Ukraine work permit and work visa

The employer, a legal entity or sole trader, applies to the regional, Kyiv city or Sevastopol city employment centre in person, through a representative or by registered mail. The permit is issued for a specific category: foreign employee, seconded worker, intra-corporate transferee, highly paid professional, founder or beneficial owner of a Ukrainian legal entity, foreign IT professional, or graduate of a university in the top 100 of the ARWU, Times Higher Education or QS rankings.

The salary in the draft and the signed contract must be at least ten minimum wages, or five minimum wages for staff of non-governmental organisations, charities and educational institutions; otherwise the review is suspended. The fee depends on the permit term and is counted in living wages for able-bodied persons as of 1 January of the year of application: three for up to six months, five for up to one year, eight for up to two years and ten for up to three years. The employer pays within ten working days of the decision.

The temporary residence permit costs UAH 1,140 in total: UAH 34 state duty, UAH 452 administrative fee and UAH 654 for the card blank. It is processed within 15 working days at the State Migration Service, the state enterprise Document or a Centre of Administrative Services. For employees, the application includes the employment permit and the employer's commitment to notify the migration and employment services if the contract ends early.

After the permit is granted, the employer must sign the employment contract within 90 calendar days and file a copy within ten days of signing, or the permit can be cancelled. The worker applies at a Ukrainian embassy or consulate for a long-term D visa; Ukrainian consular guidance describes it as a multiple-entry visa for 90 days and asks for medical insurance with cover of at least EUR 30,000. In Ukraine the worker applies for a temporary residence permit at least 15 working days before the permitted stay ends.

A work permit can be refused when the employer is not in the Unified State Register, documents for an extension were filed late, defects were not corrected in time, or the Security Service of Ukraine does not approve a citizen of Russia, Belarus or another listed state. The employer can appeal to the State Employment Centre within 15 calendar days, or go to the district administrative court within six months, or three months after an administrative appeal.