Restoring Ukrainian Documents: Certificates, Tax ID, Name Change

Restoring documents in Ukraine covers re-issuing civil registry (DRATS) certificates of birth, marriage and death, restoring the tax ID card (RNOKPP) and registering a change of first or last name. A re-issued certificate (duplicate) has exactly the same legal force as the original. A duplicate DRATS certificate costs from UAH 0.51 in state duty, and turnaround ranges from the same day to three working days depending on the channel. In this article we, the Etalon bureau, explain what is restored and where, how much it costs and how to do it all remotely.

Restoration vs retrieval: what is the difference

Restoration is the reissue of a duplicate inside Ukraine: where the civil status record exists, a DRATS office issues a new copy of the certificate. This applies when a document is lost, damaged or a second copy is needed. If, however, you live abroad and need to obtain a Ukrainian document from overseas without travelling to Ukraine, that is a different route, document retrieval.

Re-issuing DRATS certificates: birth, marriage, death

A re-issued certificate is issued by a DRATS office from the civil status record – as a paper form with the same legal force as the original. The request is filed by the person named in the record, by their legal representative or relative in the cases provided by law, or by a representative acting under a notarised power of attorney – which is how we handle the matter remotely. The duplicate fully replaces the original and is accepted by all institutions.

• Birth certificate – re-issued to the person it concerns (from age 18), or to parents or guardians when it relates to a minor child.
• Marriage certificate – issued to the spouses. Important nuance: after a divorce, a marriage certificate is not re-issued – instead, an extract from DRATS confirming the fact of marriage registration is issued (basis: the Law on State Registration of Civil Status Acts).
• Death certificate – re-issued to the surviving spouse, close relatives of the deceased, or a representative of the guardianship authority.

Cost and turnaround in 2026

The state duty for re-issuing a DRATS certificate is 0.03 of the tax-free minimum income = UAH 0.51. If a DRATS officer completes the application, a paid service of UAH 137 is added (total ≈ UAH 137.51); for an online submission that service is not charged. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are exempt from the state duty and fee; the exemption also applies in certain areas during martial law. Turnaround depends on the channel: in person – the same day, via TSNAP – the next working day, by post – up to 7 days, via Diia – processing up to 3 working days.

• DRATS certificates – UAH 0.51 state duty (plus UAH 137 if a DRATS officer completes the application); turnaround from the same day up to 3 working days.
• Tax ID / RNOKPP – the card is restored on form No. 5DR; turnaround 3 working days.
• Name change – state duty UAH 5.10 for the first change and UAH 51.00 for a repeat change; DRATS reviews the application within up to 3 months.

Online via Diia

The Diia app processes re-issued certificates and extracts for birth, death, name change, marriage and divorce. Processing takes up to 3 working days, and the ready document is handed over at a DRATS office or sent by Ukrposhta. Worth knowing in advance: an electronic extract cannot be apostilled or legalised – that requires the paper form.

Restoring the tax ID (RNOKPP card)

A lost RNOKPP (tax ID) card is restored on form No. 5DR and produced within 3 working days; if the data is inconsistent, the term may reach 10 days. The application is received by the State Tax Service, including through its e-cabinet (cabinet.tax.gov.ua, authentication with a qualified e-signature or BankID – 3-5 days), and it may be filed by a representative acting under a notarised power of attorney. The tax number itself is visible in the Diia app without restoring the card.

Changing a last name, first name or patronymic

The state duty for registering a name change is 0.3 of the tax-free minimum income = UAH 5.10 for the first change and 3 such units = UAH 51.00 for a repeat change. You can change your name independently from age 16, and from age 14 with parental consent. DRATS reviews the application within up to 3 months (an extension of up to another 3 months is possible). It may be refused if the applicant is subject to criminal proceedings, has an unexpunged conviction or is wanted, or if the application contains false information.

Which documents to re-issue after a name change

After registering a name change you must re-issue a number of documents:

• Passport (ID card) – within 1 month of the name change.
• RNOKPP (tax ID) card – with the new details.
• International (travel) passport.
• Driving licence and vehicle documents.
• Pension and social benefit cards; also update your details with banks and medical institutions.

Documents that do not need replacing after a name change include education documents (school and university diplomas remain valid under the former name), title documents for property, and the employment record book – the name change is entered there with a corresponding note.

Apostille after restoration

A duplicate DRATS certificate is apostilled in exactly the same way as the original and carries full legal force for use abroad – so once it is restored you can order the apostille service right away. The apostille on DRATS documents is affixed exclusively by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine; from 1 January 2026 the fee is UAH 670 for individuals. For more on the procedure, see our article on the apostille for birth and marriage certificates.

Old-format certificates (issued before 2016) are often missing from the Ministry of Justice electronic database, so for an apostille it is usually best to obtain a new-format duplicate first and apostille that. A notarized copy is not an alternative here: for civil registry documents a notary certifies a copy for use abroad only after the original has been legalized or apostilled.

Restoring documents in Ukraine is a standard and inexpensive procedure once you know the right channel and the correct order of steps. A re-issued certificate is issued by a DRATS office from the civil status record; Etalon handles that route under a power of attorney together with the apostille and the translation, guaranteeing accurate details and correct formatting. Get in touch – we will do that from anywhere in Ukraine.