Apostille for Documents
An apostille – is a simplified form of international legalization that certifies the authenticity of a signature, a seal, and the authority of the official who issued the document. Thanks to the apostille, Ukrainian documents are recognized in countries that are parties to the Hague Convention without the need for additional consular legalization.
Apostille Legal provides full support throughout the apostille process, from initial verification to delivery of the final result.
What Is an Apostille and When Is It Required
An apostille is required whenever documents are submitted abroad, in particular for:
- studying at foreign educational institutions;
- employment;
- marriage;
- obtaining a residence permit or citizenship;
- starting a business abroad;
- processing inheritance matters or powers of attorney.
Without an apostille, a document has no legal validity in another country.
What Documents Require an Apostille
An apostille is affixed to official documents issued in Ukraine, including:
- civil registry certificates (apostille birth certificate, apostille marriage certificate, apostille divorce certificate, apostille death certificate);
- criminal record extracts;
- apostille diploma, apostille certificate, apostille attestation, apostille supplements, apostille academic transcript;
- apostille notarized documents (apostille affidavit, apostille power of attorney, notarized application apostille);
- apostille court decision;
- apostille archival certificate;
- apostille medical certificate and apostille bank statement.
If the original document cannot be apostilled (a passport or employment record book, for example), a notarized copy or statement is prepared instead, and the apostille is affixed to that.
Documents That Do Not Require an Apostille
An apostille is not affixed to:
- documents issued by foreign diplomatic missions;
- documents related to commercial or customs transactions;
- original documents issued in the USSR (a notarized copy is used in such cases).
For every situation there’s usually an alternative solution, and our specialists will help you find it.
Who Issues Apostilles in Ukraine
Authority is divided among several government agencies:
- Ministry of Justice of Ukraine: civil registry, notarial, and court documents;
- Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine: educational documents;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine: certificates of no criminal record;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: other official documents.
Identifying the right authority from the start is key to getting results quickly.
How the Apostille Process Works
Apostille Legal supports clients at every stage:
- verifying documents and confirming eligibility for an apostille;
- preparing notarized copies or additional documents, if needed;
- submitting the application to the relevant government agency;
- monitoring processing times;
- receiving the apostilled document;
- arranging translation and notarization, if needed.
Apostille Processing Times
Timeframes depend on the type of document and the issuing authority:
- Ministry of Education and Science: 1 to 30 business days;
- Ministry of Justice: 1 to 5 business days;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: 2 to 10 business days;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs: 1 to 5 business days;
- State Tax Service of Ukraine: 3 to 10 business days;
- State Migration Service: 3 to 10 business days.
Need it fast? Urgent apostille available.
Validity of the Apostille
An apostille has no separate expiration date. It remains valid for as long as the underlying document itself is valid.
When an Apostille Is Not Required
For some countries, international treaties mean an apostille isn’t required at all. In these cases, a translation or a simplified legalization procedure is enough.
Our specialists will help you determine the right approach for your specific situation.
Additional Services
We also provide:
- expedited apostille;
- double apostille;
- legalization of documents for countries that don’t use the apostille system;
- notary services;
- document translation, including certified translation for Poland.
Benefits of Obtaining an Apostille with Apostille Legal
- Accurate assessment of documents before submission.
- Minimized risk of rejection.
- Time savings for the client.
- Option for remote processing.
- Turnkey support from start to finish.
- Service for clients both in Ukraine and abroad.
Order an Apostille
Apostille Legal helps you obtain an apostille for documents of any complexity, quickly and without unnecessary hassle.
Submit a request or contact us for a consultation, and we’ll find the best solution for your situation.
