How do you translate a Ukrainian school certificate for WES or the DV lottery?
A Ukrainian school certificate comes in two parts: the certificate itself and a supplement listing every subject with its grade and the final exams. We translate both in full, with the school’s seal and the principal’s signature, for WES, the DV lottery, USCIS or a university abroad. Grades stay exactly as they are on the document. We charge by the page: $25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one. The translation is ready within 24 hours after payment.
Atestat or svidotstvo
A Ukrainian school-leaving certificate is either the atestat pro povnu zahalnu seredniu osvitu, with a supplement of grades (dodatok do atestata), or the svidotstvo pro zdobuttia povnoi zahalnoi serednoi osvity, also with a supplement. Each supplement lists the final grades and the final state exams (University Admissions in Sweden (opens in a new tab)). The current law on secondary education names three certificates, all called svidotstvo: for primary, basic secondary and complete general secondary education. Each is issued by a school licensed for that level (Law No. 463-IX, Art. 18 (opens in a new tab)).
The supplement in our sample says in print that it is not valid without the certificate. We translate the two together.
What the supplement lists
Our 1994 sample supplement has:
- the series and number of the form, the surname, given name and patronymic;
- every subject with its final grade, from Ukrainian language and literature to physics, foreign language and labor training;
- the final examinations and their grades;
- electives, if any, the school’s round seal with the coat of arms of Ukraine, the principal’s signature and the date of issue.
In the sample, each grade is a number with a word, such as 5 (excellent). We keep both, and we translate subject names instead of transliterating them. Blank lines are marked [blank], and a word that can’t be read is marked [illegible].
Where the translation goes
- WES: a translation must be exact, word for word, and made by a professional translator (WES (opens in a new tab)). Credential evaluation
- DV lottery: you qualify with at least a high school education or its equivalent, or with two years of qualifying work experience (22 CFR 42.33(a) (opens in a new tab)). The State Department names a certificate of completion and school transcripts as possible evidence (9 FAM 502.6-3 c(3) (opens in a new tab)). If your diploma was issued by Russian authorities in occupied areas of Ukraine, the State Department asks DV applicants to get a copy issued by the Ukrainian government through its Ministry of Education and Science (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). DV lottery documents
- USCIS: a full English translation with the translator’s certification (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) (opens in a new tab)). What USCIS accepts
Our Ukrainian documents are translated and certified by a native Ukrainian speaker. What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Sample translations
6 samplesEach sample has the original, the translation and the signed certificate. Personal details are blurred.
Questions
Do you convert Ukrainian grades to US grades or a GPA?
No. Each grade stays as it is on the supplement, with the number and the word next to it. Converting grades and comparing your schooling with a US diploma is the evaluator’s job.
My certificate is Soviet and in Russian. Is there a separate guide for that?
We translate it either way. Russian and Soviet school certificates and diplomas have their own page: [Russian diploma and school certificate](/en/guides/diploma/).
How much does it cost?
$25 for the first page and $20 for each additional one, so a certificate with a one-page supplement is $45.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
Not for USCIS or the State Department: they ask for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included.
How long does it take?
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
How we do it
- Full translation
every stamp, signature and handwritten line
- Signed certificate
with the translator’s name, address and phone
- A PDF, ready to file
original, translation and certificate, translation pages numbered
- Price
$25 for the first page up to 250 words, $20 for each additional page, in the same document or another one.
- Turnaround
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
This is a summary of what the agency publishes, not legal advice.