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In Ukraine, an apostille on a diploma, school certificate (atestat) or their supplements is issued by the Ministry of Education and Science (МОН) – the sole authority for educational documents, and it sets its own state fee (not the 670 UAH charged by the Ministry of Justice). The standard turnaround is about 5 working days, in some cases up to 20. We work remotely across Ukraine: you send the originals by Nova Poshta, we submit them to МОН on your behalf and return the finished apostille. You agree the price with us before the work starts and pay once – the ministry is ours to deal with.
Who issues the apostille on a diploma, and why it is МОН
Under Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 61, the apostille is split between authorities by document type: educational documents (diplomas, school certificates, supplements) are apostilled specifically by МОН, notarial and court acts and civil-registry (ДРАЦС) documents by the Ministry of Justice, the criminal-record certificate by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and medical and most other documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So a diploma or atestat cannot be apostilled at the Ministry of Justice – this is МОН's competence, and it has its own state-fee tariff (not to be confused with the Ministry of Justice's 670 UAH rate). The apostille is placed on the original document; if the original is lost, a duplicate is obtained first, and that duplicate serves as the original for the apostille.
Diploma and supplement are two documents: turnaround and fee
It is important to understand that the diploma and its supplement (like a certificate and its insert) are two separate documents, so the apostille is placed on each with its own stamp, and МОН charges its tariff for each document. The standard turnaround at МОН is about 5 working days; if the document is of an old format or is not in the register and an archive request is needed, this can extend to 20 working days. The final cost therefore depends on how many documents go through МОН, on the ministry's tariff for each of them and on whether you also need a notarized translation tailored to the destination country – we put all of it into one quote before the work starts.
Apostille is not nostrification: the difference
An apostille and nostrification (recognition of a diploma) are two different procedures that are often confused. The apostille only confirms the authenticity of the signature and seal on your Ukrainian diploma so the document is accepted in Hague Convention countries (Canada joined on 11.01.2024). Nostrification (recognition) is a separate procedure in the destination country, where its institution assesses the content and level of your education and decides whether to equate your diploma with a local one. Note an honest nuance about translation: Ukraine has no institution of "sworn translators," a notary certifies only the authenticity of the translator's signature and not the accuracy of the translation, so for the EU you often need a sworn translation in the destination country itself – confirm this with the specific institution.
Send us a scan of your diploma and we will arrange the apostille on your diploma remotely and return it by Nova Poshta.
Frequently asked questions about the apostille on a diploma
How much does an apostille on a diploma cost?
МОН applies its own tariff, and because the diploma and its supplement count as two documents, the ministry charges for each of them. From us you get a single turnkey figure for the order – filing, the ministry's charges and return delivery included – and we will quote it after reviewing your scan.
How long does an apostille on a diploma take?
The standard turnaround at МОН is about 5 working days. If the diploma is of an old format or is not in the register and an archive request is needed, it can extend to 20 working days.
How does an apostille differ from nostrification?
An apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature and seal on a diploma for Hague Convention countries, while nostrification (recognition) is a separate procedure abroad where an institution assesses the level of education and equates the diploma with a local one. These are two different steps: an apostille does not guarantee automatic recognition, so check the requirements with the institution in the destination country.
An apostille on a diploma and certificate falls under МОН at its own tariff, typically about 5 working days, and the diploma and supplement are processed as two separate documents. We handle the submission to МОН, the translation and Nova Poshta delivery across Ukraine, so you do not need to travel to the capital. The figures and timelines above are valid for 2026; we cannot guarantee the outcome of recognition abroad, but we will honestly advise which steps you need for your specific country.
