Ukraine Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From Ukraine for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
A practical guide to the birth, police, and marriage documents Ukrainian applicants need for a U.S. marriage green card, including how wartime conditions and the Diia app change the way you request them.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Ukrainian spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. An apostille is generally not required by USCIS for a filing inside the U.S. Non-English documents need a certified English translation, which you can self-certify.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy plus an English translation.
- Translate it yourself
Any bilingual person can certify the English translation. No licensed translator required.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants a full birth certificate showing both parents' names. If you only have an older short-form certificate, request a current long-form duplicate from DRACS.
How to get it: Request a modern-format duplicate in person at any DRACS (RATsS/ЗАГС) office in Ukraine, or through the Diia app or portal where available. If you are already in the United States, a Ukrainian embassy or consulate can request a duplicate from the civil registry on your behalf.
- Issued by
- DRACS (State Registration of Civil Status Acts), under the Ministry of Justice
- Cost
- State fee approx 670 UAH (about 16 USD); private services for a modern-format duplicate start around 900 UAH (about 22 USD)
- Timing
- From about 2 working days for a duplicate; longer if requested from abroad through a consulate
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: For consular processing (interview abroad), a Ukrainian police certificate is required. For adjustment of status inside the U.S., USCIS does not require a foreign police certificate for the I-485, though it can still help.
How to get it: Request electronically through the Diia app or the MVS portal (vytiah.mvs.gov.ua), or in person at a Center for Administrative Services (TSNAP/ЦНАП). Someone with power of attorney can request it for you if you live abroad.
- Issued by
- Ministry of Internal Affairs / National Police of Ukraine
- Cost
- No government fee for the standard certificate; private or expedited services add a fee
- Timing
- A few days to about 30 days depending on the channel; the Diia electronic version is fastest
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: Only needed if your qualifying marriage took place in Ukraine, or to document a prior marriage. Marriages registered in Crimea or the occupied areas are not legally recognized, so a marriage there will not establish a valid relationship.
How to get it: Obtain the original at the DRACS office where the marriage was registered, or request a duplicate at any DRACS office, through Diia, or via a Ukrainian consulate if you are abroad. If you are not yet married, no marriage certificate is needed and Ukraine does not issue a separate single-status certificate.
- Issued by
- DRACS (State Registration of Civil Status Acts)
- Cost
- State fee approx 670 UAH (about 16 USD) for a duplicate; private services start around 900 UAH (about 22 USD)
- Timing
- Issued same day at registration; duplicates from about 2 working days
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | Ukraine has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since December 22, 2003. Apostilles are issued by the Ministry of Justice (civil registry documents), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education. For documents filed with USCIS inside the U.S., an apostille is generally not required; a certified English translation is what matters. Consular processing or use by other authorities may call for an apostille. |
| How records are kept | Civil records (birth, marriage, divorce, death) are held by DRACS offices under the Ministry of Justice, with many services now available digitally through the Diia app. Wartime conditions and occupation of some regions can slow or complicate access, but records for people from occupied areas can be reissued through offices in government-controlled territory. |
| Typical time to gather | Most duplicates take from about 2 working days to a few weeks; police certificates range from a few days (electronic) to about a month, plus extra time if an apostille is needed |
| Translation | Ukrainian documents need a complete English translation. USCIS accepts a translation by any competent bilingual person with a signed certification of accuracy and competence; consular processing and some offices prefer a professional translator. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Ukraine. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
What officers watch for
Full document reference
Every civil record from Ukraine that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | DRACS (Ministry of Justice) | Approx 670 UAH (about 16 USD) state fee | DRACS office, Diia, or Ukrainian consulate abroad |
| Marriage Certificate | DRACS (Ministry of Justice) | Approx 670 UAH (about 16 USD) state fee | DRACS office where registered, Diia, or consulate |
| Divorce Certificate | DRACS or court | Approx 670 UAH (about 16 USD) for a duplicate; court divorce fee about 1,211 UAH | DRACS office or the court that granted the divorce; duplicates via DRACS or consulate |
| Death Certificate | DRACS (Ministry of Justice) | Approx 670 UAH (about 16 USD) for a duplicate | DRACS office, Diia, or consulate abroad (to document a prior spouse's death) |
| Police Certificate | Ministry of Internal Affairs / National Police | No government fee (standard certificate) | Diia app, MVS portal (vytiah.mvs.gov.ua), or a TSNAP center |
What applicants report
“Applicants consistently report that the Diia app is the fastest way to pull a Ukrainian police certificate, but warn that the electronic version cannot be apostilled and that USCIS and consular officers want every prior surname listed on it. Many also stress ordering a current long-form birth certificate rather than relying on an old Soviet-era or short-form copy.”
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- U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Ukraine
- Embassy of Ukraine (USA): Requesting vital records documents
- Ministry of Internal Affairs: Certificate of no criminal record
- U.S. Embassy in Ukraine: Apostilles and Legalization of Documents
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status (Ukraine in force 22 Dec 2003)
Verified August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an apostille on my Ukrainian documents for a U.S. marriage green card?
For documents filed with USCIS inside the United States, an apostille is generally not required; USCIS mainly needs the certificate plus a certified English translation. If your case goes through consular processing, or another authority requests it, get the apostille from the Ministry of Justice. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can I get my Ukrainian birth or marriage certificate while living in the United States?
Yes. A Ukrainian embassy or consulate in the U.S. can request a duplicate from the DRACS civil registry on your behalf, or a relative or representative in Ukraine can obtain it for you, sometimes through the Diia app.
Is the Diia electronic police certificate acceptable?
The Diia electronic criminal record certificate is treated as an original and is the fastest option. However, it cannot be apostilled, so if you need an apostille request the paper version from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Make sure it lists every name you have ever used.
I am from Crimea or an occupied region. Will my documents work?
Records issued by occupation authorities are not recognized. Ukrainian civil registry offices in government-controlled territory can reissue birth, marriage, and other records for people from those areas so you have valid documents to submit.
Do my Ukrainian documents need to be translated into English?
Yes. Every Ukrainian-language document needs a complete English translation. USCIS accepts a translation by any competent bilingual person who signs a certification of accuracy and competence; for consular processing a professional translator is safer.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Ukrainian applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Ukraine is a Hague Apostille Convention member, but USCIS generally does not require an apostille for a marriage green card filed inside the U.S.
- ✓
You do not need a licensed translator: any competent bilingual person can translate a document and self-certify it for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies directly from the official issuer and keep the originals; documents from Ukraine draw closer scrutiny.
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