Residence permit in Ukraine
A clear explanation of what a residence permit is, what rights it grants, and assistance with obtaining it—without unpleasant surprises:
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Service overview
1) A residence permit in Ukraine is a document that identifies a foreigner or a stateless person and confirms the lawful grounds for temporary or permanent residence in Ukraine.
2) There are two types of residence permits for foreigners in Ukraine — temporary and permanent.
3) Validity period of a residence permit in Ukraine:
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temporary — from 6 months to 26 years (depending on the grounds);
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permanent — 10 years.
A temporary residence permit may be extended an unlimited number of times, provided there are relevant grounds. A permanent residence permit must be replaced every 10 years or upon reaching the ages of 25 and 45.
Detailed information on temporary and permanent residence permits in Ukraine — namely the eligibility grounds, required documents, application procedure, cost, validity period, etc.—is presented in a convenient format on separate pages of our website:
The cost of the services
- We discuss only core issues: temporary/permanent residence permit, grounds, timelines, documents
- Within the free express consultation, we help determine the way to resolve your case without an in-depth audit
- The free consultation lasts up to 10 minutes
- Free
- Personal online or offline consultation on eligibility for Temporary/Permanent residence and immigration to Ukraine
- Review and analysis of available documents and period of stay; step-by-step guidance on collecting and preparing missing documents
- Practical advice on the residence-permit procedure from a practicing migration lawyer
- 2500 uah
Detailed information
What is a residence permit in Ukraine?
A residence permit (RP) is an official resident status that allows a foreigner to legally reside long-term in Ukraine, removing the need for visas and stay-time limits (the 90/180 rule).
There are two types of residence permits:
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Temporary Residence Permit (TRP): issued for the duration of the grounds for staying in Ukraine (usually 1–2 years): work, study, family reunification, etc. Closer to the expiration date, re-issuance (renewal) of the document is required.
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Permanent residence permit (PRP):adocument with no validity limit, but it must be replaced every 10 years and also at ages 25 and 45. A PRP grants broader rights, close to those of a citizen of Ukraine.
The correct Ukrainian names are:
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Temporary residence permit (Посвідка на тимчасове проживання в Україні);
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Permanent residence permit (Посвідка на постійне проживання в Україні).
Informally, this document is often referred to as TRP, PRP, temporary residence, permanent residence, residence permit card, temporary/permanent residence card and similar.
Difference between temporary and permanent residence permits in Ukraine
| Temporary residence permit in Ukraine | Permanent residence permit in Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Term of a temporary residence permit: approximately from 6 months up to 2 years (or longer, depending on the grounds) | Term of a permanent residence permit: 10 years |
| A temporary residence permit does not grant the right to employment without obtaining a work permit | A permanent residence permit grants the right to employment without obtaining a work permit |
| To obtain a temporary residence permit, you must have grounds defined by law; here is the full list: | To obtain a permanent residence permit, you must have grounds defined by law; here is the full list: |
| The procedure for obtaining a temporary residence permit consists of 1 stage:
| The procedure for obtaining a permanent residence permit consists of 2 stages:
|
| A temporary residence permit can be extended after its expiry if there are grounds | A permanent residence permit is open-ended (has no expiry), but it must be replaced every 10 years and upon reaching the ages of 25 and 45 |
| Processing time for a temporary residence permit: • 15 business days | Processing time for a permanent residence permit: • Immigration permit — 6 months • ID card — 15 business days |
Rights and obligations of a foreigner with a residence permit in Ukraine
Obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine gives a foreigner the right to lawful long-term stay, visa-free border crossing without the 90/180 limitation. Holders of a residence permit also gain access to a wide range of opportunities: the right to work (for a temporary residence permit — subject to a work permit), opening bank accounts, and access to education and healthcare.
At the same time, resident status requires compliance with the laws of Ukraine, registration of place of residence, payment of taxes if tax residency applies, and fulfillment of other administrative requirements. It is important to remember that a residence permit does not grant political rights such as the right to vote, does not give the right to acquire agricultural land, and does not impose military service obligations on a foreigner.
Basic requirements for obtaining temporary and permanent residence permits in Ukraine
To submit documents for a residence permit, a foreigner must first be legally present in Ukraine.
The Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons” stipulates that foreigners are lawfully present in Ukraine if they:
- Permanently reside in Ukraine — foreigners and stateless persons who have immigrated to Ukraine and received a permanent residence permit, or who have been recognized as refugees or granted asylum in Ukraine.
- Temporarily reside in Ukraine — foreigners and stateless persons who have received a temporary residence permit.
- Are temporarily staying in Ukraine — foreigners and stateless persons who are in Ukraine during the validity period of their visa or within the period defined by law (90 days within 180 days), and whose period of stay in Ukraine has been extended in the prescribed manner (a State Migration Service stamp in the passport on extension of stay).
In addition to being legally present in the country, every applicant for a temporary or permanent residence permit must meet the following general criteria:
- Have legal grounds for obtaining a residence permit (for example, employment, study, family reunification, etc.);
- Have no unexpunged criminal conviction in Ukraine;
- Not be listed in the Unified register of debtors.
To obtain a permanent residence permit, some categories of applicants must also additionally confirm:
- No criminal record in their country of citizenship;
- No dangerous infectious diseases or substance-abuse disorders.
What documents are required to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine?
You will need different sets of documents to apply for a temporary and a permanent residence permit. Full checklists are available at the links:
List of documents
1. Valid foreign passport
2. Translation of the passport into Ukrainian
3. Health insurance policy
4. Lease agreement, or documents confirming ownership of the dwelling of actual residence
1. Valid foreign passport
2. Translation of the passport into Ukrainian
3. Documents confirming the place of residence in the country of citizenship
4. Documents confirming the place of residence in Ukraine
5. Medical certificates No. 028/o and No. 100-2/o
6. Police clearance certificate from the country of citizenship
Which documents do not need to be prepared?
At present, to submit an application for a residence permit, you do not need to fill out any forms in advance. When submitting the documents, all applicant data are entered into the electronic register, so the application form is generated automatically after the officer enters all your information.
The same applies to photos for the residence permit. There is no need to check photo requirements in advance or prepare photos, since 2018 residence permits are issued as an ID card that contains the applicant’s biometric data. Accordingly, your photo is taken, fingerprints are captured, and your signature is digitized directly at the document intake.
What are the processing times for a residence permit in Ukraine?
The maximum processing time for both a temporary residence permit (TRP) and a permanent residence permit (PRP) is 15 business days (3 weeks).
However, note that a permanent residence permit can be issued only after obtaining an immigration permit; the maximum processing time for the immigration permit is 6 months.
By when must the ready residence permit be collected?
A residence permit in Ukraine (both permanent and temporary) must be collected within 6 months from the date the decision to issue it is made. If not collected, the permit will be annulled and destroyed.
What must be done after receiving a residence permit in Ukraine?
Within 30 days after receiving the residence permit in Ukraine, you must register the address of your place of residence. If you fail to do so, you will have to pay a fine for violating the rules of stay for foreigners in Ukraine.
After receiving the residence permit and registering your place of residence, you only need to monitor the permit’s validity to renew it in good time and avoid overstaying in Ukraine.
Document samples
FAQ
Can I obtain a residence permit in Ukraine under a simplified procedure?
How can I get a residence permit in Ukraine as quickly as possible?
There is no expedited (“urgent”) procedure in Ukraine. The only lawful way to obtain a permit as fast as possible is to promptly collect the documents and submit them to the Migration Service without delay.
If you are in Kyiv or Kyiv Oblast, we can help with fast document collection and submission.
Do I have to pass exams to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine?
Can I get a residence permit without registration of place of residence?
If it concerns an extension or exchange of a residence permit, registration is mandatory. If there is no registration or it has been annulled, the exchange will be refused.
Can I obtain a residence permit if I have a criminal record?
May I leave Ukraine after submitting documents for a residence permit?
Note that during processing, you may be invited to an interview. In that case, you will need to return to Ukraine or arrange to have the interview conducted online.
Is my foreign passport taken away when applying for a residence permit?
Is a stamp about a Ukrainian residence permit placed in the foreign passport?
For a temporary residence permit — no: since 2018, no stamp is placed in the passport.
For a permanent residence permit — yes: a stamp confirming issuance is placed in the foreigner’s passport. Later, when a new passport is obtained, the stamp must be placed in the new document as well.
How to register the address after obtaining a residence permit?
If registration is successful, you can obtain an extract confirming your address on the Diia portal or at the CNAP where you are registered. There is no need to additionally bring this extract to the Migration Service.
If you have exchanged (extended) your permit, contact the CNAP or local council where you are registered; they will update the details of the new document in the territorial community register. When you change your address, you must obtain a new residence permit with the new registration.
Do I need a visa to enter Ukraine if I have a residence permit?
Which countries can I visit with a Ukrainian residence permit?
Can a foreigner with a Ukrainian residence permit use the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU?
Are foreigners with a residence permit conscripted into the Ukrainian army?
A foreigner may join the Armed Forces of Ukraine only voluntarily.
For details on how a foreigner can enlist in the Ukrainian army, see the official website of the International Legion.
What taxes apply to foreigners with a residence permit in Ukraine?
Foreigners with a temporary residence permit are, by default, not tax residents. Therefore, they pay taxes as non-residents. If such a foreigner spends more time in Ukraine than abroad, they can obtain a Ukrainian tax resident certificate.
How many days may one be absent from Ukraine with a residence permit?
You may come to Ukraine only to extend your documents — this will not be a ground for canceling the residence permit.
Is it possible to have two residence permits?
However, it is impossible to hold two residence permits in Ukraine simultaneously.
What is the state fee for a residence permit in Ukraine?
— for obtaining an Immigration Permit — UAH 1,843.74
— for obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit — UAH 1,235
— for obtaining a Temporary Residence Permit — UAH 1,140
Questions and comments