Certificate (application) on marital status for marriage abroad: how to get and apostille

Getting married outside of Ukraine is a significant step that requires not only a romantic spirit but also careful preparation of legal documents. Regardless of whether you plan to register your marriage in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, or the United States, local civil registry offices (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego, Standesamt, etc.) require official confirmation that the Ukrainian citizen is not already in another registered marriage at the time of registration.

This document is the Declaration of Marital Status (also often referred to as a “certificate of single status” or “certificate of unmarried status”).

How do you properly complete this declaration, where do you have it certified, and how do you give it international legal validity through an apostille? The specialists at Envolt provide a full range of services for the preparation, apostille certification, and translation of documents—details can be found on the page “Certificate of Marital Status.”

Why is the certificate of marital status from the Civil Registry Office no longer issued?

Many citizens habitually look for a “certificate of single status from the Civil Registry Office.” However, it is important to know that Civil Registry Offices in Ukraine no longer issue certificates of marital status.

Under current Ukrainian law, the fact that a person is or is not married is confirmed by a notarized statement. In this statement, the person personally declares under oath that:

• They have never been married; or

• They were previously married, but the marriage was officially dissolved (based on a court decision or a divorce certificate); or

• They are a widower or widow (based on a death certificate of one of the spouses).

Requirements of foreign authorities regarding the declaration of marital status

Foreign civil registry offices take the legality of documents very seriously. A standard application that does not comply with international standards will be rejected.

For a document to be accepted in Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, or other countries, the following conditions must be met:

1. Notarization: The application must be prepared on a special Ukrainian notary form and certified with the notary’s signature and seal.

2. Apostille: The document must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine for apostille certification. The “Apostille” stamp certifies the authenticity of the notary’s signature and gives the application legal force in all countries that are parties to the Hague Convention.

3. Official translation: The application, together with the “Apostille” stamp, must be translated into the official language of the country where the marriage is to be registered. Depending on the requirements of the specific country, this must be a notarized translation or a translation performed by a sworn (court) translator.

4. Limited validity period: Foreign authorities typically set strict validity periods for the declaration of marital status—ranging from 1 to 6 months from the date of notarization.

If you also need proof of previous civil status records to get married abroad or change your last name, you may need to request another duplicate or an extract of your divorce decree.

Challenges of filing the application on your own from abroad
If you are already abroad, filing this application on your own can turn into a complicated process:

• Waiting lines at consulates: Filing an application through a Ukrainian consular office abroad often requires waiting several months for an appointment, and the consular fee and the apostille process through the consulate take significantly longer.

• Errors in wording: German or Spanish authorities have their own specific requirements for the text of the application. For example, in Germany, you are often required to provide specific details about your future spouse.

• Logistics to Kyiv: Submitting an application for an apostille to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine requires your personal presence or a trusted representative in Ukraine.

Turnkey preparation of a marital status application by Enwolt

The Enwolt Law Firm handles all the bureaucratic hassles involved in preparing the documentation required to get married abroad.

We offer:

• Professional drafting of the application: We will draft the text of the application in accordance with all requirements of the civil registry offices in the destination country (Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, etc.);

• Notarization and Apostille: We will arrange for notarization and obtain the Apostille stamp from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine as quickly as possible;

• Notarized Translation: We will provide an accurate translation of the document into the required foreign language;

• International Delivery: We will securely send the completed package of documents via courier service directly to the country where you are located.

Don't put off important events because of red tape. You can place an order or calculate the cost on the “Marital Status Certificate” page.