When will divorce in a smartphone be available in Ukraine and how will the service work?
14 August 21:04
As early as the fall of 2025, Ukrainians will be able to file for divorce online through the Diia mobile application. This was announced on August 14 by Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov during a live broadcast on TikTok.
“It will be possible to get a divorce in Diia in the fall, I think at the end of the year. We are working on such a service because it is also an important service during the war. We will also do this so that people do not have to go and stand in lines,” the minister said.
According to Fedorov, the full-scale war has created additional challenges for citizens’ access to public services. In many regions, the work of registry offices is limited, and personal visits sometimes become impossible due to the security situation. Online divorce is intended to simplify the procedure and reduce the bureaucratic burden.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation emphasizes that this service is especially relevant for internally displaced persons, military personnel, citizens abroad, or those who cannot spend time traveling and waiting in lines.
Online divorce: how the service will work
It is tentatively planned that divorce through Diia will be possible for couples who do not have minor children or property disputes. This will help avoid complicated litigation and reduce the time for paperwork.
The procedure will involve several steps:
- authorization in Diia for spouses using an electronic signature or BankID;
- submission of a joint application for divorce;
- a reflection period of several days during which the application can be withdrawn;
- confirmation of the decision and receipt of an electronic divorce certificate.
Fedorov emphasized that, unlike the marriage service, Diia will try to dissuade applicants from this step in an interactive manner. This will be realized through gamification elements: users will be offered several “joke screens” with reminders of possible consequences and suggestions to “think again.”
The goal of this approach is to give people time to make an informed decision and reduce the number of impulsive divorces.
Divorce through Diia as part of the digital state strategy
The launch of online divorce is the next step in the implementation of the State in a Smartphone project. The Ministry of Digital Transformation continues to digitize services that previously required physical presence.
Previously, Diia made it possible to get married online, obtain extracts from the State Register of Civil Status Acts, register the birth of a child, register a business, change the place of residence, and more.
Experts predict that the launch of the Diia divorce service will reduce the burden on civil registry offices, and save time and resources for both citizens and the state. In addition, the digitalization of this procedure will help avoid corruption risks associated with paper-based processes.
At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Transformation expects that the new service will help increase public confidence in electronic public services and will be another proof that even complex legal procedures can be made simple and accessible.
Read also: All certificates are now available in Diia: birth, marriage, divorce and name change
How to get a divorce in Ukraine in 2025
Divorce at the registry office. If the spouses do not have children together, it is enough to apply to the registry office (at the place of registration of one of the spouses or, by agreement, at the other). To do this, you need:
- a joint application of the spouses;
- passport of each spouse;
- marriage certificate;
- receipt of payment of the state fee.
Consideration of the application takes up to 30 days. If the application is not withdrawn during this time, the marriage will be officially dissolved.
By the way, if one of the spouses is unable to apply in person, this can be done through a power of attorney.
Divorce through the courts. This is the only way when:
- there are minor children;
- one of the spouses does not give consent;
- there is a dispute over property or custody.
The procedure is simple: it is enough to file a lawsuit stating the reasons for the divorce. The term of consideration is from 1 to 6 months, depending on the complexity of the case.
If the husband and wife file an application together, the court makes a decision faster. If one of the spouses does it, a decision may be made even without the presence of the other, but after the established procedure for notifying the time and place of the court hearing.
Online divorce. It is not yet possible to file for divorce through the Diia app, but such a feature is planned for later this fall. Currently, the mobile application of administrative services only allows you to obtain an extract of divorce under the electronic procedure in 10 minutes. The cost of the service is about UAH 73.
Divorce through the Electronic Court. This is a possible way for spouses who are abroad or in an area where the registry office is not available. The application is submitted through an online platform with an electronic signature.
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