Who Can Obtain a Permanent Residence Permit in Ukraine?
| 01/05/25 | ||
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Author: Volodymyr Gurlov Legal services in Ukraine: Get permanent residence in Ukraine |
Ukraine continues to attract foreigners who wish to become part of its society, and obtaining a permanent residence permit opens up numerous opportunities for those who want not only to live but also to actively work or run a business in Ukraine. This document grants a foreign national or stateless person the right to reside permanently in Ukraine, enjoy free entry and exit, work without the need for a special employment permit, register a business, open accounts with Ukrainian banks, and benefit from other important rights and obligations.
Various categories of individuals are eligible to obtain a permanent residence permit in Ukraine, each with its own conditions. In this article, we will take a closer look at who exactly is eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit, the validity period of the permit, and the main grounds for obtaining it.
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Who Can Obtain an Immigration Permit and a Permanent Residence Permit in Ukraine
Ukrainian legislation allows various categories of individuals to apply for a permanent residence permit. Each case has its own specific conditions, but the general criteria are as follows:
- Children and parents of Ukrainian citizens;
- Spouses of Ukrainian citizens, provided they have been married for more than two years (if the Ukrainian citizen spouse was a servicemember who died during the war, the two-year requirement does not apply);
- Individuals who previously held Ukrainian citizenship but have since lost it or possess a document confirming their renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship;
- Individuals who were born or resided on the territory of Ukraine before 1991 but did not acquire Ukrainian citizenship;
- Children, grandchildren, and parents of persons who were born or resided on the territory of Ukraine before 1991;
- Siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of Ukrainian citizens;
- Spouses of foreigners who hold a permanent residence permit in Ukraine, and their minor children;
- Parents who are considered family members of a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit in Ukraine;
- Guardians and custodians of Ukrainian citizens;
- Individuals under the guardianship or custody of Ukrainian citizens;
- Foreign Ukrainians (ethnic Ukrainians living abroad);
- Spouses and children of foreign Ukrainians;
- Highly qualified specialists and workers, subject to approval by the Ministry of Economy;
- Individuals who have invested at least 0,000 in the Ukrainian economy;
- Individuals who have continuously resided in Ukraine for the past five years, subject to meeting certain conditions.
There are also other circumstances under which a foreigner may qualify for permanent residence in Ukraine, but each case requires individual analysis. An experienced migration lawyer can help determine the necessary set of documents to confirm eligibility for immigration and obtain a permanent residence permit.
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Form of the Residence Permit and Its Validity Period
Previously, the permanent residence permit in Ukraine was issued in the form of a paper booklet and had to be replaced upon reaching the ages of 25 and 45. Currently, the Migration Service of Ukraine issues this document in the form of a plastic card.
The validity period of such a permit is 10 years. However, this does not mean that the right to permanent residence in Ukraine is canceled after this period. It simply means that the permit must be renewed every 10 years. To do this, the applicant must submit their passport, its certified translation, and the expiring residence permit to the Migration Service.
The permanent residence permit is initially issued on the basis of an immigration permit to Ukraine.
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Which Authority Issues the Immigration Permit and What is the Application Review Period?
To obtain an immigration permit, a foreigner may apply to:
- The Ukrainian consulate in the foreigner's country of residence. In this case, the documents will be processed within up to 12 months.
- The Migration Service within Ukraine at the foreigner's place of actual residence. In this case, the documents will be processed within up to 6 months.
Why You Should Turn to an Immigration Lawyer
We recommend consulting competent specialists if you need to obtain documents for permanent residence in Ukraine. Our immigration lawyer will not only help you choose the grounds for obtaining a permanent residence permit, but will also organize the preparation and submission of documents and provide full support at every stage.
Submit a request, and we will help you smoothly navigate all the steps of obtaining a permanent residence permit in Ukraine!
