Case of a Foreign Entrepreneur: How Legalization Began in Ukraine

Let us consider a model practical case built on the rules in force in 2026. A foreigner plans to move to Ukraine, establish a LLC, manage the company, and legally reside in the country. His goal is not just to register a legal entity, but to obtain a legal basis for long-term residence.

Here arises an important nuance. Opening a company and obtaining a residence permit are two different legal procedures. Registering an LLC with minimal authorized capital does not mean automatic issuance of a residence permit.

For the entrepreneur in this case, an investment basis was chosen. The law allows a foreigner who is a founder, participant, or beneficial owner of a Ukrainian legal entity to obtain a temporary residence permit in Ukraine if his share in the authorized capital is at least 100,000 euros according to the official NBU exchange rate on the investment date. This requirement is confirmed by the State Migration Service.

The official conditions for registration can be checked directly on the website of the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

First Stage – Ukrainian Tax Identification Number

Before registering the business, the entrepreneur obtained a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) – the registration number of the taxpayer’s record card. It is required for foreigners who become founders of Ukrainian legal entities.

The State Tax Service explicitly provides for registration in the State Register of foreigners who do not have permanent residence in Ukraine but are founders of Ukrainian companies. To obtain the number, a foreigner submits an identity document, its duly certified translation into Ukrainian, and a record card. The standard registration period is three working days.

At this stage, the following were prepared:

• foreigner’s passport;
• Ukrainian translation of passport pages;
• application form No. 1DR;
• documents of the representative if the issue is handled under a power of attorney;

The TIN is then used during corporate procedures, banking, and tax processes.

How a Foreigner Opened an LLC in Ukraine

The next step is the registration of a Ukrainian legal entity. A foreigner can be the founder of an LLC, but there is a practical difference from a citizen of Ukraine: automatic online registration of an LLC via the “Diia” portal is available to Ukrainian citizens. For foreigners, the official “Diia” guide advises applying to a CNAP (Center for Administrative Services).

Current conditions for state registration can be checked through the Diia State Services Guide.

In the entrepreneur’s practical scheme, the procedure was as follows:

1. Obtain the Ukrainian TIN.
2. Determine ownership structure and amount of authorized capital.
3. Prepare the founder’s decision and constituent documents.
4. Register the LLC in the Unified State Register.
5. Make the foreign investment and document it.
6. Prepare the package of documents for the residence permit application.
7. Submit documents to the State Migration Service (SMS).

The sequence matters. If the basis for the residence permit is an investment in a Ukrainian legal entity, the company must already be registered at the time of application to the SMS.

Why 100,000 Euros Became the Key Figure in the Case

The most common mistake in the query “how can a foreigner start a business and obtain a residence permit in Ukraine” is mixing the right to own a company with the migration basis.

A foreigner can create a business with capital significantly less than 100,000 euros. But if he wants to receive a temporary residence permit specifically as a founder, participant, or beneficiary of the company, the size of his corresponding share must be at least 100,000 euros according to the NBU rate on the investment date.

The SMS allows confirmation of the investment by various means:

• information about contributions to authorized capital;
• documents on the contribution of movable property;
• acts of acceptance-transfer of property purchased in Ukraine;
• a statement from a securities account for a shareholder in a joint-stock company;

That is why formally indicating a large authorized capital in documents without proper confirmation of actual investment should not be considered sufficient grounds for obtaining a residence permit.

Documents for the Residence Permit

After registering the company and formalizing the investment, the entrepreneur proceeded to the migration procedure. For those who want to compare offers of specialized professionals, Poshuk.info has a separate category of services for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine.

The basic package depends on the specific basis, citizenship, and status of the foreigner. For the considered case, particular importance have:

• a valid passport document;
• duly certified translation of the passport page with personal data;
• a valid health insurance policy for the term of the residence permit;
• confirmation of payment of established fees;
• constituent documents of the Ukrainian legal entity;
• confirmation of status as founder, participant, or beneficiary;
• documents confirming the foreign investment of at least 100,000 euros;

The SMS notes that documents for initial registration must be submitted no later than 15 working days before the expiration of the legal period of stay in Ukraine.

How Long Did They Wait for the Residence Permit

The official processing time for the application is up to 15 working days from the date of document acceptance. For foreigners who obtain a residence permit as founders, participants, or beneficial owners of a company on the specified investment basis, the residence permit is issued for two years.

The cost of the administrative procedure consists of several payments. As of October 2026, the SMS lists the state duty as 34 UAH, administrative service fee 452 UAH, and blank form cost 654 UAH. Additional expenses include insurance, translations, notary actions, and if necessary, legal support.

After receiving the ID card, the foreigner already has a document confirming his right to temporarily reside in Ukraine during the established period.

Alternative Option – Residence Permit through Employment

A 100,000 euro investment is not suitable for every entrepreneur. The law also provides another mechanism – official employment of a foreigner with obtaining permission to use his labor.

This model can be used, in particular, if a foreigner works in a Ukrainian company as a director or in another position and has the necessary permit issued. The residence permit in this case is granted for the period specified in the permit.

Poshuk.info has a separate category for this direction: obtaining work permits for foreigners in Ukraine.

Therefore, before opening a business, it is worth not starting with LLC registration, but first determining the future migration grounds. For one entrepreneur, an investment from 100,000 euros will be logical; for another – employment; and for a third, the law may provide a completely different basis.

Where Problems Most Often Arise

A successful outcome in this case depends not on the number of documents, but on whether they correspond to each other. The SMS checks the grounds for stay and the authenticity of information, and submission of false information or forged documents may be a reason for refusal.

Before submission, it is necessary to separately check:

• whether the foreigner’s legal period of stay is maintained;
• whether the passport translation is properly executed;
• whether the declared basis corresponds to the actual activity;
• whether the investment is confirmed by documents;
• whether the information about the founder and beneficiary matches the data in the Unified State Register;
• whether the insurance policy is valid for the required period;

It is especially important not to rely on outdated materials where “opening a company in Ukraine” is described as an independent and unconditional basis for legalization. For a residence permit in Ukraine, decisive importance is the specific legal norm and documentary confirmation of compliance with its requirements.