Overview
The state certificate of proficiency in the Ukrainian language is issued by the National Commission for Standards of the State Language after a computer-based exam. The exam is aimed at people whom Ukrainian law requires to know the state language, such as those applying for official duties, and at people applying for Ukrainian citizenship. This entry is based on the Commission's Ukrainian-language question-and-answer pages. The Commission also publishes a standard called "Ukrainian as a Foreign Language. Levels of General Proficiency A1 to C2", but exam details for foreign learners were not confirmed here.
Exam pattern
Since 1 January 2024 the exam for official duties lasts 60 minutes:
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 test questions (written part) | 30 minutes |
| 1 open writing task (a text on a set subject, about 100 to 150 words, after listening to a 150 to 180 word recording played twice) | 20 minutes |
| 1 open speaking task (monologue) | 10 minutes |
Candidates work on a computer and the work is encrypted before marking.
Marking and results
Results are set within 15 calendar days of the exam. If you confirm a level of proficiency, the Commission issues a state certificate, which is entered in the Register of State Certificates and is valid without a time limit.
Fees
The exam is free for citizens of Ukraine. For people who want to acquire Ukrainian citizenship the fee is three times the subsistence minimum for able-bodied people set on 1 January of the year; from 1 January 2026 this is 9,984 hryvnias.
How to apply
Register online on the Commission's exam site (exam.mova.gov.ua) by creating an account and submitting an application. Then go to your chosen authorised institution, which is a higher-education institution, at the registered time with an identity document and a qualified electronic signature device. You can take the exam at any authorised institution regardless of where you live.
Is the certificate valid forever?
Yes. The Commission states that the state certificate is valid without a time limit.
Does it cost money?
It is free for Ukrainian citizens. For citizenship applicants it costs 9,984 hryvnias from 1 January 2026.