Visas and Immigration in Ukraine

Ukraine offers various visa and residence options for foreign nationals, including short-term visas, temporary residence permits, permanent residence, and citizenship by investment programs.

Visa-Free Travel

Citizens of the EU, USA, UK, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and many other countries can enter Ukraine without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Visa Types

Short-Term Visa (Type C)

• Duration: Up to 90 days within 180-day period
• Purpose: Tourism, business visits, conferences
• Processing time: 5-15 working days

Long-Term Visa (Type D)

• Duration: Up to 90 days (entry visa, then apply for residence permit)
• Purpose: Employment, business, study, family reunification
• Processing time: 10-30 working days

Temporary Residence Permit

A temporary residence permit allows foreign nationals to stay in Ukraine for up to 3 years (renewable). Grounds include:

• Employment: Work permit + residence permit
• Business: Registration as individual entrepreneur or company founder
• Study: Enrolled in a Ukrainian educational institution
• Family reunification: Spouse, children, or parents of Ukrainian citizens
• Investment: Minimum investment threshold (varies)
• Digital nomad: Diia City residency for IT professionals

Work Permits

Foreign employees need a work permit to be employed in Ukraine:

• Type 1: Highly paid specialists (4+ times minimum wage)
• Type 2: IT professionals under Diia City
• Type 3: Other foreign employees
• Duration: Up to 3 years, renewable
• Processing time: 7-15 working days

Permanent Residence

Foreign nationals may apply for permanent residence after 5 years of continuous temporary residence in Ukraine. Permanent residents enjoy the same rights as Ukrainian citizens except voting.

Citizenship

Ukrainian citizenship can be obtained through:

• Birth: Born to Ukrainian parents or born in Ukraine to stateless parents
• Naturalization: 5 years of continuous residence, language proficiency, knowledge of constitution
• Investment: No formal citizenship-by-investment program exists
• Repatriation: Ethnic Ukrainans and their descendants

Diia City Special Residency

IT professionals and entrepreneurs can benefit from:

• Simplified residence permit process
• Favorable tax regime (0% PIT on certain income, 5% on distributed profits)
• Flexible employment options (gig-contracts)
• No minimum salary requirement for IT specialists