Document Apostille: Complete Guide
What is an Apostille?
An apostille is a special stamp or separate document that certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and authority of the official who signed an official document. The apostille operates under the 1961 Hague Convention, which has been joined by over 120 countries worldwide.
Ukraine has been a member of the Hague Convention since 2003. This means that Ukrainian documents with an apostille are accepted in all member countries without additional legalization through consulates.
Why Do You Need an Apostille?
An apostille is necessary for using official documents abroad. Without an apostille, documents issued in Ukraine have no legal force in other countries. Here are the most common cases when an apostille is needed:
- Relocating permanently abroad
- Employment in another country
- Enrolling in educational institutions abroad
- Marrying a foreign citizen
- Processing inheritance abroad
- Adoption of children by foreign citizens
- Starting a business in another country
Which Documents Can Be Apostilled?
In Ukraine, apostilles can be placed on the following categories of documents:
- Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates
- Criminal record certificates
- Education documents (diplomas, certificates, supplements)
- Medical certificates and documents
- Court decisions
- Notarized documents
- Documents issued by civil registry offices
How to Get an Apostille in Ukraine?
The apostille procedure depends on the type of document. In Ukraine, apostilles are issued by several government agencies:
- Ministry of Justice — for documents issued by justice authorities, courts, notaries
- Ministry of Education and Science — for education documents
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — for other official documents
- Ministry of Health — for medical documents
Steps to Follow:
- 1Determine which authority apostilles your type of document
- 2Prepare the original document
- 3Pay the state fee (amount depends on document type)
- 4Submit the application and documents to the appropriate authority
- 5Wait for the apostille to be issued (usually 1 to 20 business days)
- 6Receive the document with the apostille
Important to Know
An apostille does not replace a document translation. After receiving an apostille, the document usually needs to be translated into the language of the destination country and the translation notarized. An apostille has no expiration date — it remains valid as long as the document itself is valid.