On January 1, 2025, a new system for assessing daily functioning came into effect in Ukraine. It is designed to show how an illness or injury affects your daily life and what assistance the state should provide. An important detail: you can undergo this assessment from any country in the world, including Canada, according to Consular Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Who can undergo assessment abroad
Assessment of daily functioning can be undergone by Ukrainian citizens who:
- have significant or persistent functional impairments that have lasted for at least 12 months;
- are approaching the date of a re-examination previously scheduled by the Medical and Social Expert Commission (MSEC);
- want to establish disability status for the first time or change their disability group due to changes in their health condition.
In other words, if you live in Canada, have serious health limitations, and need to apply for or renew your disability status in Ukraine, this procedure is for you.
Two models for different countries: where is Canada?
The system provides two options, depending on the country of residence:
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If you live in one of the nine countries with which Ukraine has a social protection agreement: Bulgaria, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Czech Republic. In this case, the authorized body of the country of residence (usually local social security authorities) will transfer your medical documents to the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
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If you are in a country with which Ukraine does not have social security agreements. Canada belongs to this group.
Therefore, for Ukrainians in Canada, a second mechanism applies, where all steps must be initiated independently.
What Ukrainians in Canada need to do: step by step
If you live in Canada and need to undergo an assessment of your daily functioning, you should:
1. Collect medical documents
You need to obtain and systematize all documents that confirm your health status, namely:
- diagnosis using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10);
- description of functional impairments (what exactly you cannot do or can do with difficulty in everyday life);
- results of examinations, laboratory and functional tests;
- hospital discharge summaries;
- consultations with relevant doctors, specialist opinions, etc.
The more complete the package of documents, the easier it will be to conduct an assessment in absentia.
2. Provide an official translation into Ukrainian
All documents issued by Canadian doctors in English or French must be:
- officially translated into Ukrainian;
- done in accordance with the requirements (usually notarization or another official format acceptable to Ukrainian authorities).
Documents will not be considered without a translation into Ukrainian.
3. Send the documents to Ukraine
There are two main options:
- ✅ Send the documents by mail to Ukraine – to the address specified by the relevant Ukrainian authorities (Pension Fund, medical institution, etc.).
- ✅ Send them directly to your treating physician in Ukraine, including via electronic means of communication (scans, email, medical information systems, if possible).
Subsequently, the Ukrainian doctor/relevant authority will compile a package of documents and initiate the assessment.
How the assessment is conducted
There are two formats:
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🔹 In absentia – without your personal presence. If the documents submitted are complete, clear, and meet the criteria, the commission may make a decision based solely on them.
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🔹 Using telemedicine – if additional clarification is needed or there are questions about your condition. In this case, remote communication (video consultation, etc.) can be arranged, provided that the technical capabilities are available.
This is especially important for Ukrainians in Canada: the telemedicine format allows them to avoid traveling to Ukraine just for the sake of evaluation.
What will definitely not be accepted
There is a clear restriction:
- ❌ Medical documents issued in the Russian Federation or Belarus will not be accepted for consideration, regardless of their form, content, or method of submission.
This does not apply to Canada, but it is important to know that if someone has old documents from these countries, they must be duplicated with new conclusions from other countries or Ukraine.
If you already have an MSEC certificate
If you have previously undergone a medical and social expert commission in Ukraine and have a valid MSEC certificate, then:
- you do not need to undergo reassessment unless it is time for a review and there is no need to change your disability group.
Where to find a detailed algorithm
You can find the official step-by-step algorithm, additional explanations, and forms at the link provided in the consular service's post: 👉 https://cutt.ly/6trz6x9k
If you are a Ukrainian citizen in Canada, have persistent health problems, and plan to apply for or renew your disability status in Ukraine, you do not have to physically return home. The new system is designed to take your condition into account, wherever you are.
Take care of yourself and don't delay in applying for documents if you need support from the state ❤️🇺🇦🇨🇦