The Civil Marriage Process in Ukraine

Disclaimer: THIS INFORMATION IS BASED ON THE LATEST GUIDANCE THE EMBASSY HAS RECEIVED FROM UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS. IT IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC UKRAINIAN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO LEGAL COUNSEL OR THE APPROPRIATE UKRAINIAN AUTHORITY.

The Ukrainian civil marriage process can take several weeks to several months. If you are marrying another American, or a third-country national, it is the Embassy’s understanding that Ukrainian authorities require that one of the parties be present in Ukraine - for an unspecified period of several months - before they can register their marriage in Ukraine.

To marry a Ukrainian citizen, a U.S. citizen should follow these step-by-step instructions.

• If you have been married before, please make sure that you have the original or certified copy of divorce decree or death certificate properly authenticated in the U.S. Since Ukraine acceded to the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, the U.S. documents destined for use in Ukraine should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed. Said official must have been designated as competent to issue certifications by "apostille" (usually in the office of the State Secretary of State of his/her counterpart).
  PLEASE NOTE: According to the law, the U.S. Embassy cannot certify any documents issued in the U.S.
• Fill out a Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage ("marriage letter") at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. This form (in English and Ukrainian) contains basic information and is a sworn statement that you are not currently married. It must be signed only in the presence of a Consular Officer and there is a fee of $30, payable in U.S. dollars cash only. No appointment is required for this service. This service takes an average of 15-20 minutes.
• Authenticate the "Letter" at the Legalization Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, located in Kyiv at 2 Velyka Zhytomyrska, tel: 238-1669, any working day of the week. The Ministry accepts documents for legalization between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and returns documents after 4:00 p.m. on the same day. Please keep in mind the difference in working hours between the Ministry and the Embassy when you make your travel plans. The application fee is 8 Hryvnas for each document. The legalization fee is 8.50 Hryvnas (about $1.5) for Ukrainian citizens, 17 Hrivnas (about $3) for foreign citizens and 85 Hrivnas (about $16) for legal entities per document for next-day service. For one-day expediting service one has to pay a double fee. Please note that the Ministry’s fees and hours are subject to change without prior notice.
• Obtain a certified translation of the data page of your passport, any annulment decrees, divorce decrees or death certificates of your former spouse(s) (if you were previously married), and the letter of non-impediment to marriage.
• To arrange your marriage, take all the documents, including your original passport (with a translation), the authenticated original death or divorce decree (if any) (with translation), and the authenticated Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage, with translation to RAGS - loosely translated as the civil registrar’s office in the hometown of your fiance(e)*. The Central RAGS in Kyiv is located at 11 Prospekt Peremogy, tel: 236-0071. The person who deals with marriages to foreigners can be reached at 236-7981, 236-0243 or 236-0147.
• For a sample of the "Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage" click here if you have been married before and click here if you have never been married before.