Registering a child born abroad and Ukrainian citizenship in 2026: documents and steps

This guide concerns a child born abroad with at least one parent who is a citizen of Ukraine. Law of Ukraine No. 4502-IX, in force from 16 January 2026, abolished the separate procedure for registering the acquisition of citizenship for children born after this date to two Ukrainian citizens.

Whether citizenship needs to be arranged separately

• The child was born after 16.01.2026, and both parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of birth: the child acquires citizenship automatically. An application for issuance of a certificate confirming registration of the person as a citizen of Ukraine by birth is not required. For the first international passport, one of the parents submits the original documents identifying the person and confirming the Ukrainian citizenship of both parents (usually the Ukrainian citizen passports of both parents).
• The child was born before 16.01.2026, or only one parent is a citizen of Ukraine: the procedure for registering the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by birth remains in place. Documents are submitted in person by prior appointment at the consulate, selecting the "Registration of acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by birth" service in the system. Processing takes about 1 month from the date the consulate receives the complete package.

Step 1. Registering the birth at the consulate

The birth is registered by a diplomatic mission or consular establishment of Ukraine. The documents should be submitted without delay, but no later than 1 month from the date of birth. If the parents cannot apply in person, the registration may be carried out by their relatives. Documents:

• a document from a medical institution confirming the fact of the child's birth (or an already issued foreign birth certificate);
• passports or other documents identifying the parents;
• a document confirming the child's descent from the father — a marriage certificate, the mother's declaration, or acknowledgement of paternity.

Birth registration and issuance of the certificate are free of consular fees and state duty (Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On State Duty" No. 7-93 of 21.01.1993). The legal basis of the procedure: the Law "On State Registration of Civil Status Acts" (2398-17), the Family Code of Ukraine (2947-14).

Step 2. Foreign birth certificate: apostille and translation

If the birth has already been registered with the authorities of the country of residence and a local certificate has been issued, then to use it in Ukraine you need to:

1. certify the foreign certificate with an apostille from the competent authority of the issuing country (for Hague Convention countries) or undergo consular legalisation;
2. obtain a notarised translation into Ukrainian (the translation is done by a translator, and the notary certifies their signature; there is no institution of a "sworn translator" in Ukraine).

Foreign birth certificates are not entered automatically into the State Register of Civil Status Acts, so such a document will not appear automatically in "Diia".

Step 3. The child's first international passport

After registering the birth (and for children born before 16.01.2026 — after registering the acquisition of citizenship), one of the parents submits the documents for the child's first international passport or for a certificate of identity for returning to Ukraine. Passports for children under 14 are issued upon the application of the legal representative.

Military registration document for the father

Men aged 18–60 need a printed up-to-date military registration document from the Reserve+ app, generated no earlier than 3 days before applying to the consular establishment.

How much it costs and where to apply

• Birth registration and the certificate — free of charge.
• Applications — at a consulate/embassy of Ukraine by prior appointment; the list of establishments and appointments are on the websites of the foreign diplomatic missions of the MFA of Ukraine.
• For the passport documents you will need a standard-compliant photo of the child — Anfas.Pro prepares an image meeting ICAO/biometric requirements for €4.99.