Residence permit in Ukraine

Residence Permit in Ukraine: What It Is and What Rights It Provides

A residence permit is a document confirming the legal grounds for a foreign national or stateless person to live in Ukraine temporarily or permanently. It is not a visa. Nor is it simply permission to stay in the country longer. A residence permit determines a person’s legal status and allows them to officially resolve a range of everyday, employment-related, and administrative matters.

There are two main types of residence permits in Ukraine:

• a temporary residence permit – issued on a specific legal basis and valid for a limited period;
• a permanent residence permit – generally issued after obtaining an immigration permit and confirms the right to reside permanently in Ukraine;

The difference between them is substantial. The type of permit determines the grounds for application, the required documents, employment rules, validity period, and replacement procedure.

Temporary Residence Permit

A temporary residence permit confirms a foreign national’s right to live in Ukraine for a specified period. The legal basis is crucial here. Simply wishing to remain in the country is not enough.

Grounds for Obtaining a Temporary Residence Permit

Ukrainian law provides several categories of foreign nationals who may apply for this document. The most common grounds include employment, education, family relations, volunteering, and participation in business activities.

In practice, the grounds for obtaining a temporary residence permit may include:

• employment or entering into a gig contract;
• studying at a Ukrainian educational institution;
• family reunification with a Ukrainian citizen or a foreign national legally residing in Ukraine;
• participation in international or regional volunteer programs;
• employment at a representative office of a foreign company or bank;
• cultural, scientific, educational, or religious activities;
• ownership of a share in a Ukrainian legal entity subject to the conditions established by law;
• military service and other special grounds;

Each category requires its own set of supporting documents. Therefore, the documents required for a temporary residence permit for a student will differ from those required for a foreign employee.

For employment in Ukraine, an employer may first need to obtain a work permit for a foreign national. Based on this document, the foreign employee can apply for temporary residence. For family members, the grounds may include marriage, documents confirming family ties, and proof that the person they are joining legally resides in Ukraine.

An invitation to Ukraine does not by itself replace the legal grounds required for a residence permit. Its role depends on the purpose of entry, the applicant’s nationality, and whether the relevant visa is required.

Documents for a Temporary Residence Permit

The basic document package depends on the applicant’s identity and the reason for residence. The migration authorities may also request additional documents confirming the information provided in the application form.

The procedure usually includes the following steps:

1. Determine the legal grounds for temporary residence.
2. Prepare a valid passport and a duly certified Ukrainian translation.
3. Obtain medical insurance for the required period unless the applicant falls within a statutory exemption.
4. Prepare a document confirming the specific grounds for residence.
5. Pay the required state fees.
6. Submit the application form and supporting documents to the authorized authority.
7. Receive the residence permit after a positive decision is made.

Foreign documents must be properly formalized where required by Ukrainian law. Depending on the country of issue, legalization, an apostille, or application of an international treaty of Ukraine may be necessary.

Documents for a temporary residence permit must generally be submitted no later than 15 business days before the end of the applicant’s lawful stay in Ukraine. The permit itself is issued within 15 business days after the documents are accepted.

Validity of a Temporary Residence Permit

As a general rule, the permit is issued for the period corresponding to the validity of the documents confirming the legal grounds, but usually for no longer than one year. There are exceptions. For employment, the validity may correspond to the employment period stated in the work authorization, while for students it may correspond to the duration of study. Certain categories may receive permits valid for two, three, or four years.

That is why searches such as “temporary residence permit validity period” or “how long is a temporary residence permit valid in Ukraine” do not have one universal answer for every foreign national.

Extension of a Temporary Residence Permit

From a legal perspective, it is more accurate to refer to replacement of a temporary residence permit due to expiration rather than an “extension” of its validity. Ukrainian migration rules do not provide a separate procedure formally called permit extension.

Special rules applied during martial law. For certain residence permits that became subject to replacement after February 24, 2022, the government established a replacement period from May 7 to August 4, 2026. As of August 2026, that period has already ended, so holders of such permits should separately verify their current legal status and the procedure applicable to them.

Permanent Residence Permit

A permanent residence permit gives a foreign national the right to reside permanently in Ukraine. Under the standard procedure, obtaining it is generally preceded by receiving an immigration permit.

Who Can Obtain Permanent Residence

The grounds are established by the Law of Ukraine “On Immigration.” They include both immigration quota categories and cases where an immigration permit may be granted outside the quota.

Common grounds include:

• marriage to a Ukrainian citizen for more than two years;
• having children or parents who are citizens of Ukraine;
• eligibility for Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin in cases provided by law;
• the status of an overseas Ukrainian and certain family-related grounds;
• guardianship or trusteeship in situations specified by law;
• other grounds expressly provided by Ukrainian legislation;

Obtaining an immigration permit and obtaining a permanent residence permit are not the same procedure. A person must first establish and obtain the legal basis for immigration and then formalize their permanent residence status.

If the foreign national’s ultimate goal is Citizenship of Ukraine, permanent residence may be relevant for meeting certain naturalization requirements. However, holding a permanent residence permit does not automatically grant Ukrainian citizenship.

Documents and Processing Time

For a permanent residence permit, the applicant generally needs a passport, a translation of the page containing personal data, proof of payment, and a copy of the decision granting an immigration permit or another document applicable to the applicant’s specific category.

The procedure for obtaining permanent residence usually looks like this:

1. Confirm the existence of legal grounds for immigration.
2. Obtain an immigration permit if it is required for the relevant category.
3. Prepare the passport, translation, and other required documents.
4. Submit the application in person to the authorized authority.
5. Wait for the application to be reviewed.
6. Receive a biometric permanent residence permit.

The application for the residence card itself is generally processed within 15 business days. A biometric permanent residence permit is issued for a period of 10 years.

Old-Format Permanent Residence Permit

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 321 regulates the issuance, replacement, cancellation, and other procedures related to permanent residence permits. However, simply holding an old-format document without a contactless electronic chip does not automatically require immediate replacement with a new biometric card. A legal ground for replacement must exist.

For older documents without an electronic chip, reaching the age of 25 or 45 may be one such ground. Replacement may also be necessary after a change of personal data, discovery of an error, expiration of the document, damage to the permit, or in other cases established by law.

How Much Does a Residence Permit in Ukraine Cost?

When a person searches for “temporary residence permit price,” it is important to distinguish official state fees from additional expenses such as translations, insurance, notarial services, and legal assistance.

According to the current official fee amounts:

• temporary residence permit – UAH 1,140: UAH 34 state duty, UAH 452 administrative service fee, and UAH 654 for the document form;
• permanent residence permit – UAH 1,235: UAH 85 state duty, UAH 496 administrative service fee, and UAH 654 for the document form;

Certain categories may qualify for statutory exemptions or benefits. Additional costs depend on the applicant’s individual circumstances and document package.

Registration of a Foreign National’s Place of Residence

After receiving the document, another practical issue arises – the residential address. People still often search for terms such as “registration in Kyiv” although Ukrainian legislation uses the concepts of declaration and registration of place of residence.

A foreign national who legally resides in Ukraine temporarily or permanently must declare or register a new place of residence within 30 calendar days after arriving at the new address.

Registration of foreign nationals at their place of residence does not replace a residence permit and does not create grounds for immigration. It is a separate administrative procedure completed after the person’s legal status has been documented.

Replacement, Loss, and Cancellation of a Residence Permit

Replacement of a temporary or permanent residence permit may be required due to changes in personal data, damage to the document, expiration, or other legal circumstances. Loss of a temporary residence permit or permanent residence card also requires issuance of a new document under the established procedure.

Cancellation or revocation is a separate matter. Possible grounds may include loss of the legal basis for residence, submission of false information, forged documents, a decision by the competent authorities, or other circumstances provided by law. A decision to refuse, revoke, or invalidate a residence permit may be challenged administratively or in court. For administrative appeals, a 30-calendar-day period generally applies from the date the decision is communicated to the person concerned.

Residence Permit During Martial Law

Martial law affects certain migration procedures. As of August 12, 2026, martial law in Ukraine had been extended from August 2, 2026 for another 90 days.

A separate rule applies to permanent residence permits, except for documents held by citizens of the Russian Federation: permits that expired or became subject to replacement after February 24, 2022 may continue to confirm lawful residence and the right to enter Ukraine during martial law and for an additional 30 calendar days after its termination or cancellation.

Because of these special wartime rules, a consultation with an immigration lawyer may be particularly useful if the document has expired, the legal basis for residence has changed, the person has spent a long period abroad, or their migration history is complex.

How to Find an Immigration Company Through Poshuk.info

Obtaining a residence permit often involves more than completing an application form. The legal basis, period of lawful stay, foreign documents, insurance, residence address, and possible refusal risks all need to be checked. A mistake in a single document can interrupt the entire process.

On Poshuk.info, you can view a list of professional immigration companies that provide consultations on obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine. There is also another option – submitting a single consultation request.

After the request is submitted:

1. The request is received by companies verified on Poshuk.info and listed in the relevant service category.
2. There is no need to search for immigration and law firm websites separately.
3. There is no need to call each specialist and explain the same situation several times.
4. You can receive several consultations and compare the proposed terms.
5. You can choose a company based on your legal grounds, deadlines, case complexity, and budget.

This format is especially convenient when you need assistance with obtaining a temporary residence permit, replacing a permanent residence permit, applying for an immigration permit, or analyzing possible grounds for refusal.