Marrying in Ukraine: which documents to prepare at home before you fly
Most of the paperwork for a marriage in Ukraine is done here: translations into Ukrainian and a notary. One part has to be done in your own country, before you travel. If you were married before, the document that ended that marriage needs an apostille, and nobody in Ukraine can add it for you. Here is what to bring from home, and where to get the apostille in the countries our clients most often come from.
Never married? Bring your passport
If this is your first marriage, the only thing you need from home is a valid passport. It is translated into Ukrainian and notarized here, and it does not need an apostille. You also show proof that your stay in Ukraine is lawful: a visa, a residence permit or an entry stamp.
You do not need a certificate of no impediment, a birth certificate or a certificate of single status. Some countries issue these for marriages abroad, but they are not part of the Ukrainian procedure.
Married before? The document that ended the marriage
The registry office (RATsS) needs proof that your previous marriage has ended. Depending on the country, that is:
- a court decision on the divorce, or a divorce certificate issued by the court or registry, showing that the divorce is final;
- a death certificate of your former spouse, if you are widowed.
Ukrainian law requires documents issued abroad to carry an apostille, or consular legalisation for countries outside the Hague Convention, unless a treaty with Ukraine says otherwise. Bring the original, or an official certified copy issued by the court or registry, with the apostille attached. A photocopy will not do.
Where to get the apostille: by country
The apostille is issued only in the country that issued the document, by the authority that country has designated. It cannot be obtained in Ukraine or at an embassy in Ukraine.
United States
Order a certified copy of the divorce decree from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce, or a certified copy of the death certificate from the state vital records office. The apostille comes from the competent authority of that state, usually the Secretary of State. The U.S. Department of State does not apostille documents issued by a state.
United Kingdom
For England and Wales, use a sealed court copy of the decree absolute, or the final order for divorces since April 2022. A death certificate is a certified copy from the register office. The apostille is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office, which legalises court documents bearing the court seal.
Canada
The divorce certificate is issued by the court that granted the divorce, and the death certificate by provincial vital statistics. Documents from Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan are apostilled by that province. Documents from the other provinces and territories, and federal documents, are apostilled by Global Affairs Canada.
Germany
You need the divorce decision (Scheidungsbeschluss) with the note that it has become final (Rechtskraftvermerk). Court documents are apostilled by the president of the Landgericht or Amtsgericht responsible for that court. A death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) is apostilled by the authority the federal state has designated.
Rules and processing times change, so check the current procedure on your authority’s website before you book a flight. Allow enough time for the document to reach you by post.
No apostille needed: countries with a treaty
Ukraine has legal assistance treaties with a number of countries, including Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Moldova, the Baltic states, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Documents from these countries are accepted without an apostille, with a notarized Ukrainian translation alone. Why a notary sometimes refuses them anyway, and what to do.
Country not in the Hague Convention
If your country has not joined the Apostille Convention and has no treaty with Ukraine, the document goes through consular legalisation instead. It is usually certified first by your country’s foreign ministry, then by the Ukrainian embassy or consulate. Check which route applies to your country.
If the Ukrainian partner divorced abroad
The rules above are for the foreign partner’s documents. If the Ukrainian partner’s previous marriage was dissolved by a foreign court, the registry office may ask for that decision to be recognised in Ukraine first. Whether this is needed depends on the country and on any treaty it has with Ukraine. Ask the registry office early, or a family lawyer. Recognition is a court matter; we translate the documents for it.
Checklist before you fly
How we help
Send scans of your passport and certificates before you travel. We confirm the set, quote the price and prepare the translations into Ukrainian in advance, including the apostille, all stamps and endorsements. A Ukrainian notary notarizes them once the originals reach us in Ukraine. The step-by-step procedure at the registry office is in our guide How to get married in Ukraine as a foreigner. To keep the spelling of your name the same in every document, see name in the translation doesn’t match the passport.
Questions
Does my passport need an apostille?
No. For a marriage in Ukraine your passport is submitted with a notarized Ukrainian translation, without an apostille.
Can I get the apostille in Ukraine or at my embassy?
No. An apostille is issued only by the designated authority of the country that issued the document. Get it before you travel.
Does the apostille have to be translated as well?
Yes. The document is translated into Ukrainian together with the apostille and every stamp on it, and the translation is notarized.
Is a copy of my divorce decree enough?
An official certified copy issued by the court or registry is fine, with the apostille attached to it. A photocopy or a scan is not accepted, although we can start the translation from a scan.
I have never been married. What do I need from home?
Only your passport. A certificate of no impediment, a birth certificate or a certificate of single status are not part of the Ukrainian procedure.
My documents are from Poland or Czechia. Do they need an apostille?
No. Ukraine has legal assistance treaties with these countries, and their documents are accepted with a notarized Ukrainian translation alone.
Send scans of your documents on Telegram or by email. We will tell you what needs an apostille at home and what we will translate here.