From today, Ukrainians abroad can access a new pilot digital notary system — an automated service for handling notarial procedures — launched by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 40 diplomatic missions around the world. Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced the news in a Facebook post.
The digital notary is part of the ministry’s broader reform of consular services. According to Sybiha, the main goal is to make state services simpler, faster, and more accessible, ensuring that Ukrainians abroad feel cared for and supported by their country.
Starting now, most notarial steps — from submitting documents to agreeing on the wording of a power of attorney — can be done online through the “e-Consul” system. Instead of visiting an embassy or consulate multiple times, waiting in line, and filing paper forms by hand, citizens can now complete applications at a convenient time, receive clear instructions, and only make a single visit to sign and collect the ready document.
“We want people abroad to save time and money. The digital notary will ease the workload for our consuls and make services more accessible,” Sybiha noted.
The new system is now available at Ukrainian embassies and consulates in countries including Australia, India, Japan, China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and more than 30 other states across five continents. After evaluating the pilot phase, the Foreign Ministry plans to expand the system to all of Ukraine’s overseas missions.
Detailed instructions and answers to frequently asked questions are already available on embassy websites and the Consular Service Department’s online platforms. The Foreign Ministry is also collecting feedback to help improve the system.
According to Sybiha, protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainians abroad remains a top priority for the Foreign Ministry. “We aim to provide a service worthy of a modern, technological, and strong European state,” the deputy minister said.