Note!
The rules for obtaining temporary and permanent residence permits in Ukraine have changed. The adjustments mainly affected Russian citizens. You can find out the latest information by following the link.
Residents of foreign countries can stay in Ukraine for no more than 90 days within six months. If there is a need to stay in the country for a longer period, to legalize your status, you should apply for a residence permit.
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Definition of residence permit in Ukraine
A residence permit is a document that provides a foreigner (and people deprived of citizenship) with the opportunity to permanently reside in the state. In the Ukrainian state, for 2021, this is a permanent residence certificate.
It is important to note that a residence permit can be either temporary or permanent.
And if a temporary residence permit is issued for a specific period (for example, for the period of study), then a permanent residence permit in Ukraine can be called unlimited .
The only condition is the replacement of a residence permit when the migrant reaches 25 and 45 years of age. Such a document does not require a person to renounce his native citizenship and is issued at the place of his future registration, and the basis for its acquisition is a previously obtained immigration permit.
Required documents
The following documents are provided to the migration service:
- questionnaire;
- a foreign passport translated into Ukrainian and certified;
- 4 photographs, format 35x45 mm;
- evidence of ties with Ukraine: birth certificates, documents confirming connections with relatives, marriage certificate, employment contract, international technical support agreement, petition from a religious organization;
- receipt of payment of the fee;
- medical insurance.
Terms and cost of obtaining a residence permit
Review of documents for a temporary residence permit takes up to 15 days, permanent – up to 7 days. In case of refusal of a permanent residence permit, re-application is allowed after a year.
Within 30 days after receiving the residence permit certificate, the foreigner undertakes to register his place of residence. Registration confirms residence at the specified address.
The cost of services for obtaining a residence permit consists mainly of the assistance of a lawyer, payment of an administrative fee, translation of documents and purchase of an insurance policy. The final price depends on the complexity of the individual issue.
What is an immigration permit?
Foreigners staying outside Ukraine will need such a paper, and they can obtain it by contacting the diplomatic mission of the state. A petition completed in accordance with all the rules can be considered a sufficient basis for the institution to issue an immigrant one-year visa (Type D). In the future, this visa will be replaced by a permanent residence permit and, naturally, its extension will no longer be required.
Example of a visa to Ukraine
Thanks to a residence permit, a foreign citizen receives the right to visa-free entry into Ukraine and can also live in the country for as long as he needs. In addition, the migrant is endowed with the right to free employment and economic rights characteristic of a resident of the state, except, perhaps, voting rights.
In circumstances where a migrant who has already entered the country and is on its territory applies for a permanent residence permit, the document is received at the same time as the immigration permit. The issuance of such permits is carried out by OVIR/SMS.
Registration cost
It is difficult to say the final cost of obtaining a residence permit. It consists of expenses for:
- obtaining certificates and other papers;
- notarization of documents;
- payment of state duty;
- payment for intermediary services.
The cost will be higher if you contact special companies that provide assistance in registration. This way you can save time and effort, but the cost of the issue will increase.
Who can apply for an immigration permit?
Often such permitting documentation is obtained within the framework designated by a certain quota. The following persons fall into this quota:
- Scientific and cultural figures needed by the state or persons who have made a significant investment contribution to the country’s economy (from $100,000).
- The migrant's closest direct relatives.
- Relatives of a Ukrainian citizen.
- People who once had citizenship.
- Refugees.
- Victims of human trafficking.
Bypassing the quota, such permission can be granted in 2021 by:
- One of the married couple, if the second of them is a Ukrainian citizen, but only under circumstances where the marriage lasts at least 2 years.
- Child or parent of a national.
- Subjects applying for a residence permit based on their origin from these lands.
- Foreigners acting as trustees of Ukrainian subjects, or themselves being under their guardianship.
- People whose immigration is beneficial to the state.
- Representatives of the diaspora and their relatives, subject to joint entry into the country and residence in it.
Temporary residence permit in Ukraine
The main legal norms in 2021 do not clearly indicate the method of obtaining a temporary residence permit, except for mentioning it in connection with work. The stages of obtaining a temporary residence permit are not specified separately. Therefore, obtaining a permit for a temporary residence permit on the territory of a given state is possible after confirmation of a work permit by the Ukrainian state employment center. Otherwise, the procedure for obtaining status is similar to the preparation of documentation for permanent residence.
An example of a temporary permit for permanent residence in Ukraine
But here we need to take into account one nuance related to the signed agreement between Ukraine and Latvia on workers in the territories of both states. It stipulates that the employee must only perform work for which a permit has been issued. At the same time, obtaining a temporary residence permit in Ukraine in 2021 is mandatory.
The rest of the immigrants who came to Ukraine for employment with a permit issued by the relevant employment center or an issued IM-1 visa are provided with a temporary residence permit on its territory.
What does obtaining a permanent residence permit in Ukraine give?
Obtaining a residence permit by individuals provides migrants (subjects deprived of citizenship) with the following benefits and privileges:
- A migrant or a person deprived of citizenship at any time and absolutely freely has the right to cross the borders of Ukraine without first obtaining a visa.
- For these people, the length of stay in the Ukrainian state is not limited to the restrictions provided for short-term stays in the country (90 out of 180 possible days).
- A migrant who has a residence permit does not need to obtain a work permit when finding employment.
- The restrictive factor provided for by the work permit and the combination of jobs and positions is removed.
- Residence permit holders are exempt from unnecessary financial expenses associated with the need to compulsorily purchase medical insurance, pay consular fees and other costs that are inevitable for foreign citizens and persons deprived of citizenship planning a trip to the Ukrainian state.
- The validity of a permanent residence permit is not limited, as opposed to a temporary residence permit, the owners of which must undergo the renewal procedure annually (the only thing to remember is that a permanent residence permit is subject to exchange after the holder reaches 25 and 45 years of age).
- In a situation where a foreigner retains citizenship of his native state and obtains permanent residence, he receives the status of a resident of the country, which means he is subject to the same tax rates and related benefits as ordinary citizens.
- People who have acquired permanent residence will have the right to study in 2021 (and their children have the right to apply for free education).
- They gain the opportunity to import a personal car to Ukraine without paying duty.
- They can count on retirement in the future.
- Migrants are also given the right to easy and hassle-free service in banking institutions, and are also given the opportunity to take advantage of their credit products.
- They have the right to issue entry visas to other regions directly in Ukraine.
- And most importantly, permanent residence permits the migrant to apply for Ukrainian citizenship in the future.
What are the grounds for obtaining permanent residence in Ukraine in 2020?
№ | A list of grounds for obtaining a permanent residence permit or a list of persons who can obtain a permanent residence permit on the listed grounds. | Conditions |
01 | Husband, wife (foreigners and stateless persons) who have been married to a citizen of Ukraine for more than two years, children and parents of citizens of Ukraine; | out of quota |
02 | Persons who are guardians or trustees of citizens of Ukraine, or are under the guardianship or trusteeship of citizens of Ukraine; | out of quota |
03 | A person who himself or at least one of his parents, grandfather or grandmother, siblings (full and half-blood), brother or sister, son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter was born or permanently resided before August 24, 1991 in the territory that became the territory of Ukraine in accordance with with the Law of Ukraine “On Legal Succession of Ukraine”, or he or at least one of his parents, grandparents, siblings (full and half-siblings) were born or permanently resided in other territories that were included at the time of their birth or during their permanent residence in the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Western Ukrainian People's Republic, the Ukrainian State, the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, Transcarpathian Ukraine, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), and is a stateless person or a foreigner who has submitted an obligation to terminate foreign citizenship and has submitted an application on the acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine, as well as its minor children are registered as citizens of Ukraine. Foreigners who are citizens (subjects) of several states submit an obligation to cease citizenship of all these states. Foreigners who have been granted refugee status in Ukraine or asylum in Ukraine, instead of the obligation to terminate foreign citizenship, submit a declaration on the renunciation of foreign citizenship by the person who has been granted refugee status in Ukraine or asylum in Ukraine. | out of quota |
04 | Persons whose immigration is of state interest for Ukraine; | out of quota |
05 | Foreign Ukrainians, husband, wife of a foreign Ukrainian, their children in the event of their common entry and stay on the territory of Ukraine. | out of quota |
06 | Scientific and cultural figures whose immigration is in the interests of Ukraine | according to quota |
07 | Highly qualified specialists and workers, the urgent need for which is tangible for the Ukrainian economy | according to quota |
08 | Persons who have made a foreign investment in the economy of Ukraine in foreign convertible currency in the amount of at least 100 (one hundred) thousand US dollars, registered in the manner determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine | according to quota |
09 | Persons who are a full brother or sister, grandparent, grandson or granddaughter of citizens of Ukraine | according to quota |
10 | Persons who were previously citizens of Ukraine | according to quota |
11 | Parents, husband (wife) of an immigrant and his underage children | according to quota |
12 | Persons who have continuously lived on the territory of Ukraine for three years from the date they were granted the status of a person affected by human trafficking | according to quota |
13 | Foreigners and stateless persons who arrived in Ukraine for permanent residence before 06/07/2001 have in the passport of a citizen of the former USSR of the 1974 model a mark of registration in Ukraine or a document confirming the fact of registration; | simplified procedure |
14 | Foreigners and stateless persons who were forced to leave their places of permanent residence in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia of Georgia, arrived in Ukraine, received a temporary certificate in the prescribed manner and lived in Ukraine for at least five years, as well as their adult children who arrived in Ukraine together with them until they reach adulthood | simplified procedure |
15 | Foreigners and stateless persons who arrived in Ukraine before March 6, 1998 under the Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the USSR on the direction and acceptance of Vietnamese citizens for vocational training and work at enterprises and organizations of the USSR dated April 2, 1981, remained to reside in Ukraine and applied from 06/07/2001 to 11/30/2001 with an application for issuance of a permanent residence permit in Ukraine; | simplified procedure |
16 | Foreigners and stateless persons who arrived in Ukraine as orphans in connection with armed conflicts in their places of permanent residence and are or were brought up in state children's institutions or in family-type orphanages or over whom guardianship or trusteeship of citizens of Ukraine was established. | simplified procedure |
Our company has experience in getting out of complicated situations of any complexity. We will help you collect all the necessary documents, including from the archives of other states. Our specialists have extensive experience in finding and restoring the grounds for obtaining a residence permit. If you need to obtain a document that will allow you to stay in Ukraine indefinitely, we will help you with this!
The permanent residence permit is valid for an indefinite period. However, it is imperative to comply with the condition of replacing the residence permit upon reaching the ages of 25 and 45 years.
ATTENTION
Required documents for issuing permanent residence permit
The documentation that a foreigner will need to acquire permanent residence in 2021 is stipulated by law. However, it may differ and this significantly depends on the grounds for issuing a residence permit.
For a person in a marital relationship with a Ukrainian citizen:
- statement;
- identification document;
- photocopies of pages of a personal document with a translation into the language of the country, certified by a notary;
- 8 photos (45x35mm);
- Marriage certificate;
- certificate confirming family composition;
- certificate in form-1;
- documents for your own housing or rental agreement;
- consent of the owner of the premises to the registration and residence of persons renting real estate from him.
For migrants applying for a residence permit based on their territorial origin:
- application-petition;
- passport;
- previously agreed upon copies of the identity document;
- 8 photographs (matte);
- birth certificates or other document capable of confirming the fact of residence of immediate relatives in Ukraine;
- marriage certificate;
- certificate about family composition;
- certificate drawn up in form-1;
- documents for premises that are personally owned or a lease agreement;
- confirmation of the consent of the owner of the rented apartment to live and register at this address.
For highly qualified specialists of interest to the Ukrainian economy:
- statement;
- passport;
- notarized copies of passport pages, with translation into the language of the country;
- 8 matte photos (45x35mm);
- a document confirming the necessary high qualifications of a specialist, which will be important for the state’s economy in 2021;
- certificate of marriage;
- certificate confirming family composition;
- submitted certificate form-1;
- documents for private real estate or rental agreement;
- statement from the owner of the premises (rented).
For those individuals who have invested in the Ukrainian economy:
- statement;
- passport;
- copies of passport pages;
- 8 photos (45x35mm, matte);
- a document confirming a subsidy of $100,000;
- Marriage certificate;
- a document from the Housing Office about family composition;
- certificate drawn up in form-1;
- documents for a house or apartment, or a lease agreement;
- statement of consent from the owner of the rented premises;
- a certificate confirming the fact of no criminal record in the Ukrainian state;
- a medical certificate stating the absence of acute infectious diseases, as well as HIV infection, drug addiction, alcoholism and substance abuse;
- legal documentation confirming the foreigner’s residence outside the country.
For subjects who are immediate relatives, as well as guardians or wards of a Ukrainian subject:
- petition-statement;
- personal document (passport);
- notarized and translated into the language of the country its photocopies;
- 8 photo cards (45x35mm);
- documentation indicating kinship with a Ukrainian subject or confirming the fact of guardianship or guardianship by such a person;
- marriage certificate;
- documentation on family composition;
- certificate in form-1;
- documents for your own housing or lease agreement;
- statement of consent from the owner of the rented premises;
- a certificate excluding the foreigner’s criminal record;
- a standard medical certificate for such cases;
- documentation confirming the fact of residence of a foreigner outside the territory of Ukraine.
For people who were Ukrainian subjects in the past:
- statement;
- identification document;
- its notarized photocopies of pages with Ukrainian translation;
- 8 photographs (matte, for documents);
- confirmation of the fact that the subject was previously a Ukrainian citizen;
- Marriage certificate;
- paper confirming family composition;
- certificate form-1;
- documentation for your own property or rental contract for housing;
- consent from the owner of the rented premises for registration and residence in his apartment;
- document confirming no criminal record in Ukraine;
- a medical certificate denying the fact of diseases such as HIV infection, substance abuse, alcoholism and other dangerous infections;
- document confirming the residence of a foreigner outside Ukraine.
For refugees who have been living in the country for the last three years:
- statement;
- national passport;
- photocopies of its pages, translated into Ukrainian and certified by a notary;
- 8 photos (previously specified format);
- documentation confirming the status of a foreigner and his continuity of residence in the state for 2021;
- a photocopy of the marriage certificate;
- a document indicating the composition of the family;
- certificate in form-1;
- documents for your own house or apartment or rental agreement;
- consent from the owner of the premises in the form of an application for residence and registration at this address of the tenant;
- a certificate refuting the fact of a probable criminal record;
- medical certificate confirming that diseases such as HIV, drug addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse and other dangerous infectious diseases have not been detected;
- documentation indicating the foreigner’s place of residence outside Ukraine.
Registration of a residence permit
A prerequisite is the presence of a special document confirming the validity and legality of obtaining a residence permit. That is, that same immigration permit, for which you will have to collect the largest number of papers. Next, you will have to fill out an application for a residence permit, certainly in Ukrainian.
Experienced people advise downloading the official form on the Internet and asking a native speaker to fill it out. The information provided in the form will be carefully checked, so there should be no inaccuracies, omissions or corrections. You will again need photographs of the same format (3.5x4.5 cm), but already 4 pieces (it doesn’t matter whether they are color or black and white, but the main thing is in good quality). Below is the list:
- A Russian passport, but certainly a foreign one. It is accompanied by page-by-page copies and a translation into Ukrainian certified by a notary. You can only have two pages - with personal data and a photo, but better - all pages.
- If the case is about family reunification, you will need a certificate of composition, a marriage certificate, if the status is divorced, then a divorce certificate and the same documents about the birth of each of the existing children.
- Obtaining a permanent or temporary residence permit requires mandatory registration at the place of residence in Ukraine. Attached to it is a residential lease agreement or a document certifying the fact of ownership of the property.
- Three certificates that need to be taken in Russia (an exception may be two medical ones, after examination in Ukraine) - about the absence of a criminal record, severe addiction (alcohol and drugs), tuberculosis, syphilis and HIV.
Although documents proving the existence of legal grounds were already provided when obtaining an immigration permit, they will again be required to be presented. It is better to clarify the list in advance, because, for example, an invitation to work will not be enough - you will have to bring an employment agreement and an order for employment.
Important!
All papers issued in Russian are submitted to the supervisory authorities complete with a Ukrainian translation, which must be certified by a notary and, preferably, by a public notary.
Obtaining a residence permit is a mandatory condition for permanent residence in Ukraine. This is done in most cases in person (both in Russia, when visiting a consulate or embassy, and in the future place of residence in the territorial authorities)
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In some cases, registration through a legal representative is allowed, who must have a power of attorney to represent the interests of the applicant (also certified by a notary). The application will be accepted only if all necessary documents have been collected. But you need to be prepared for the fact that after 7 days there may not be a certificate issued against receipt after presentation of an identity document, but a refusal to provide a residence permit on the basis of a trifling pretext. When obtaining a basic residence permit, you must present a receipt for payment of the state fee. Some categories of citizens have the right to non-payment, but it works if there is an appropriate certificate about it.