UKRAINE · CERTIFIED TRANSLATION
Certified Translation of Ukraine Documents for USCIS
Ukrainian civil records sit in a distinctive documentary landscape: modern certificates are issued by local ДРАЦС (DRATS/RATSU) State Registration of Civil Status Acts offices under the Ministry of Justice, while millions of pre-1991 records survive on Soviet-era ЗАГС (ZAGS) forms printed and hand-filled in Russian. Because Ukraine joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2003, documents are certified for USCIS with an apostille rather than U.S. embassy legalization — though which ministry affixes it depends on the document type. Every USCIS submission still needs a complete English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), and Ukrainian throws specific curveballs: patronymics (по батькові), surname changes on marriage, registrar handwriting, and Cyrillic transliteration that must match the applicant's passport. Our native Ukrainian- and Russian-reading specialists translate each document exactly as issued, so nothing on the form triggers an avoidable Request for Evidence.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
DOCUMENTS FROM UKRAINE
Pick Your Document
Ukrainian Birth Certificate →
Ukrainian Marriage Certificate →
Ukrainian Divorce Decree →
Ukrainian Death Certificate →
Ukrainian Diploma →
Ukrainian Academic Transcript →
Ukrainian Police Record →
Ukrainian Single Status Certificate →
GOOD TO KNOW
Issuing Authority & Authentication
Civil records in Ukraine are issued by the Відділ державної реєстрації актів цивільного стану — ДРАЦС (State Registration of Civil Status Acts office, "DRATS/RATSU"), operating under the Ministry of Justice · official language(s): Ukrainian. Yes — Ukraine has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 2003, so documents for USCIS are authenticated with a single apostille rather than U.S. embassy or consular legalization. The competent authority varies by type: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostilles civil-status and police records (after regional Ministry of Justice authentication), the Ministry of Justice handles court and notarial documents, and the Ministry of Education and Science handles diplomas and transcripts.
Every document above is translated by a native specialist, reviewed by a second linguist, and delivered with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that USCIS accepts under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) — or we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Ukrainian birth certificate have to be apostilled before you translate it?
No. USCIS itself does not require an apostille — it requires a complete, certified English translation. The apostille authenticates the document for the wider immigration or consular process and is separate from the translation. If you do apostille the document, we translate the apostille stamp as well so the whole page is in English.
My certificate is a Soviet-era document written in Russian, not Ukrainian. Can you still translate it?
Yes. Many pre-1991 Ukrainian records were printed and hand-filled in Russian on ЗАГС (ZAGS) forms, and some regions used bilingual forms. Our specialists read both Ukrainian and Russian and translate the document in the language actually printed, faithfully reproducing seals, stamps and registrar handwriting.
How will my name be spelled in the translation?
We transliterate your name to match your Ukrainian passport exactly, including your patronymic (по батькові). Consistent spelling across every document prevents USCIS from questioning whether the records all belong to the same person.
I can't retrieve my original certificate from Ukraine right now. What are my options?
Ukrainians abroad can request duplicates and register extracts through consulates or online systems, and USCIS accepts a certified translation of a duplicate or a ДРАЦС register extract. Send us the exact official copy you obtain — by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com — and we translate that document as issued.
How much does a Ukrainian document translation cost and how fast is it?
Our rate is $0.05 per word, so a typical one-page birth, marriage or death certificate runs about $15-25, delivered in 24-48 hours with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). You can request a free 250-word sample first, and under our USCIS Rejection Pledge, if a translation is ever rejected for accuracy we fix it free and cover the resubmission fee.