Property owners whose rights were registered before 2013 do not have to do anything: the state recognized them as valid from the moment the new register was launched. However, if desired, it is possible to voluntarily submit data to the State Register of Property Rights free of charge. The Ministry of Justice reported this.
Are property rights before 2013 recognized in Ukraine
Since January 1, 2013, Ukraine has switched to a unified registration system, where the old BTI register became an archive and all rights are automatically valid. Today, in 2025, this rule applies: no compulsory actions are needed to confirm ownership of an apartment, house, or land plot.
How to voluntarily re-register ownership rights in the fall of 2025
However, for convenience – for example, in the case of mortgages or notarized transactions – voluntary registration is recommended. The procedure is free and quick: it takes up to several days. Here are the key steps and requirements:
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Prepare proof of ownership: certificate of ownership, sales agreement, inheritance certificate, or another document.
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If documents are lost – no problem: use extracts from BTI or the old register.
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Contact the CNAP or a notary: usually within the region, but for Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions – to any region in Ukraine. From October 13, 2025, the Chernihiv region will be added.
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Alternative: apply online through "Diia" (except for Kyiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions).
After submission, you will receive an extract from the register, and the originals of the documents will be returned. This will not only facilitate future transactions but also protect against disputes: data in the digital register is available 24/7.
The history of changes dates back to 2013, when the law "On State Registration of Property Rights" unified the system by integrating BTI archives. Previously, registration was fragmented, with risks of falsification. Today, considering occupations and migration, the Ministry of Justice is expanding flexibility: from October 13, residents of Chernihiv will be able to register throughout the country, just like residents of frontline regions.
Earlier we wrote about how to formalize ownership rights to land.