Glossary of terms
Short definitions of the key document-legalization and translation terms. Use the search to find one quickly.
- Apostille
- A stamp certifying the authenticity of the signature and seal on a document for Hague Convention countries. It does not verify the content or recognize the qualification. More about the service
- Consular legalization
- Validation for non-Hague countries: a chain of profile ministry → MFA → the destination country embassy. More about the service
- Nostrification (recognition)
- Recognition of a foreign diploma for study or work. An apostille is only a prerequisite, not the recognition itself. More about the service
- Sworn translation
- A translation certified by a sworn translator listed in the destination country register with their own signature and stamp – no notary needed. More about the service
- Notarized translation
- A translation where a notary certifies the translator signature (not the text). The standard for Ukraine. More about the service
- Electronic apostille (e-apostille)
- An apostille in digital form with a QR code; introduced in Ukraine by the Ministry of Justice and verified online in the register. More about the service
- Document retrieval
- Obtaining duplicate or repeat documents (civil-registry certificates, extracts, archive references) on your behalf, including from abroad. More about the service
- Double apostille
- An apostille on both the original and the notarized translation – required by some countries (Italy, Spain, etc.). More about the service
- Consularized document
- A document that has undergone consular legalization: it bears the stamp of the destination country's embassy and is then valid in non-Hague countries. More about the service
- Legalized document
- A document validated for use abroad – via apostille (Hague Convention countries) or consular legalization (other countries). More about the service
- Hague Convention signatory
- A state that has joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention: for documents used there an apostille suffices and consular legalization is not required. More about the service
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FAQ
The translation agency "Etalon" has been operating in the Ukrainian market since 2008, providing professional written and oral translation services.
To order a service, you can contact us by phone or email listed on our website.
The cost of our services depends on the volume and complexity of the work. For detailed information, please contact us.
Yes, we provide urgent translation services. For additional information, please contact us.
For translation, you need to provide the original or copies of the documents. For more detailed information, please contact us.
The time required for translation depends on the volume and complexity of the text. It usually takes from a few hours to several days.
Yes, we translate specialized texts, including legal, technical, medical, and other documents.
Yes, we provide notarized translation services. For additional information, please contact us.
All three offices — Kharkiv, Kyiv and Bratislava — are open Monday to Friday, 09:00–18:00. Each keeps its own local time, and Bratislava (Central European time) is an hour behind the two Ukrainian offices, so allow for that difference if you're calling from abroad.
You don't need to visit us in person. Send scans of your documents by e-mail and we'll quote the price and turnaround; some services need the original, which then travels by courier or post instead of you. We return the finished document the same way — by post, or as a signed electronic file where the receiving authority accepts it.
It depends on which office handles your order. In Kharkiv and Kyiv a standard document can often be ready the same day if you send the scan early and choose the express option, which may cost extra — we confirm this when we quote. In Slovakia the timings are different: a sworn translation of a standard document usually takes up to 2–3 working days, express by arrangement, and what you receive the same day there is the quote rather than the finished translation. Larger or more complex jobs, and services that involve a state authority, take longer in either country.
