Temporary residence permit in Ukraine

Updated: November 2026

Visa-free entry allows a foreigner to stay in Ukraine for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and a tourist or other short-term visa only for its validity. Neither gives the right to work, run a business or carry out other activities. For that, a temporary residence permit is required: a plastic ID card confirming the right to live in Ukraine on a ground set by law.

The grounds and procedure are set by the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons” (in Ukrainian) and the Procedure for issuing temporary residence permits (in Ukrainian), approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322.

Most common grounds

employment with a Ukrainian employer under a work permit;
work at a representative office of a foreign company or a branch of a foreign bank;
investment: a contribution of at least €100,000 to the share capital of a Ukrainian company, for example through your own LLC;
work for representative offices of foreign NGOs and charities and international technical assistance projects;
studies at a Ukrainian educational institution;
marriage to a Ukrainian citizen or family reunification;
cultural, scientific, educational and volunteer programmes, journalism.

Since 10 May 2026, a separate procedure applies to foreigners serving in the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

How the process works

Choosing the ground. We review the client’s situation. Where several grounds are available, we choose the one that gives a longer term and fewer risks at renewal.
Documents for the ground. Depending on the ground: a work permit, a letter from the representative office or organisation, investment documents, an enrolment order or a marriage certificate.
Type D visa. Most foreigners first obtain a long-term type D visa at a Ukrainian consulate. Citizens of several countries with which Ukraine has relevant agreements do not need it.
Filing. Documents are filed in person in Ukraine with the State Migration Service or the state enterprise “Document”, as biometric data is taken at filing.
Decision. The State Migration Service decides within 15 business days. It checks the legality of stay, the ground and the residential address, and may hold an interview.
Registering the place of residence. Within 30 days of receiving the permit, the foreigner must register their place of residence.

Documents

Basic set:

the foreigner’s passport with a type D visa (where required) and a notarised Ukrainian translation;
medical insurance covering the whole term of the permit;
a taxpayer identification number;
documents confirming the ground;
proof of payment of the administrative fee.

The permit’s term depends on the ground. For employment it is issued for the term of the work permit, for studies for the study period, and for marriage to a Ukrainian citizen for one year with subsequent replacement. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalised and translated.

Replacement and renewal

A permit is replaced when it expires or when the holder’s details change. The application must be filed before the permit expires, and the ground must still be valid at the time of filing: for example, the work permit must be in force.

During the war, expired permits were temporarily treated as valid. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 141 of 5 February 2026 ended this relief from 7 May 2026, and the deadline for replacing such permits expired on 4 August 2026. An expired permit no longer confirms lawful stay, which exposes the holder to a fine and, in some cases, an entry ban. See the article by Valeriia Fedik (in Ukrainian).

If the State Migration Service refuses to issue a permit, revokes it or declares it invalid, the decision can be challenged. The difference between these decisions and the remedies is explained in the article by Anzhelika Manukian.

Timing and fees

The State Migration Service decides within 15 business days of filing. The overall timing depends on the ground, with the work permit and the type D visa taking longest.

Our fee for support is €450. Translations, notarisation, medical insurance, the consular fee for the type D visa, the State Migration Service fee and courier costs are charged separately.

Our services

reviewing the available grounds and choosing the best one;
preparing documents for the work permit, the type D visa and the residence permit;
arranging translations, notarisation, apostille or legalisation;
support with filing at the State Migration Service and collecting the permit;
registration of the place of residence;
replacement of the permit and monitoring of its term;
challenging refusals, revocation or invalidation of the permit.