The law on the use of polygraph
The law on the use of polygraph in Ukraine is the most developed in Europe. We are proud that All-Ukrainian Polygraph Association is directly involved in the development of a significant part of the regulatory and legal support for Ukrainian polygraphology.
The use of a polygraph is provided for in separate articles in 7 Laws of Ukraine:
The Law of Ukraine “About the National Police” (Article 50 “Verification of a candidate for police service”);
The Law of Ukraine “About the State Bureau of Investigation” (Article 26 “Conducting a psychophysiological examination using a polygraph”);
The Law of Ukraine “About Intelligence” (Article 31 “Features of admission to service (work) in intelligence agencies”);
The Law of Ukraine “About the Bureau of Economic Security” (Article 24 “Conducting psychophysiological interrogation using a polygraph and psychological testing of the Law of Ukraine”);
The Law of Ukraine “About the State Protection of State Authorities of Ukraine and Officials” (Article 16 “Personnel of the State Protection Department of Ukraine”);
The Customs Code of Ukraine (Article 572-1 “Conducting a psychophysiological interrogation using a polygraph”)
Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding Strengthening the Powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office” (Clause 2. Section II “Final and Transitional Provisions”)
According to available information from open sources, based on departmental adjusted instructions and procedures, polygraph examiners work in:
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (since 2015);
The Security Service of Ukraine (since 2016 in the direction of conducting official investigations);
The State Bureau of Investigation (since 2017);
Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (since 2017);
National Guard of Ukraine (since 2017);
National Police of Ukraine (since 2017);
State Security Department of Ukraine (since 2021);
State Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (since 2021);
State Border Service of Ukraine (since 2022);
State Customs Service of Ukraine (since 2025).
A number of regulatory documents regulating the activities of polygraph examiners of certain authority and units cant be disclosure.
Judicial examination using a polygraph is carried out in accordance with the requirements of:
The Law of Ukraine “About Judicial Examination”;
Article 84 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine: “Procedural sources of evidence are testimonies, material evidence, documents, and expert conclusion”;
Article 72 of the Code of Administrative Procedure: “Evidence in administrative proceedings is any data on the basis of which the court establishes the presence or absence of circumstances (facts) … these data are established by the following means: written, material and electronic evidence; expert conclusion; witness testimonies.”
Article 73 of the Commercial Procedure Code of Ukraine: “Evidence is any data on the basis of which the court establishes the presence or absence of circumstances (facts) … these data are established by the following means: written, material and electronic evidence; expert conclusions; witness testimonies.”
Paragraph 6.8 of Section VI. “Psychological Expertise” of the Scientific and Methodological Recommendations, approved by Order of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine dated 08.10.1998 No. 53/5.
State standards of Ukraine 8692:2016 “Polygraphs. Technical conditions”.
State standards of Ukraine 9266:2023 “Judicial psychological examination. Using polygraph. General requirements”.
Methods of conducting judicial psychological examinations using a computer polygraph (Methodology code in the Register of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine – 14.1.84, type of examination – 14. Psychological examination. 14.1. Psychological research).
Independent and official judicial examinations using a polygraph are performed exclusively by certified judicial experts.
There are the following requirements for a certified judicial polygraph examiner:
– being in the State Register of Certified Forensic Experts of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine;
– higher psychological education (master’s or specialist’s diploma);
– postgraduate education in polygraph examination, obtained at a higher educational institution of the IV level of accreditation;
– use of polygraphs that meet the requirements of State standard of Ukraine 8692:2016: “Rubikon” or “Axciton” during forensic examinations.
The production of polygraphs (lie detectors) is included in the Classification of types of economic activity-2010 in class 25.61 “Manufacture of instruments and equipment for measuring, research and navigation”
Requirements for polygraphs are specified in the State Standard of Ukraine 8692:2016 “Polygraphs. Technical conditions”.
The implementation of entrepreneurial activities by polygraph examiners (lie detector services) is provided for by the Classification of types of economic activity -2010 in class 80.10 “Activities of private security services”
The requirements for training, professional development, and the specific aspects of polygraph examiners’ professional practice are set forth in the “Polygraph Examiner” Occupational Standard, which was officially entered into the Register of Qualifications on January 6, 2026 (code 2490).
In particular, according to the current professional standard:
– future polygraph examiners must hold a first-level (bachelor’s) or second-level (master’s) higher education degree in any
specialty or field of study;
– training for polygraph examiners must be conducted continuously and exclusively in
the in-person format, in classrooms at institutions of higher education;
– polygraph examiners must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education (1 ECTS credit) over a three-year period, with the aim of updating and acquiring new/additional competencies in the field of polygraph examinations.