Duplicate Certificates, Court Copies and Apostille for Ukrainians Abroad
The most common situation we see is this: the certificate is of the old type or laminated, and an institution abroad asks for a document with an apostille. We do not take on apostilles for old certificates, because they are often refused. You do not need to post the original to Ukraine either. We obtain a new repeat certificate (people usually call it a duplicate) from the civil registry office (DRATsS), put an apostille on it and pass it to you.
We also obtain civil status register extracts, copies of court decisions and a criminal record certificate remotely. We work under a legal assistance agreement, which you sign from your own country. A notarised power of attorney from a consulate is not needed for this.
Updated: October 2026.
Why people come to us
- A certificate of the old type, Soviet or laminated, when one with an apostille is needed.
- The migration service has given you a list of documents: for citizenship, a residence permit, or moving from temporary protection to another status.
- A marriage or remarriage abroad, where you are asked for documents on the previous marriage and divorce.
- The divorce went through the court, and there is no divorce certificate.
- An inheritance, loan or mortgage abroad where you have to confirm your family status.
If the institution has given you a list, send it to us together with photos of the documents you have. Before you pay, we will check which document is needed and in what form: a repeat certificate or an extract, with or without an apostille.
Which documents we obtain
Repeat certificates from DRATsS (duplicates)
We obtain repeat certificates from DRATsS offices (formerly RAGS, commonly called ZAGS) in any region of Ukraine, regardless of where the record was registered.
- Birth certificate. The one ordered most often. You do not need to have the old certificate to hand, details of the person are enough.
- Marriage certificate. We obtain a repeat certificate if the marriage has not been dissolved. After a divorce a repeat marriage certificate is not issued, and you need an extract from the State Register of Civil Status Acts instead.
- Divorce certificate. We obtain a repeat certificate if the divorce was registered by a DRATsS office, in any year. If a court dissolved the marriage after 27 July 2010, the divorce is confirmed by the court decision that has entered into legal force.
- Name change certificate. Needed when the surname or first name in your old documents does not match your current one.
- Death certificate. For relatives, if you have documents proving the family relationship.
A repeat certificate is printed on a new form, so its series and number differ from the first one. It has the same legal force. Your first copy stays with you.
Civil status register extract
An extract is needed where a certificate is no longer issued, or where the institution needs information that the certificate does not contain. Most often this is an extract on the marriage with details of its dissolution: it is requested for a new marriage abroad and to confirm a pre-marriage surname. Whether an institution will accept one extract instead of two certificates is for that institution to decide, so check with it first.
Copies of court decisions
We obtain certified copies of decisions in cases on divorce, maintenance, division of property, adoption, establishing legal facts and other cases, if you were a party to the case or are entitled to a copy. We prepare the copy with a mark that the decision has entered into legal force: without it, institutions abroad often return the document.
In Kyiv a copy is usually ready within 3-7 business days. Copies of decisions of courts in other cities in territory controlled by Ukraine are requested on an individual basis. We approach the court under the legal assistance agreement and an attorney's warrant (order).
Criminal record certificate (extract)
We obtain a criminal record extract for submission abroad: for a visa, work, marriage or citizenship. With an apostille at once, if needed. What to send for it is described in the FAQ.
Difficult cases
The civil status record has been lost or damaged, the archive remained in territory temporarily occupied by russia, or a fact has to be established through the court. We handle such cases separately: first we review the documents and evidence, and we agree the cost and timing after a consultation.
Why a lawyer and not a translation agency
Many translation agencies now put apostilles on documents. But without your notarised power of attorney, an agency cannot obtain either a repeat certificate from DRATsS or a copy of a court decision. A lawyer acts under the agreement and an attorney's warrant, so you do not need a power of attorney.
Getting the document issued in Ukraine is only half the job. It still has to be collected, submitted for the apostille and sent to you, and you do not need anyone in Ukraine for that: we do all of it.
We have worked since 1992, we keep lawyer-client confidentiality, and we take on cases where the problem is not the stamp but access to the document.
Divorce through the court: no certificate, only a court decision
If a court dissolved the marriage after 27 July 2010, DRATsS does not issue a divorce certificate. In that case the divorce is confirmed only by the court decision, and abroad you need its certified copy with a mark that it has entered into legal force.
If the marriage was dissolved by a DRATsS office (in any year), or by a court before 27 July 2010 with registration at DRATsS, we obtain a repeat divorce certificate.
Apostille: what we do and what we do not take on
We put apostilles on repeat certificates, DRATsS extracts, copies of court decisions and the criminal record certificate. A standard apostille takes 10-17 business days, an urgent one 5-6. The official fee is included in the price.
We do not take on apostilles for old-type, Soviet and laminated certificates: they are often refused. Instead we obtain a repeat certificate and put the apostille on that. You do not need to post the original from abroad.
Do you need an apostille in your country
Not everywhere. It depends on the country and on the institution you are submitting the document to.
| Country | Apostille | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | not needed | Legal assistance treaty between Ukraine and Poland, Art. 15 |
| Czech Republic | not needed | Legal assistance treaty between Ukraine and the Czech Republic, Art. 18 |
| Netherlands | needed | |
| Germany, Spain, Italy | usually needed | The final decision rests with the institution you submit the document to |
Sometimes an institution asks for an apostille even where the treaty does not require one. You can then show it the article of the treaty, or simply get the apostille so as not to lose time on an argument. Full country lists: the list of countries that require an apostille and the list of countries with which no apostille is needed.
Translation
We advise having the translation for a foreign institution done in your own country. Many institutions accept a translation only from a local sworn translator, and the requirements differ even within one country. So we hand over the document in Ukrainian with the apostille, and you order the translation locally. That way you do not pay for the translation twice.
Timing: from order to the document in your hands
A repeat certificate with an apostille in the standard mode takes up to 27 business days: up to 10 for the certificate and 10-17 for the apostille. In the urgent mode it takes up to 11: up to 5 for the certificate and 5-6 for the apostille. Delivery abroad is added to this time.
The time may be extended if there is an error in the civil status record: a surname or date in the register does not match your paper document. This happens more often with old records. The record cannot be checked in advance: only DRATsS staff have access to the register, so an error comes to light only when the application is filed. In that case we file an application to correct it, which costs €50 and takes a further 5-10 business days, and we tell you straight away.
If the institution abroad is waiting for the document by a certain date, tell us at the start and see the urgent services.
Cost
Main services
| Service | Cost | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat DRATsS certificate, standard (any region) | €80 | up to 10 business days |
| Civil status register extract (DRATsS), standard | €80 | up to 10 business days |
| Copy of a court decision (Kyiv) | €80, all fees included | usually 3-7 business days |
| Copy of a court decision (other cities) | €110 / on request | individual |
| Apostille on a document (turnkey), standard | €70, official fee included | 10-17 business days |
| Correction of an error in a civil status record | €50 | a further 5-10 business days |
| Restoration of a civil status record through the court | by agreement | by agreement |
Need it faster? See urgent services and prices below.
Certificates and additional services
| Service | Cost | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate (extract), standard, without apostille | €30 | 10-12 business days |
| Criminal record certificate (extract), standard, with apostille | €40 | 15-17 business days |
| Notarised translation of a passport (for foreigners) | €20 | by agreement |
Typical orders
| Order | Total | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat certificate with apostille, standard mode | €150 | up to 27 business days |
| Copy of a court decision (Kyiv) with apostille | €150 | up to 24 business days |
Need it faster: urgent services
For cases where an institution abroad expects the document by a certain date.
| Service | Cost | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat DRATsS certificate, urgent (any region) | €120 | up to 5 business days |
| Civil status register extract (DRATsS), urgent | €120 | up to 5 business days |
| Apostille on a document (turnkey), urgent | €270, official fee included | 5-6 business days |
| Criminal record certificate (extract), urgent, without apostille | €60 | 3-4 business days |
| Criminal record certificate (extract), urgent, with apostille | €70 | 8-9 business days |
If needed, we can prepare confirmation for the institution that the document has already been ordered.
International delivery is paid separately at the carrier's rate. Usually you order DHL to your address yourself, and we hand the package to the courier in Kyiv.
Prices in euro are converted at a fixed internal rate and are indicative of the hryvnia amount, which is the amount actually invoiced. The hryvnia price prevails.
How we work
- Assessment. You send a photo of the document you have, or the institution's list, and tell us the country. We tell you what exactly needs to be obtained and give you the cost.
- Agreement. We send you a legal assistance agreement. You sign every page and return a scan or photo. A notarised power of attorney is not needed.
- Payment for the first stage. You first pay for obtaining the document: by card via a payment link, charged in hryvnias. A card from a foreign bank works too.
- Obtaining. We obtain the document from DRATsS or the court and send you a photo of it.
- Apostille. After the photo report you pay for the apostille, and we file the document.
- Delivery. We hand the finished package to a DHL courier for your address.
Frequently asked questions
My divorce went through the court, I live in Poland, I am applying for citizenship and the document is not accepted. Why?
Most often the reason is how the copy of the court decision was prepared. Foreign authorities look at the mark that the decision has entered into legal force, and at whether the copy was certified correctly. If this is missing or done wrongly, the document is returned. We prepare the copy of the decision with these requirements in mind.
Do I need a power of attorney to obtain a document?
No. We work under a legal assistance agreement, which you sign remotely: you print it, sign every page and send a scan or photo. There is no extra charge for working without a power of attorney.
Which documents are needed to order a repeat certificate?
For citizens of Ukraine: scans of the internal passport, the RNOKPP (Ukrainian tax number) and the registered address (place of residence registration), and preferably a scan of the document that needs to be obtained. If the document is needed for a close relative, you also send documents proving the family relationship. We clarify the remaining details when you place the order.
What is needed for a criminal record certificate (extract)?
A good-quality scan of the passport with the registration stamp. For an ID card, a scan of both sides and an extract from the register showing the registered address. An RNOKPP certificate is also needed. If you have changed your surname or first name, documents with the previous details are needed. When you order, the purpose of the extract is stated, for example submission to institutions of a foreign state, obtaining a visa, employment or acquiring citizenship. We will help you word it correctly.
I am a foreigner who used to live in Ukraine. Can you obtain documents for me?
Yes. For foreigners a notarised translation of the passport is also needed (€20). If you have a Ukrainian tax number, a registered address or a residence permit, send those documents as well, so that the translation is correct.
Can you put an apostille on a Soviet or old certificate?
We do not take on apostilles for Soviet and old-type certificates: they are often refused. We obtain a repeat certificate on a modern form and put the apostille on that. You do not need to post the original to Ukraine.
My document is laminated. Is that a problem?
Yes. An apostille is, as a rule, not accepted on a laminated original. We obtain a repeat certificate and file that for the apostille instead.
Will the repeat certificate have the same series and number?
No. It is printed on a new form with a different series and number. It has the same legal force as the first certificate, so a child's repeat certificate is also fine for getting a passport at 14.
How do I pay from abroad?
By card via a payment link, charged in hryvnias. You pay in stages: first for obtaining the document, then for the apostille after the photo report. You do not need an account at a Ukrainian bank.
Do you keep to the stated deadlines?
In most cases, yes. But we ask you to bear two things in mind. With duplicate certificates there are sometimes delays if the civil status record contains an error that has to be corrected. Also, we work in a country at war: during air raid alerts, state institutions suspend public reception, which can last several hours a day. We do everything to meet the deadlines and we are grateful for your understanding: you are abroad, and we are handling your case during a war.
What to send to get started
Message us in a messenger and send:
- a photo of the document that has to be obtained again or legalised, if you have it;
- the institution's list, if it gave you one;
- a scan of your passport and RNOKPP;
- the country where you will submit the document.
After reviewing them, we will tell you whether a repeat certificate and an apostille are needed, and name the cost before work begins.
Send your documents in a messenger and find out the cost.
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Page author: attorney Igor Balaban