Ukraine launches online divorce: how to end a marriage through Diia

Ukrainians can now end a marriage online without visiting a civil registry office (DRACS) in person. A new service has launched in the Diia app for spouses who jointly decide to divorce and have no shared minor children. Filing the application, confirming the decision and completing the main steps of the procedure can now all be done remotely.

On 3 September the Ministry of Digital Transformation announced the launch of the new service. It allows couples to complete the divorce procedure online — from filing a joint application to a video conference with a DRACS officer.

How to divorce through Diia

The procedure starts in the app. One spouse files a divorce application in Diia, after which the other spouse must confirm it from their own smartphone.

Once confirmed, the joint application goes to the civil registry office, and the required information is checked against state registers.

The main condition is that the decision to divorce must be mutual. If one spouse does not confirm the application, the online procedure cannot be used.

The marriage does not end immediately after filing. The law sets a one-month waiting period. Once it ends, the couple attends a video conference with a DRACS officer, so there is no need to visit the office in person.

During this month the couple can change their mind and withdraw the application. This can be done no later than four hours before the scheduled video conference.

Once the procedure is complete, information about the divorce is automatically reflected in Diia. A paper certificate can be ordered on request, with delivery by post within Ukraine.

Who can use the service

Online divorce through Diia is not available to every couple. The main restriction concerns shared minor children.

If the couple has shared minor children, the marriage cannot be dissolved through the app — in that case the procedure still goes through the courts, as before.

To use the service a person must also be an adult, have a verified taxpayer number (RNOKPP), ID card or international passport in Diia, and a marriage record available in the app.

The launch of the new service does not cancel the traditional way of divorcing. Couples who do not want to, or cannot, use Diia may still apply to a DRACS office in person, provided they meet the conditions for an out-of-court divorce.

From marriage to divorce — in a smartphone

The new service effectively digitalises another stage of family life. Ukraine earlier introduced online marriage, allowing couples to marry via video link in Diia, and now the divorce procedure can also be completed remotely.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation implemented the new service together with the Ministry of Justice, the state enterprise National Information Systems, the digital civil registry office, the State Migration Service and Ukrposhta.

What other services are available in Diia

Online divorce has become one more service within Ukraine’s system of digital public services. Through the Diia app and portal, Ukrainians can already handle a considerable range of matters without visiting government offices in person.

Diia already offers online marriage and the eBaby service, sole proprietor (FOP) registration and closure, extracts and certificates from state registers, a number of driver-related services, eRecovery, social and pension services, subsidy applications, services for veterans, and applications to the international Register of Damage.

For entrepreneurs, Diia offers employee-booking services, eGrants, Diia.City, the ability to obtain certain licences and permits, and other digital tools.