As of 1 February, a new procedure for affixing an apostille by the Ministry of Justice has entered into force.

The Procedure for affixing an apostille by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine to official documents intended for use in the territory of other states has been approved.

The relevant Order of the Ministry of Justice dated 20 November 2025 No. 3177/5 entered into force on 1 February 2026.

As of the effective date of the said document, the Order of the Ministry of Justice dated 30 November 2015 No. 2452/5 “On Approval of the Procedure and Forms for Submission of Information on Specimen Signatures and Impressions of Seals and/or Stamps” has ceased to be effective.

The document establishes that the Electronic Register of Apostilles shall be populated with specimen signatures of officials and impressions of seals of competent authorities, specimen signatures of persons who issue or may issue official documents, as well as specimen impressions of seals and/or stamps affixed or that may be affixed to the relevant documents, and information on public key certificates by entering the data provided for by the Procedure for Maintaining the Electronic Register of Apostilles into the said Register by:

1. The Ministry of Justice – with respect to officials of the Ministry of Justice;
2. Territorial bodies of the Ministry of Justice – with respect to officials of civil status registration departments, state registrars of legal entities, individual entrepreneurs and public associations, and notaries;
3. The State Archival Service – with respect to officials of archival institutions and the State Archival Service of Ukraine;
4. Courts – with respect to judges.

The Procedure provides that an apostille shall be affixed using the software tools of the Electronic Register of Apostilles (hereinafter – the Register).

An apostille shall be affixed, or a refusal to affix an apostille shall be issued, within up to three working days, the time limit commencing on the day following the registration in the Register of the application for affixing an apostille.

A fee for affixing an apostille shall be charged in the amounts determined by Order of the Ministry of Justice dated 18 December 2003 No. 161/5 “On the Amount and Procedure for Payment for Apostille Services.”

In the event of refusal to affix an apostille, the fee shall not be refunded.