Translating Ukrainian Cadastral Documents and Property Registry Extracts

You’re living in Berlin, trying to get a mortgage - and the bank asks you to prove you own a land plot in Ukraine. Or you’re selling your Kyiv apartment from abroad and the notary demands a property registry extract - translated and apostilled. So here you are, staring at an 11-page PDF full of 19-digit cadastral numbers, “intended purpose designations” and “normative monetary valuations” - with zero clue how any of this translates into German. Let’s break it down: what documents exist, how to get them (even from abroad), and what each country needs for translation.

What Cadastral Documents Exist in Ukraine¶

Ukraine has two separate property registry systems, and each produces its own documents. Mixing them up is a classic mistake that delays the process by weeks.

Extract from the State Land Cadastre (DZK)¶

This document relates to land plots. It’s issued by Derzhheokadastr (the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre). The DZK extract is 11 pages following the format of Appendix 47 to Cabinet Resolution No. 1051 dated 17.10.2012.

What’s in it:

• Cadastral number - a unique 19-digit code in the format KKKKKKKKK:NN:NNN:NNNN (e.g., 3222486801:01:003:0145)
• Location of the plot (address)
• Area in hectares or square meters
• Intended purpose (construction, agricultural, recreational, etc.)
• Form of ownership (private, communal, state)
• Encumbrances - easements, pledges, usage restrictions
• Normative monetary valuation (if previously ordered)
• Owner data and the grounds for acquiring the right

Important: the extract is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If you got it in January and submit it in April - you’ll need to order a new one.

Extract from the State Register of Property Rights to Real Estate¶

This register is administered by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. Unlike the land cadastre, it contains information about rights to any real estate - apartments, houses, commercial premises - not just land plots.

The extract contains:

• Object details - address, area, type (apartment, house, etc.)
• Owner details - full name, identification code
• Grounds for acquiring the right - purchase agreement, gift, inheritance, etc.
• Date and number of registration of the right
• Encumbrances - mortgage, seizure, alienation prohibition

These are two different documents from two different registries. For the full picture, you often need both - for example, if you’re selling a house with a land plot.

Technical Passport (BTI)¶

Another document that’s often confused with cadastral ones. The technical passport is issued by the Bureau of Technical Inventory and contains graphic and textual data about the property: area, number of floors, wall materials, utilities, geographic location. Since August 1, 2021, all technical passports are registered in a unified construction registry.

It’s usually required when selling real estate, taking out a mortgage, or during property division in court.

How to Get Extracts Online (Even From Abroad)¶

Here’s the good news: most documents can be ordered from home - even if you’re in Munich or Madrid.

Property Rights Registry Extract - via Diia¶

As reported by the Ministry of Justice, an extract from the State Register of Property Rights can be obtained through the Diia portal:

1. Log in at diia.gov.ua using your electronic signature (KEP)
2. Select the service “Providing information from the State Register of Property Rights to Real Estate”
3. Fill in the search form (address, cadastral number, or owner data)
4. Pay the administrative fee
5. The result appears in “Ordered Documents” - often within seconds

Note: the extract arrives as a PDF with an electronic signature. It’s a fully valid official document.

Land Cadastre Extract - via the Electronic Services Portal¶

You can order it through the e.land.gov.ua portal or on the Public Cadastral Map. You’ll need the cadastral number of the land plot. According to the my.gov.ua portal, the standard processing time is up to 10 business days (per Schmidt & Schmidt statistics, 80% are issued within a week).

What to Do If Your Electronic Signature Doesn’t Work Abroad¶

Not everyone has a KEP that works outside Ukraine. In that case:

• Get a power of attorney for a relative or lawyer in Ukraine (through the Ukrainian consulate abroad)
• The authorized person orders the extract through CNAP or online
• Cost through a lawyer or intermediary: 800-900 UAH for the service + admin fee

When You Need Translated Cadastral Documents¶

There are several typical situations where you can’t do without a translated registry or cadastre extract:

Selling property in Ukraine from abroad. If you live in Germany and are selling an apartment in Kyiv - the buyer or notary may require a translation of the title documents.

Proving assets for a bank. Taking out a mortgage in Spain? The bank wants to see all your assets, including real estate in Ukraine. A property rights registry extract - translated and apostilled.

Property division during divorce. If spouses are dividing assets in a French or German court - the court requires documentation of all property, including Ukrainian. More details in the article on divorce after marriage in Ukraine.

Inheritance. If the deceased had property in Ukraine and the heir lives abroad - a translation is needed for the court or notary in the country of residence. See the article on inheritance and Nachlassgericht.

Getting a residence permit or citizenship. Some countries (for example, Portugal with its Golden Visa) require proof of financial standing, including real estate.

Opening a business account abroad. As part of AML/KYC compliance, the bank may request documents about asset sources.

Translation Requirements by Country¶

Each country has its own rules - and the same cadastre extract will need to be translated differently depending on where you’re submitting it.

Germany: Only beglaubigte Übersetzung¶

Germany only recognizes beglaubigte Übersetzung - a translation by a sworn translator who has taken an oath in a German court. You can find translators in the justiz-dolmetscher.de database.

Rates are regulated by the JVEG Act (§11). Since June 1, 2025, new rates apply, as reported by UEPO.de:

• EUR 1.95 per line (55 characters) for editable text
• EUR 2.15 per line for non-editable text (scans, PDFs)
• EUR 2.30 per line for difficult texts

Cadastral documents fall into the “difficult” category due to legal and technical terminology. An 11-page DZK extract at 30 lines per page will cost roughly EUR 760 for translation.

Additionally, for submission to the Grundbuchamt (land registry) or a bank, you’ll need an apostille on the original document. The apostille for property registry documents is issued by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

France: Traduction Assermentée¶

France requires a traduction assermentée - a translation by a translator registered with the Court of Appeals (Cour d’appel).

As Visit Ukraine states:

All documents presented to French administration, notaries, and courts must be in French or translated by a Sworn Translator.

Prices: EUR 200-800 per document, depending on volume. An 11-page cadastral extract with technical terminology - closer to the upper end.

Spain: Traducción Jurada¶

You’ll need a traducción jurada from a translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). The problem: there are only a few sworn translators from Ukrainian registered in Spain. So the translation may cost more and take longer.

Prices: EUR 30-60 per page. Minimum document price: EUR 50-60 + VAT.

Italy: Asseverazione¶

In Italy, translating cadastral documents requires asseverazione - the translator swears in court (Tribunale) that the translation is accurate and complete.

An important Italy-specific nuance: you may need a double apostille - on both the original document and the sworn translation. As Studio Silva notes, cadastral documents belong to the “documenti catastali” category and require special attention to alignment between the Italian Catasto system and the Ukrainian cadastre system.

Prices: EUR 200-350+ per document + VAT.

Portugal: Certified Translation¶

Requirements are less strict - you need a certified translation verified by a notary or lawyer, per the IRN procedures. Prices: from EUR 100 per document.

Comparison Table: Translating Cadastral Documents¶

Parameter	Germany	France	Spain	Italy	Portugal
Translation type	Beglaubigte Übersetzung	Traduction assermentée	Traducción jurada	Asseverazione	Certified
Price for extract (11 pp.)	EUR 500-760	EUR 400-800	EUR 330-660	EUR 200-350+	EUR 100-300
Apostille required	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (double)	Yes
Timeline	5-10 days	5-14 days	7-14 days	7-14 days	3-7 days
Where to find a translator	justiz-dolmetscher.de	Cour d’appel list	MAEC registry	Tribunale	Notary or lawyer

Terminology Traps When Translating Cadastral Documents¶

Translating cadastral documents isn’t just “looking up words in a dictionary.” Ukrainian and, say, German legal terminology are based on fundamentally different legal systems. Here are the most common issues.

Intended Purpose of a Land Plot¶

In Ukraine, every plot has a “tsilyove pryznachennya” (intended purpose) - construction, agricultural, recreational. Germany uses the concept Zweckbestimmung, but the categories are completely different. For example, Ukraine’s “land for personal peasant farming” has no direct equivalent in the German Flächennutzungsplan. The translator needs to add an explanation or find the closest equivalent - and that requires knowledge of both legal systems.

Cadastral Number vs. Flurstücksnummer¶

The Ukrainian cadastral number (a 19-digit code like 3222486801:01:003:0145) is an entirely different system from the German Flurstücksnummer. Simply translating “cadastral number” as “Katasterkennzeichen” isn’t enough - you need to explain the format and what each part means.

Encumbrances¶

“Obtiazhennya” (encumbrances) is an umbrella term covering mortgages, easements, seizures, and alienation prohibitions. In the German legal system, each type has its own specific term (Hypothek, Dienstbarkeit, Pfändung, Veräußerungsverbot) and is described differently. If the translator just writes “Belastungen” - the bank or court won’t understand what specifically is meant.

Normative Monetary Valuation¶

This is a purely Ukrainian institution (NMV) with no direct equivalent in any EU country. Translators often render it as “normative monetary valuation” (English) or “Normative Geldbewertung” (German), but without explaining what it’s used for (calculating land tax), the figure looks meaningless.

Title-Establishing Documents¶

Another term without a direct equivalent. “Pravovstanovlyuyuchi dokumenty” literally translates to “title-establishing documents” (English) or “Eigentumsnachweisdokumente” (German) - but these calques can confuse a lawyer in the destination country. A good translator will add an explanation: these are documents on the basis of which ownership was acquired (purchase agreement, inheritance certificate, etc.).

As Visit Ukraine states:

Translations should better be made in the state of destination.

This advice is especially relevant for cadastral documents: a translator in Germany knows how a German bank or Grundbuchamt will perceive a given term, while a translator in Ukraine often doesn’t.

Translation Prices in Ukraine and Abroad¶

Translation in Ukraine¶

According to Legalab bureau (Kyiv), prices per page (1,800 characters):

Language pair	Standard	Legal/complex
Ukrainian - English	250 UAH	280 UAH
Ukrainian - German	400 UAH	450+ UAH
Ukrainian - French	250 UAH	260 UAH
Ukrainian - Spanish	200 UAH	260 UAH
Ukrainian - Italian	250 UAH	260 UAH

Additional costs: - Notarial certification of translation: 250-420 UAH - Ordering a registry extract through the bureau: 800-900 UAH

So translating an 11-page cadastre extract into German with notarial certification will cost roughly 5,000-5,500 UAH (EUR 120-130). But remember: a notarial translation from Ukraine is NOT the same as beglaubigte Übersetzung in Germany. These are different things, and German institutions require specifically a sworn translation made in Germany.

As Visit Ukraine states:

The translation is not checked for errors, but the signature of the specialist is confirmed.

The Ukrainian notary doesn’t check translation quality - they only confirm the translator’s signature. That’s a fundamental difference from sworn translation in Germany, where the translator bears personal legal responsibility for every word.

Translation in Germany¶

Per Ukraineberatung.de: - General text: from EUR 1.25 per line (55 characters), minimum EUR 30 - JVEG rates (from June 1, 2025): EUR 1.95-2.30 per line - Standard page (30 lines): EUR 58.50-69

Cadastre extract (11 pages): EUR 640-760 on average.

Apostille¶

Apostille cost in Ukraine (Ministry of Justice) - 610 UAH for individuals. Timeline - up to 5 business days.

Apostille for Cadastral Documents: Step by Step¶

Getting the sequence right is critical. Do it wrong - and you’ll have to start all over.

Step 1: Get the Extract¶

Order the extract from the cadastre or property rights registry via Diia or e.land.gov.ua. If the document is electronic - you may need to obtain a paper version through CNAP.

Step 2: Apostille in Ukraine¶

Cadastral documents and property registry extracts are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice. According to HCCH, the Ministry of Justice is the competent authority for notarial and court documents.

Important: apostilles can’t be placed on electronic documents from registries. You need a paper version with appropriate signatures and seals.

Step 3: Translation in the Destination Country¶

After the apostille - translation. In that exact order. The apostille is placed ON THE ORIGINAL, and the translator must translate both the document itself and the apostille stamp.

Note: EU Regulation 2016/1191, which eliminates the apostille requirement for certain documents between EU countries, does NOT apply to cadastral documents. It only covers civil status records (birth, marriage, death). For property documents, the apostille remains mandatory.

What Can’t Be Apostilled¶

According to Schmidt & Schmidt: - Laminated documents - Documents with uncertified corrections - Documents from temporarily occupied territories

5 Common Mistakes When Translating Cadastral Documents¶

1. Notarial translation instead of sworn translation. You got a translation with notarial certification in Ukraine, and the German bank rejected it. Because Germany requires beglaubigte Übersetzung from a translator in the justiz-dolmetscher.de database - nothing else

2. Wrong order: translation first, then apostille. It should be the other way around. First apostille on the original, then translation. More on this in the article about apostille and translation order

3. Expired extracts. Cadastre extracts are valid for 3 months. If you got yours while collecting other documents - it might expire. Order the extract LAST, when all other documents are ready

4. Literal translation of terms without adaptation. “Tsilyove pryznachennya” translates as “Zweckbestimmung,” but without explaining what category it is and how it relates to the German system - the document becomes useless

5. Electronic document without a paper version. Diia extracts come as PDFs with electronic signatures. For an apostille, you need a paper version. Some countries accept electronic documents with QR codes for verification, but not all

For a preliminary understanding of the document before the official translation, you can upload the PDF to ChatsControl and get a translation in minutes. Then order a certified translation from a sworn translator in the destination country.

Countries Where an Apostille Isn’t Needed¶

There are countries with which Ukraine has bilateral legal assistance treaties, and they don’t require an apostille. According to official data, these include:

• Minsk Convention: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
• Bilateral treaties: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Hungary, Vietnam

For all other countries that are parties to the Hague Convention - an apostille is mandatory.

FAQ¶

How Much Does It Cost to Translate a Cadastre Extract Into German?¶

If done in Ukraine (notarial translation) - roughly 5,000-5,500 UAH (EUR 120-130) for an 11-page extract. But this won’t work for German institutions. A beglaubigte Übersetzung in Germany will cost EUR 640-760 for the same volume. That’s a 5x difference, but only the German version has legal force in Germany.

Can I Get a Property Registry Extract While Living Abroad?¶

Yes. You can order an extract from the State Register of Property Rights through Diia online in minutes (you’ll need a KEP). The land cadastre extract - through e.land.gov.ua. If your electronic signature doesn’t work abroad - get a power of attorney for someone in Ukraine through the consulate.

Why Isn’t a Notarial Translation From Ukraine Recognized in Germany?¶

Because these are different legal institutions. In Ukraine, the notary only certifies the translator’s signature - without checking translation quality. In Germany, a beeidigter Übersetzer (sworn translator) has taken an oath in court and bears legal responsibility for every word’s accuracy. It’s a fundamentally different level of guarantees.

What’s the Correct Order: Apostille or Translation?¶

First apostille in Ukraine (Ministry of Justice, 610 UAH, up to 5 business days), then translation in the destination country. The translator translates both the document and the apostille stamp. Doing it the other way around isn’t possible - the apostille is placed on the original, not on the translation.

Does EU Regulation 2016/1191 Apply to Cadastral Documents?¶

No. EU Regulation 2016/1191 exempts from apostille only civil status records (birth, marriage, death, name change) between EU countries. Cadastral documents, property registry extracts, and technical passports don’t fall under this regulation - the apostille remains mandatory for them.