements with several countries, for example, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan. In these cases, a notarised translation is often sufficient without an apostille.
Practical tips
- Plan ahead, especially if you need to request documents from Ukraine
- Check the destination country’s rules, requirements can vary
- Keep originals safe and use copies for everyday purposes
