How foreigners can check real estate in Ukraine remotely?

Buying real estate in Ukraine can be risky for foreigners without verification. Learn how to remotely check the property and owner through registries and lawyers to safely invest in Ukrainian real estate

Legal support in real estate matters for foreigners

GET

Ukraine remains an attractive country for foreign investors in the real estate sector: affordable prices, the opportunity to earn rental income, and the prospect of value growth after the end of the war. At the same time, the main question for buyers from abroad is how to verify the property and the owner without being physically present in Ukraine. To avoid fraud and financial losses, foreigners need to be aware of the main risks and effective remote verification tools. We discuss them in this article.

Main risks for foreigners when buying real estate

Buying real estate in Ukraine can be associated with a number of risks:

● the presence of seizures or mortgages — restrictions may be imposed on the property, making it impossible to sell;

● double sale of an apartment — a common fraudulent scheme where one property is sold to several buyers;

● unauthorized remodeling — the absence of legal changes in the layout may be grounds for refusal of registration;

● utility debts — the new owner may face the need to pay them off;

● forged documents — especially dangerous for foreigners who do not have access to verification by state authorities.

Without careful verification of such nuances, the buyer may lose both money and property rights.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

How to check real estate in Ukraine remotely?

If a foreigner cannot come in person, they need to issue a power of attorney to a lawyer in Ukraine in their country. It must be certified by an apostille or the Ukrainian consulate. This allows the lawyer to:

● obtain extracts from registers;

● interact with a notary;

● sign preliminary documents on behalf of the client.

It is practically impossible to carry out such a check without the help of a professional. Access to some of the registers is restricted, documents can be falsified, and the risks for a foreigner are significant.

With a power of attorney, a lawyer will be able to carry out a full check of the property:

1. Checking the owner and the property through state registers

Ukraine has open electronic registries that allow key information to be established. These are:

● State Register of Real Rights to Real Estate — contains information about ownership, seizures, and mortgages;

● Unified Register of Debtors — whether the owner is on the list of debtors;

● Court register — whether there are any open court cases regarding the apartment or house;

● Register of developers and permits — relevant for new buildings.

2. Verification of title documents

The owner must provide:

● Purchase agreement, certificate of ownership, or extract from the register;

● BTI technical passport;

● certificate of no debts for utilities.

A real estate lawyer will help verify their authenticity and compliance with the data in state registers.

After verification, the lawyer prepares a written conclusion (legal report) for the foreigner, indicating:

● who is the legal owner of the property;

● whether there are any seizures, mortgages, or court cases;

● whether the technical passport corresponds to the actual layout;

● whether there are other risks associated with the transaction.

All documents are sent to the client by email or through secure online services.

Why is it important to hire a real estate lawyer?

A lawyer is a key figure in the process of purchasing real estate, providing:

● a complete legal review of the property;

● interaction with the notary and the bank;

● support in concluding the purchase and sale agreement;

● protection of the client's financial interests.

As a result, foreigners can be confident in the security of the transaction, even when they are thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine.

Contact Visit Ukraine lawyers for consultation or full support and get protection from fraud and confidence that you are buying legal and safe real estate.

We remind you! Foreigners have the opportunity to sell real estate in Ukraine, but the procedure for buying, selling, and subsequently transferring ownership has some nuances that need to be taken into account. Read all about the procedure for selling housing by a person who does not have Ukrainian citizenship in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.