How to apply for a temporary residence permit in Ukraine?

Having a temporary or permanent residence permit will allow you, as a foreigner, to legally stay in Ukraine for a longer period than a tourist, and also enjoy a number of rights, as Ukrainian citizens. The catch is that this permit is not handed out left and right. You must meet certain requirements to receive it.

Who is eligible for a temporary residence permit?

There are two sets of requirements that determine whether you are eligible for a residence permit. The first set relates to the grounds, i.e. why you came to Ukraine and want to stay here. In this case, you can try to get a permit if you:

• Came to Ukraine on invitation to work, you have an offer or already issued work permit;
• Came to Ukraine to help as a volunteer in a volunteer organization;
• Are planning to get married in Ukraine or are already married to a citizen of Ukraine or a person who already has a residence permit;
• Enrolled in a Ukrainian university;
• Opened a business (company) in Ukraine and plan to work in it as a director or in another position;
• Came to Ukraine to work in a foreign representative office.

These are only some of the reasons, there may be more.

The second group is the basic factors or requirements for the applicant. For example, such a foreigner:

• Must have a valid passport or other ID document;
• Must provide only truthful information required when applying for a permit;
• Must not have a criminal record in Ukraine or a ban on entry;
• Must be in Ukraine legally at the time of submitting documents, without violating the terms of stay;
• Must not have violated the laws of Ukraine or posed a danger to the interests of national security or citizens of Ukraine by their actions.

Related article: What are the grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine?

The process of obtaining temporary residence permit for foreigners in Ukraine

First Stage: Preparation.

The timing of this stage will depend on your situation and whether the grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine are ready. The preparation of the documents itself will not take us much time, because we have already gone through the process hundreds of times. As a standard, you will need the following documents:

• Passport with the required visa and entry stamp. You will also need its translation.
• Documents that confirm that you have grounds. They will be different for each ground.
• Application.
• Medical insurance.

This stage can be significantly complicated if, for example, you do not have grounds for staying in Ukraine. Then you will need time to create them. For example, through registering a company and getting employed as a director. 

The second example that can delay the preparation period is the lack of necessary documents. Most often, those that confirm your grounds for staying in Ukraine. In this case, you will have to spend time requesting and processing them.

You don't have to be in Ukraine for the preparatory stage. We can do most things remotely.

Second Stage: Application.

To submit documents, a foreigner must appear at the SMS office in person. This cannot be done by a lawyer under a power of attorney. The review usually lasts about 15 working days. But there have been situations when additional documents were required during this period. So, our specialists constantly monitor the review of documents and are in touch with the SMS authority.

Final Stage: Obtaining the document.

You will also need to pick up your residence permit in person. Then you will need to monitor the permit expiration dates and submit documents for its extension on time.

Important information for foreigners about obtaining a residence permit

The procedure has many small nuances that need to be taken into account. For example:

• Depending on the visa regime between Ukraine and your country of citizenship, you may need a D visa to enter Ukraine.
• When entering the country, you may be checked for sufficient funds to stay for a certain period. It is a good idea to have a recent bank statement with you in this case.
• Once you have the permit in hand, you will need to register in Ukraine at a specific address within 30 days. If you do not do this, you will be fined at the very least.
• If you are denied a residence permit, not all is lost. You need to figure out the reason and try to eliminate it. You can also try to appeal the decision of the Migration Service or even go to court.

If you want to submit documents yourself, you can use our materials on the website or try to understand the law. The main thing is to do this in advance, before arriving in Ukraine, since the time allotted to you as a tourist to stay in the country may not be enough.

Or order support for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine from us, and you will receive a ready result, absolutely without straining or worrying.