Apostille first, translation second. A Pakistani document for Ukraine is attested at source (HEC for degrees), apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PKR 3,000 per personal or educational document), and only then translated into Ukrainian together with the apostille. A translation made before the apostille misses that page, so you pay for a second translation.
Sequence matters as much as the documents themselves. The degree can be real and the police certificate genuine, and the file still stalls when a document was translated into Ukrainian before it was apostilled: the translation has to be extended or redone. This guide sets out the order, the fees and who certifies each step.
- 01Attest at sourceHEC for degrees; DPO for the police certificate
- 02MoFA apostilleIslamabad · PKR 3,000 per document
- 03Certified translationDocument + apostille, into Ukrainian
- 04Submit in UkraineConsulate, university or migration service
Why the apostille comes before the translation
An apostille is a separate certificate that MoFA attaches to the attested original. From that moment the document consists of two parts, and a Ukrainian official reads both. A translator who works before the apostille exists cannot translate it, so the translation covers only half of what you submit. The fix is a second translation of the apostille page, with its own certification, and the time to arrange it. Translated last, the document and its apostille go through one translation and one certification.
Step 1: attestation at source
MoFA apostilles a document once the body responsible for it has confirmed it. For academic degrees and certificates that body is the Higher Education Commission, which runs an online degree attestation system: your application, HEC scrutiny, verification by your university, and an e-Attestation Certificate. The fee is PKR 3,000 per document. It depends on your university answering HEC, so start it first. For the police certificate the issuing officer matters: MoFA apostilles a Police Character Certificate issued by the District Police Officer, or by the Political Agent in tribal areas.
Step 2: the MoFA apostille
Pakistan joined the Hague Apostille Convention, and it has been in force for Pakistan since 9 March 2023; Ukraine is not among the states that objected to Pakistan's accession (HCCH status table). One apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs replaces the older chain of consular legalisation stamps. The MoFA tariff from 8 July 2024 is PKR 3,000 per personal or educational document and PKR 4,500 per legal document.
Step 3: certified Ukrainian translation
Ukrainian authorities work in Ukrainian. The apostilled document, apostille included, is translated in full, and the translation is certified:
- In Ukraine: a notary certifies the accuracy of the translation or the translator's signature (Law of Ukraine “On Notaries”, Art. 79).
- Abroad: Ukrainian consular posts may certify translations (Art. 38); Ukrainian legal aid practice describes translations made abroad as certified by a Ukrainian consul. Ask the Embassy in Islamabad whether it offers this before relying on it.
- For a university application: the official admission portal asks for a certified translation into Ukrainian, or into English where Ukrainian is not available. See the Ukraine study visa guide.
The Ukrainian visa rules set no fixed validity period for the police certificate, and the certificate describes your record on its date, so order and translate it close to your submission date.
Document by document
| Degree, transcript, certificates | HEC attestation (PKR 3,000) → MoFA apostille (PKR 3,000) → certified Ukrainian translation |
|---|---|
| Police Character Certificate | Issued by the DPO through your provincial police → MoFA apostille → translation. Details: police clearance |
| Birth or marriage certificate | Issuing authority → MoFA apostille (PKR 3,000) → translation |
| Legal documents (powers of attorney, deeds) | Attesting body → MoFA apostille (PKR 4,500) → translation |
The police certificate and HEC attestation run through different institutions, so they can start on the same day. How to time them: police certificate and HEC, the two Pakistan-side steps.
What the wrong order costs
- A translation without the apostille page: a second translation and a second certification.
- A degree sent to MoFA before HEC: returned for attestation, and the HEC queue starts then.
- A police certificate issued by an officer MoFA does not accept: a new certificate.
- A translation made too early: the document is outdated by the time you file.
Before paying anyone for “apostille packages”, compare their price with the official fees above. The full fee list for the route is on Ukraine visa fees from Pakistan.
Questions about apostille and translation
Do I apostille or translate first for Ukraine?
Who issues the apostille in Pakistan and how much does it cost?
Who certifies the Ukrainian translation?
Can I get the translation done in Pakistan?
Does the police certificate follow the same order?
How long do apostille and translation take?
Read next
- Apostille & legalisation for UkraineThe MoFA counter process and fee table
- Translation requirementsWhat the certification block must contain
- Police certificate and HECRunning the two slow Pakistan-side steps in parallel
- Ukraine study visa from Pakistan 2026Where the apostilled documents go on the student route
Sources
Know which documents your route needs before you start the apostille queue.
Eligibility assessment, $99: your realistic route into Ukraine, the documents it needs and the order to prepare them, in writing within 3 working days. For a 60-minute session on a complex file, book a legal consultation ($249).
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. Fees change; confirm current MoFA and HEC rates before paying. Acceptance of documents and all visa and residence decisions rest with the Ukrainian authorities.