How to register an apartment in the State Register
In Ukraine, thousands of apartments are still registered under the old BTI system: without entering data into the State Register of Real Rights to Real Estate. In everyday life, this does not cause any inconvenience to homeowners. However, given the current wartime situation and the active introduction of electronic government services, the issue of correctly registering property in the Register is becoming increasingly relevant.
Even if the ownership right was registered many years ago and is considered valid, its presence in the electronic register simplifies any legal actions with real estate and speeds up the process of obtaining certificates or services through the Diya portal. That is why lawyers recommend that owners check whether their apartment is entered in the register and, if necessary, take care of this issue. The procedure is quite simple, takes a few days, and in most cases does not require payment.
Who needs to register an apartment and why
Entering information about an apartment in the State Register of Property Rights is not a mandatory requirement for all owners, especially if the ownership was registered before 2013. However, in practice, having an up-to-date entry in the register significantly facilitates any real estate transactions and protects the owner from legal risks.
Here are the main reasons to register an apartment:
Additional protection against fraud. Electronic registration makes the property "visible" in the official system, reducing the possibility of attempts to forge documents or commit illegal actions with the property.
Receiving government services and compensation. For example, to participate in the e-Restoration program when receiving assistance for damaged housing, the state requires ownership data to be available in the registry. If the property is not listed, it is not possible to submit an application, even if the original documents are available.
Acceleration of any transactions—sales, gifts, inheritance registration, or property transfers. It is easier for notaries to work with objects already entered in the Register, and owners do not need to spend time on additional checks and requests to the BTI.
It is also recommended to register an apartment for those who have completed the paperwork before 2013 and want to have digital confirmation of their rights. This issue is also relevant for homeowners who have lost or damaged their title documents or who are located in areas of Ukraine where there is an increased risk of losing documents due to hostilities. Those who are planning to enter into real estate transactions or legal actions in the near future would also be wise to register their property.
List of documents required to register an apartment
To register an apartment in the State Register of Real Rights to Real Estate, the owner must prepare documents confirming their identity and ownership rights. The list of documents depends on when and on what basis the property was acquired, as well as on the preservation of old documents.
Here are the documents you may need:
identity document — ID card or old-style Ukrainian passport;
identification code;
documents for the apartment confirming the acquisition of ownership rights — certificate of ownership, purchase and sale agreement, gift agreement, exchange agreement, certificate of inheritance, court decision establishing ownership rights, or other document recognized by law as confirmation of the acquired rights;
BTI stamp or mark on ownership documents, BTI information certificate confirming that ownership was registered in the old register, and BTI registration certificate (if issued) — these documents are required if ownership was registered before 2013.
Even if the original documents have been lost, damaged, or destroyed, ownership rights can still be registered. The necessary data can be found in the BTI archives, in the Register of Property Rights to Real Estate, and in copies of documents kept by a notary or other authorities. If necessary, a notary or state registrar will make these requests independently.
In some cases, a technical passport may be required if it is missing or has not been entered into the Unified State Electronic System for Construction. If the technical passport is old or lost, it can be renewed.
Where to apply to register an apartment
You can add a property to the State Register of Real Rights either online or by visiting a government agency in person. Which method you choose depends on the availability of the necessary documents, personal circumstances, and the region where the apartment is located.
The most common option is to submit documents through the Administrative Services Center, better known as the ASC, or through a notary who has the authority of a state registrar. You can contact any ASC or notary, but only within the region where the property is located.
For real estate located in areas where hostilities are or have been ongoing, extended rules apply. If the apartment is located in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, or Chernihiv regions, you can contact any Administrative Services Center or any notary in Ukraine, regardless of the location of the property.
A convenient option for submitting documents to register an apartment is online via the Diya portal. This method allows you to remotely:
use the service of state registration of ownership rights;
download electronic copies of documents;
sign the application with an electronic signature.
The service is not yet available for properties located in Kyiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.
After entering the information into the Register, the owner is provided with electronic information about the ownership rights. If the documents are submitted in person in paper form, they are returned after registration is complete.
Cost of registering an apartment in the register
The cost of entering an apartment in the State Register of Property Rights depends on the timeframe in which the owner wants to receive the service. If the ownership right was registered before 2013 and you simply need to enter the information into the current register, the procedure is free of charge. All you need to do is submit an application and documents confirming the right — no administrative fee is charged in this case.
If state registration is carried out according to general rules, for example, in the case of initial registration, loss of documents, or clarification of data, an administrative fee applies. The minimum cost is UAH 300 for registration of ownership rights within five business days.
If you need to register real estate faster, you can use the expedited procedure. Registration within 2 hours costs approximately UAH 13,000. The cost of expedited services depends on the specific region and the deadlines established by law.
Entering an apartment in the State Register of Property Rights is a simple and affordable way to protect property rights, facilitate real estate transactions, and ensure access to important government services. Verifying and updating information in the register helps avoid legal risks and ensures that the property is accurately recorded in the state system.
