Marriage Registered in Sweden: Documents for Ukraine

Marriage Registration in Sweden: What Ukrainians Need to Know

Sweden, known for its progressiveness and openness, is a popular destination for marriage, especially for couples where one or both partners are Ukrainian citizens. The process of registering a marriage in Sweden might seem complicated, but with the right approach and understanding of the necessary documents, it becomes quite achievable. This article will help you navigate all the intricacies so that your marriage, registered in Sweden, is officially recognized in Ukraine as well.

First and foremost, it's important to understand that to get married in Sweden, Ukrainian citizens typically need a set of documents confirming their legal capacity and the absence of impediments to marriage. This includes identity documents and certificates of marital status.

Required Documents for Marriage Registration in Sweden

To get married in Sweden, you will need the following documents:

• Ukrainian Passport for Travel Abroad (International Passport): A valid passport is mandatory for personal identification.
• Birth Certificate: may be required additionally in certain cases if requested by the Swedish authorities to confirm personal or family information.
• Certificate of Marital Status: This document confirms that you are not currently married. In Ukraine, such a certificate can be obtained from a State Registry of Civil Acts office or through the Diia app.
• Residence Permit (if you reside in Sweden): If you are a resident of Sweden, you may need proof of your legal status of stay.

All documents issued by Ukrainian authorities must be apostilled. An apostille is a special stamp that authenticates a document for use abroad. The apostille procedure is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

Document Legalization for Ukraine: Translation and Notarization

After getting married in Sweden, the marriage document must be properly prepared for use in Ukraine. Since both Ukraine and Sweden are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, the Swedish marriage document must be apostilled for use in Ukraine.

Apostille on the marriage document: An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted, and the authenticity of the seal or stamp. In Sweden, apostilles for public documents are issued by a Notarius Publicus. Once the apostille has been affixed, the document is ready to be prepared for submission in Ukraine.

Translation of the document: The apostilled marriage document issued in Swedish must be translated into Ukrainian. For submission to Ukrainian authorities, the translation must be prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements.

Notarization of the translation: The translation must be notarized in Ukraine. Depending on how the translation is prepared, the notary certifies either the translation itself or the authenticity of the translator’s signature. The document and its notarized translation can then be submitted to the relevant Ukrainian authority.

Recognition of Swedish Marriage in Ukraine

A marriage concluded in Sweden in accordance with Swedish law is recognized as valid in Ukraine, provided that the requirements of Ukrainian law regarding the grounds for invalidity of marriage are met. This matter is regulated by Article 58 of the Law of Ukraine “On Private International Law.”

A marriage concluded in Sweden does not need to be registered again with a Ukrainian Civil Status Registration Office. To confirm the marriage in Ukraine, the Swedish marriage document is used after being duly apostilled and translated into Ukrainian with a notarized translation.

If the Swedish marriage document is submitted to a Ukrainian government authority, it must be accompanied by:

• the apostilled marriage document issued in Sweden;
• a Ukrainian translation of the document;
• a notarized translation.

The specific list of documents depends on the particular legal purpose for which the marriage document is being used. No separate registration procedure or remarriage in Ukraine is required after a marriage has been legally concluded in Sweden.

Consular Legalization: When is it Needed?

In cases where the destination country is not a party to the Hague Convention, the consular legalization procedure is applied. However, since both Sweden and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Convention, an apostille is sufficient for documents used between these countries.

Consular legalization is a more complex and lengthy procedure that involves sequential certification of the document by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the consulate of the respective state. It is required for documents to be used in countries that have not joined the Hague Convention.

Conclusion

Getting married in Sweden is a wonderful start to a new life for many couples. To ensure your marriage is officially recognized in Ukraine, it is important to take care of the proper processing and legalization of all necessary documents in advance. An apostille on the Swedish marriage certificate, its translation into Ukrainian, and notarization of the translation are key steps that will ensure the legal validity of your marriage in Ukraine. Consult with professionals to avoid mistakes and speed up the process.