How to obtain a duplicate birth or marriage certificate: instructions for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

Unfortunately, losing important documents (such as birth or marriage certificates) is not uncommon for Ukrainians. Find out what procedure Ukrainian law provides for obtaining duplicates of documents and how Visit Ukraine specialists can help you with this

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You can obtain a duplicate birth or marriage certificate if the original document has been lost or damaged. The procedure does not require much time or effort. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. In this article, we have compiled basic information on how to obtain duplicate documents, and if you encounter any difficulties at any stage, you can always contact qualified lawyers on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Need help obtaining a duplicate birth or marriage certificate? Contact the specialists at Visit Ukraine.

In what cases do you need to obtain a duplicate birth or marriage certificate?

According to Article 19 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Registration of Civil Status Acts,’ you will need a duplicate document if the original has been damaged or lost in any way, including theft by third parties.

Who can issue a duplicate certificate?

The aforementioned law stipulates that a duplicate certificate is issued on the basis of a record by one of the following three institutions:

– civil registry offices;

– diplomatic missions;

– consular offices of Ukraine.

If you are abroad and have difficulty obtaining a duplicate of important documents, we recommend that you seek qualified legal assistance.

Details on obtaining a duplicate birth certificate

Who can apply for a duplicate certificate?

An application for a duplicate birth certificate may be submitted by:

– persons for whom the record was made;

– parents;

– adoptive parents;

– guardians, custodians;

– representatives of a healthcare facility, educational or other children's institution where the child permanently resides;

– guardianship and custody authorities.

Who can obtain a duplicate certificate?

A duplicate birth certificate can be obtained by:

– the child's parents (or one of them);

– grandmother;

– grandfather;

– adult brother and sister;

– aunt;

– uncle;

– the child's stepmother or stepfather or their representative acting on the basis of a notarised power of attorney or lawyer's certificate;

– the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in person or through a representative.

Important! The list of persons who can obtain a duplicate has been approved by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine – it does not depend on the age or origin of the child.

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Details on obtaining a duplicate marriage certificate

Who is issued a duplicate marriage certificate?

In accordance with current legislation, a duplicate marriage certificate is issued to the persons who entered into the marriage, their lawyer (if there is a contract) or a trusted person (if there is a notarised power of attorney).

What documents are required to obtain a duplicate certificate?

When applying for a duplicate, you must present one of the following documents:

– original passport of a citizen of Ukraine;

– passport document of a foreigner;

– document certifying the identity of a stateless person;

– passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (if you permanently reside abroad).

Where to apply for a duplicate birth or marriage certificate?

You can submit an application for a duplicate to:

– any department of civil registration;

– the Administrative Services Centre;

– through the ‘Dія’ portal;

– a diplomatic mission or consulate of Ukraine (if you are abroad).

Visit Ukraine specialists will help you avoid bureaucratic procedures – follow the link and get advice in a few clicks.

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