How to Obtain a Residence Permit in Ukraine in 2026

Types of Residence Permits You Can Obtain

Foreigners must first determine not the list of documents, but the legal basis. In Ukraine, a residence permit can be temporary or permanent, and these are two different legalization mechanisms.

A temporary residence permit confirms the right to live in Ukraine for a specified period. The State Migration Service (SMS) issues it, among other reasons, through work, study, marriage to a Ukrainian citizen, family reunification, volunteering, participation in international projects, and some other grounds. For founders or beneficiaries of a Ukrainian company, there is a separate basis provided the investment is at least 100,000 euros.

The permanent residence permit works differently. Initially, a foreigner obtains an immigration permit and only afterwards applies for the plastic card. The permit itself can only be obtained on grounds explicitly provided for by the Law of Ukraine “On Immigration.”

Grounds for a Temporary Residence Permit

Most often, the application process starts with a specific purpose for the stay. Just an invitation from an individual or company does not automatically grant the right to reside – a lawful basis and supporting documents are required.

Common options include:

• working in a Ukrainian company based on a work permit;
• studying at a Ukrainian educational institution;
• marriage to a Ukrainian citizen;
• family reunification;
• participating in volunteer activities;
• working at a representative office of a foreign company or bank;
• international technical, scientific, cultural, or educational activities;
• investment in a Ukrainian legal entity under the conditions stipulated by law;

For employment, the employer usually needs a work permit, legally a permit to employ foreigners and stateless persons. The permit’s validity period is linked to the period stated in the work permit.

Documents Required in 2026

The basic package depends on the grounds. However, some documents are checked by the SMS in almost every standard case of temporary residence.

1. Prepare a valid foreign passport.
2. Obtain a certified translation of the passport page with personal data into Ukrainian according to established procedures.
3. Provide a long-term type D visa, if the law does not exempt the applicant from obtaining it.
4. Arrange medical insurance for the entire required period.
5. Prepare a document confirming the specific grounds for residence.
6. Pay the established fees.
7. Personally submit the application form to the authorized entity.

The long-term visa D is necessary for subsequent registration of documents allowing stay or residence in Ukraine for more than 90 days if there is no legislative exemption for the specific category.

For study, additional documents from the educational institution about enrollment and study period are required. If the grounds are marriage, documents proving the marriage and the Ukrainian citizen spouse’s passport are necessary.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining a Residence Permit

An error at the first stage often leads to problems later. Therefore, it is better to build the process based on the grounds rather than from the documents already gathered.

1. Determine the legal basis for residence.
2. Check whether a D visa is needed for entry and further legalization.
3. Obtain the relevant document—e.g., work permit, university documents, or marriage certificate.
4. Prepare passport, translation, insurance, and payment confirmations.
5. Submit documents in person.
6. Complete photo and other procedures to issue a biometric document.
7. Receive the ready residence permit.

The SMS issues a temporary residence permit within 15 working days from the date of document acceptance. Documents for initial registration must be submitted no later than 15 working days before the permitted stay in Ukraine expires.

A lawyer consultation regarding document preparation and submission for the permit may be necessary when a foreigner changes the grounds for stay, has a complex migration history, or is unsure which documents confirm their right to reside.

Cost of a Residence Permit in 2026

Since January 1, 2026, the prices for biometric document forms have changed. The official total cost of a temporary residence permit is UAH 1140 — UAH 452 for the administrative service, UAH 654 for the form, and UAH 34 in state duty. The permanent residence permit costs UAH 1235 — UAH 496 for the administrative service, UAH 654 for the form, and UAH 85 in state duty.

These are government fees. Expenses for translations, notarization, insurance, legalization of foreign documents, and legal support are calculated separately.

Validity Period of a Temporary Residence Permit

The general rule is that the validity period is determined according to documents but usually does not exceed one year. There are exceptions. For work, the permit is issued for the period indicated in the work permit; for studies, for the set study period; and for founders and beneficiaries of a Ukrainian legal entity under the corresponding investment basis, for two years.

The legal procedure does not provide for a simple “extension” of the permit. When the term expires, the foreigner must apply for its exchange if a valid basis exists.

How to Obtain a Permanent Residence Permit

A permanent residence permit requires a prior immigration permit. Grounds include marriage to a Ukrainian citizen for more than two years, having children or parents who are Ukrainian citizens, the right to citizenship by territorial origin, status of an expatriate Ukrainian, and a range of quota and non-quota categories.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Confirm the right to immigrate.
2. Submit an application and documents to the SMS or a diplomatic mission abroad, depending on residency.
3. Obtain the decision on the immigration permit.
4. Within one year from the date of permit issuance, apply for the permanent residence permit.
5. Receive the biometric card.

Review of the immigration permit application in Ukraine may take up to six months, and via diplomatic representation abroad up to one year. The permanent permit itself is issued within 15 working days after document acceptance and is valid for 10 years.

Specifics of Registration During the War

As of August 2026, martial law is in effect in Ukraine—the term was extended as of 05:30 on August 2, 2026, for 90 days. This affects migration procedures.

Specific rules applied to temporary permits whose exchange period began after February 24, 2022. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 141 dated February 5, 2026, set the exchange period for this category from May 7 to August 4, 2026. As of August 17, this period has ended. The provisions extending temporary permits due to martial law did not apply to Russian Federation citizens.

The regime is different for some permanent permits. Documents whose validity expired or were due for exchange after February 24, 2022, except for permits of Russian Federation citizens, continue to confirm the right to permanent residence and entry to Ukraine during martial law and for 30 calendar days after its termination or cancellation.

What to Check Before Submitting Documents

Even a formally correct basis does not compensate for expired stay, translation errors, or documents that have lost validity. Before contacting the SMS, all dates should be checked carefully.

• Legality of current stay in Ukraine;
• Passport validity period;
• Need for visa D;
• Validity of the grounds for residence;
• Correctness of personal data translation;
• Validity period of work permit or study;
• Documents proving marriage or family ties;
• Insurance policy for a temporary residence permit;
• Remaining period before the permitted stay expires;

If the basis is non-standard, documents are issued abroad, or the previous permit is expired, a migration lawyer consultation helps to check the legal route before submitting the application rather than correcting mistakes after the SMS decision.