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An apostille on a Ukrainian marriage or divorce certificate is issued in 2026 by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine: the state fee for individuals is UAH 670, with an estimated turnaround of 3-5 business days. The stamp makes your civil-registry (DRATsS) document valid abroad in countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention. Below we explain when you need it, why a laminated certificate must be replaced with a duplicate, and why Italy or Spain may require a double apostille.
When You Need an Apostille on a Marriage or Divorce Certificate: Marriage Abroad and Family Reunification
You need an apostille on a marriage certificate whenever a Ukrainian civil-registry document must be submitted to an official body in another country. The most common reasons are: registering a marriage with a foreign national, family reunification and applying for a spousal visa or residence permit, securing a child's citizenship, and inheritance or property matters. An apostille on a divorce certificate confirms abroad that you are free from a previous marriage—without it, a new marriage may be refused. This only works between states party to the 1961 Hague Convention. For countries that have not joined it (the UAE, Egypt and others), the apostille does not apply—there you need consular legalization through an embassy.
How to Get an Apostille via the Ministry of Justice in 2026: Cost, Timelines, Laminated Certificates and a DRATsS Duplicate
The apostille on civil-registry marriage and divorce certificates is issued specifically by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine—not the Foreign Ministry or the Ministry of Education. As of 1 January 2026, the state fee is UAH 670 for individuals (0.2 of the subsistence minimum for the working-age population, UAH 3,328, rounded) and UAH 1,160 for legal entities; the estimated turnaround is 3-5 business days, though we cannot guarantee a government body's exact date. A key point: a laminated marriage certificate cannot be apostilled. The laminated certificate itself stays valid for use within Ukraine, but it cannot be apostilled—valid does not mean apostille-eligible. So you order a duplicate marriage certificate for the apostille: a fresh form through the DRATsS office or the Diia app.
Translation and Double Apostille: What Italy, Spain and Other Countries Additionally Require
The apostille itself is drawn up in Ukrainian, so a foreign authority will almost always need the certificate translated. Several countries require a sworn translation, but Ukraine has no institution of sworn translators—so we provide a notarized translation, and the sworn step is arranged in the destination country if needed. For Italy, Spain, France and Portugal a double apostille on the marriage certificate is often required: one on the document itself, the second on the notarized translation. This is not a universal rule, so check the requirements with the specific authority in advance. A separate note on e-extracts and the e-apostille: first confirm whether the receiving institution accepts them.
We'll handle everything turnkey—duplicate, apostille and translation; order a marriage certificate apostille from the Etalon bureau.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille on a marriage certificate cost in 2026?
The state fee for an apostille through the Ministry of Justice from 1 January 2026 is UAH 670 for individuals and UAH 1,160 for legal entities. This is only the government charge—the duplicate certificate from the DRATsS office, the notarized translation and, if required, a second apostille on the translation are paid separately. We'll calculate the exact total for your country in advance.
Can you apostille a laminated marriage certificate?
No, a laminated marriage certificate cannot be apostilled. The certificate itself stays valid for use within Ukraine, but it cannot be apostilled: valid does not mean apostille-eligible. The only solution is to order a fresh duplicate certificate through the DRATsS office or the Diia app and apostille that copy instead.
Do you need to translate the marriage certificate after the apostille, and what is a double apostille?
Yes—the apostille is drawn up in Ukrainian, so for a foreign authority the certificate is almost always translated; in Ukraine a notarized translation is made. A double apostille means the stamp is placed on both the document and the notarized translation; this format is often requested by Italy, Spain, France and Portugal. It is not a universal requirement, so check the list with the authority.
An apostille on a marriage or divorce certificate in 2026 means a UAH 670 state fee via the Ministry of Justice, roughly 3-5 business days, and a mandatory swap of any laminated certificate for a fresh DRATsS duplicate. For Italy, Spain and similar countries, budget for translation and possibly a double apostille; for states outside the Hague Convention, consular legalization. Always verify requirements with the specific authority—and we'll walk the whole path with you.
