Planning to get married in Ukraine? Start by checking which documents you need, where to submit your application, how long registration takes and whether you can marry remotely. Ukrainian law provides for marriage registration through civil registration offices (known in Ukraine as DRATS), while eligible Ukrainian citizens can use the Online Marriage service in the Diia app.
This guide explains the main steps and legal considerations to check before choosing a ceremony date. Information reviewed as of 15 October 2026.
At a glance
- The legal marriage age in Ukraine is 18. A court may grant a person aged 16 or 17 the right to marry if doing so serves their interests.
- Under the standard procedure, the couple applies to a civil registration office of their choice. In certain circumstances, a duly authorised representative may submit a notarised application.
- Eligible adult Ukrainian citizens may marry in a video ceremony using the Diia app.
- As a general rule, the marriage is registered one month after the application is filed. Ukrainian law provides exceptions allowing an earlier date.
Who can get married in Ukraine?
Under Articles 22 and 23 of the Family Code of Ukraine, the marriage age is 18 for both women and men. A person who has reached 16 may ask a court to grant them the right to marry. The court considers whether the marriage is in that person’s interests.
Consent to marriage must be freely given. There are also legal impediments, including where either prospective spouse is already in a registered marriage. Before applying, both parties should check that nothing legally prevents their marriage.
Documents required to register a marriage
For a standard marriage registration, the couple must submit an application and present identity documents. If either person was previously married, they must provide evidence that the earlier marriage ended or was declared invalid.
If a person aged 16 or 17 has been granted the right to marry, the relevant court decision is required. Additional identity, translation and document-formality requirements may apply to foreign nationals and documents issued abroad. Ask the chosen civil registration office to confirm the precise list for your circumstances.
Before visiting, check how that office currently accepts applications and which fees apply. The statutory state duty should be distinguished from optional paid services, such as an enhanced ceremonial service.
How to apply for marriage registration
Couples may choose any civil registration office in Ukraine, irrespective of their registered place of residence. The standard process is:
- Choose a civil registration office and check available dates and submission arrangements.
- Prepare your passports and any additional documents relevant to your circumstances.
- Submit the application, agree on the registration date and check whether you wish to purchase any optional services.
Can someone apply on your behalf?
Yes, but only where there are valid reasons preventing an applicant from submitting the application in person. Under Article 28(3) of the Family Code, a representative may submit a notarised application if the representative’s authority has also been notarised.
Submitting an application is different from entering into a marriage. Marriage registration through a representative is not permitted. Both parties must attend a conventional ceremony in person or, for Diia Online Marriage, participate personally in the video ceremony.
How to register a marriage online using Diia
Online Marriage (Shliub Online) is a Ukrainian government service that enables eligible couples to apply and complete the marriage registration in a video ceremony without visiting a civil registration office. Each person takes part personally and confirms their consent using Diia.Signature.
Who is eligible for Online Marriage?
The digital service is intended for adult Ukrainian citizens who have the required identification documents, a Ukrainian taxpayer registration number (RNOKPP) and the ability to complete electronic identification. The Diia app and Diia.Signature are needed to complete the process. Eligibility also depends on whether the necessary information can be verified against Ukrainian state registers.
If a previous marriage was dissolved by a court and the records have not yet been updated, or if registry data are inaccurate, check whether your circumstances are supported by the app or seek clarification from a civil registration office.
Step by step: getting married through Diia
- Open the Diia app and navigate to Services → Family → Get Married (verify the current English menu labels in the app).
- Start the application and send your partner an invitation link.
- Select an available date and time for the video ceremony, complete the application and verify your details.
- Sign the application with Diia.Signature and pay the fee displayed by the service.
- Allow the application to be verified. At the scheduled time, join the video ceremony, confirm your free consent and sign the civil-status record using the method offered by the service.
After registration, information about the marriage appears in the app. A paper marriage certificate may be delivered under the service’s conditions. If either partner is abroad, check service accessibility and certificate delivery options for the relevant country in advance.
Online Marriage vs submitting an application on the Diia portal
These are separate procedures. Online Marriage in the app includes the actual video ceremony. The Marriage Application service on the Diia web portal concerns submitting documents for a later ceremony at a civil registration office. As of 15 October 2026, the portal stated that this application submission service was temporarily unavailable. Check the current status directly on the official portal before planning your date.
How long does marriage registration take?
As a general rule under Article 32 of the Family Code, marriage registration takes place after one month has elapsed from the application date. For valid reasons, the head of the civil registration office may allow an earlier registration.
If the bride is pregnant, has given birth, or either partner faces an immediate threat to life, the marriage may be registered on the day of application or another chosen day within one month. The circumstances relied on must be supported by appropriate documentation.
If the marriage is not registered on the agreed date, the application ceases to be valid three months after submission. Digital services may have their own booking and rescheduling procedures, so check the applicable terms.
What if the partners are in different cities or countries?
Where both partners qualify for Online Marriage, the physical distance between them does not in itself require them to travel to the same registration office: each personally joins the video ceremony. Check identity documents, access to Diia.Signature, internet connectivity and arrangements for obtaining a paper certificate.
Why must future spouses disclose information about their health?
Article 30 of the Family Code requires prospective spouses to inform each other about their health. Medical examination results are confidential and may be disclosed only to the prospective spouses.
Concealing health information that could cause, or has caused, harm to the physical or mental health of the other spouse or their descendants may provide grounds for declaring the marriage invalid. The legal consequences depend on the circumstances, and invalidity is determined under the applicable legal procedure.
What happens if a marriage is declared invalid?
As a general rule, an invalid marriage does not create the rights and obligations of spouses. However, Ukrainian law protects a person who did not know and could not have known about the impediment to marriage: Article 46 of the Family Code preserves certain property and other rights for that person. The invalidity of the marriage does not affect the rights and obligations of parents or of a child born within that marriage.
Which surname may you use after marriage?
The spouses may retain their premarital surnames, adopt either person’s surname as a shared surname, or choose a double surname within the limits set by law. Special rules apply if one person’s surname is already double.
Conclusion
Before registering a marriage, confirm the documents required, any legal impediments, the available application procedure and the applicable timeframe. Online Marriage may be particularly convenient for eligible Ukrainian couples living apart. Prior marriages, foreign documents, requests for an earlier ceremony and questions about legal consequences warrant an advance review of the requirements.
If you need advice on marriage registration, supporting documents or your rights under Ukrainian family law, contact the Smartsolutions legal team. Learn more about our Family Lawyer service.
FAQ
Can a marriage be registered on the day the application is filed?
Yes, in the situations described in Article 32 of the Family Code, including pregnancy, the birth of a child or an immediate threat to either partner’s life. Otherwise, the usual one-month period applies, with possible shortening for valid reasons.
Can you get married through Diia without visiting a registration office?
Yes. Eligible applicants can register their marriage during a video ceremony through Online Marriage in the Diia app. Both must meet the service conditions, participate personally and use Diia.Signature.
Can a couple marry if they are in different countries?
A remote ceremony may be possible if both individuals qualify for Online Marriage and can participate technically. Check separately whether a paper marriage certificate can be delivered to the relevant country.
Can a relative or lawyer marry on the couple's behalf?
No. A representative may submit a notarised application where valid reasons prevent personal submission and their authority is duly notarised. The marriage itself cannot be registered by proxy.
What if one partner was previously married?
Evidence that the previous marriage ended or was declared invalid is required. For Diia, also check that your circumstances are supported and the state registers show accurate information.
What if the couple misses the scheduled registration date?
An application submitted to a civil registration office expires three months after submission if the marriage has not been registered. Check the separate rescheduling rules for Online Marriage.
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