Transient photocurrents are investigated in ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films illuminated by laser pulses in the spectral range of 340–380 nm. At low electric fields, the photocurrent is sensitive to the ferroelectric polarization state and changes sign upon the polarization switching. At higher fields, the polarization-independent current proportional to the applied electric field is dominant. The spectral dependence of polarization-dependent current is controlled by the excitation of charge carriers over the forbidden band of PZT having a maximum near 3.5 eV. Possible mechanisms of the observed effect are discussed and the possibilities of a nondestructive read out of polarization state in the ultraviolet spectral range are demonstrated. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.