Consular Legalisation in Kyiv - the full chain, turnkey
Consular legalisation is required for countries that are NOT part of the Hague Convention: the UAE (in some cases), China, Canada (partially), and a number of Gulf, Asian and African states. It is a multi-step procedure: the document is certified in turn by Ukraine's Ministry of Justice or MFA, and then by the destination country's consulate or embassy. Almost all foreign missions are concentrated in Kyiv, so Etalon runs the entire chain locally - from translation to the consulate's final stamp. As a guide, from UAH 1500 per document plus consular fees; timing from 5 business days.
- Full legalisation chain: translation + notarisation + Ministry of Justice/MFA + the country's consulate
- Almost all embassies and consulates are in Kyiv: no shipping documents to other cities
- We work for non-Hague countries: China, the UAE, Canada, the Gulf, Asia, Africa
- Sofiivska office + online: send scans, get the finished documents by courier or Nova Poshta
Almost all of Ukraine's foreign embassies and consulates are located in Kyiv, so we complete the entire consular chain locally, without shipping documents between cities.
How does consular legalisation differ from an apostille?
An apostille is a single stamp for 120+ Hague Convention countries, whereas consular legalisation is a chain of several certifications for countries that have not joined the convention. Where an apostille settles the matter in one step, consular legalisation passes through at least two or three authorities in sequence.
The typical chain in Kyiv: notarisation and translation → certification at Ukraine's Ministry of Justice (for notarial and court documents) or the MFA → and finally legalisation at the destination country's consulate. Because of this multi-stage nature, the procedure takes longer and costs more than an apostille.
Which countries require consular legalisation?
Consular legalisation is needed for states outside the Hague Convention, or that do not accept a Ukrainian apostille in a specific case. In practice this includes China (for some documents), the UAE (depending on the emirate and document type), Canada in certain situations, and a number of Gulf, Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries.
Requirements differ even within a single country - the package and the number of steps can vary for a work visa, study, marriage or setting up a business. We verify the current requirements of the specific consulate in Kyiv before we start, so the document never has to be submitted twice.
How long does consular legalisation take in Kyiv?
As a guide, from 5 to 20 business days or more - the exact timing is set by the destination country's consulate, since it applies the final stamp at its own pace. The Ministry of Justice or MFA step is usually faster, while consulates keep their own intake and processing schedules.
We prepare and submit the whole package so that each next step starts without delay, and we keep you updated on the status at every authority.
How we work
- 1Request & assessmentSend scans or bring documents to Sofiivska - we map out the chain of steps, timing and price for your country, free of charge.
- 2Translation & notarisationWe translate and notarise the document to the consulate's rules, and prepare notarial copies if needed.
- 3Ministry of Justice / MFAWe certify the document at Ukraine's Ministry of Justice (notarial, court) or the MFA before submission to the consulate.
- 4Consulate & deliveryWe submit the document to the country's embassy or consulate in Kyiv, obtain legalisation and return it by courier or Nova Poshta.
Prices
- Consular legalisation of a document + consular fee, per documentfrom UAH 1500
- Certification at Ministry of Justice / MFA + state fee, per stepfrom UAH 700
- Translation + notarisation per documentfrom UAH 250
- Urgent turnkey handling depends on the consulateon request
Prices are indicative ("from"), excluding consular and state fees; the final amount depends on the country and the number of steps and is quoted after a free document review.
FAQ
How does consular legalisation differ from an apostille?
An apostille is a single stamp for Hague Convention countries, while consular legalisation is a chain of several certifications (Ministry of Justice/MFA + the country's consulate) for non-convention countries. Because it is multi-step, it takes longer and costs more than an apostille.
Which countries require consular legalisation?
Countries outside the Hague Convention: China (partially), the UAE, Canada in certain cases, and a number of Gulf, Middle Eastern, Asian and African states. We verify the exact requirements with the relevant consulate in Kyiv before starting.
How long does consular legalisation take?
As a guide, from 5 to 20 business days or more - the final timing is set by the destination country's consulate. The Ministry of Justice or MFA steps are usually faster, while consulates work to their own schedules.
How much does consular legalisation cost in Kyiv?
As a guide, from UAH 1500 per document plus consular and state fees; translation and notarisation are charged separately. We quote the exact amount for free after reviewing your documents and confirming the country's requirements.
Is a translation needed for consular legalisation?
Yes, almost always a translation into the destination country's language (or English) with notarisation is required. Sometimes the consulate legalises the original, sometimes the certified translation; we perform the steps in the correct order.
Can it be done online, without visiting the office?
Yes - send scans, we assess the chain and run the process in Kyiv, then return the finished documents by courier in the city or by Nova Poshta across Ukraine. Originals are handed over conveniently at the stage when they are physically needed.
Updated: 2026-06-15
