Ukraine (UA)

Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay and retain evidence of every border entry and exit date. Accurate 90/180-day tracking is essential for visa-free nationals. Given the ongoing war (2022–), carry your passport at all times and keep emergency evacuation documents readily accessible.

Most long-term permit routes in Ukraine begin with a D visa (national visa for residence, work or family purposes) issued by the Ukrainian Embassy in your home country, or with documented legal visa-free entry. The 90/180-day rule applies to visa-free nationals and must be calculated carefully before each re-entry.

Plastic residence card issued by the State Migration Service of Ukraine (Державна міграційна служба, DMS). Required for banking, rental agreements, employment, and most official workflows. Temporary residence permits (Посвідка на тимчасове проживання) are issued for 1 year and renewed; permanent permits (Посвідка на постійне проживання) are issued after 5+ years of legal residence.

Registration of place of residence with the local centre for administrative services (CNAP / ЦНАПт) or through the State Migration Service is required for residence permits, banking, employment and school enrolment. Your landlord must support the registration with property ownership documents.

The RNOKPP (Реєстраційний номер облікової картки платника податків) is Ukraine's 10-digit individual taxpayer registration number, issued by the State Tax Service. Required for employment payroll, bank account opening, property transactions, FOP (sole trader / Фізична особа-підприємець) registration and tax filings. Apply at any State Tax Service office or online via the Diia app.

Foreign nationals generally need an employer-backed work permit (дозвіл на застосування праці іноземців) issued by the State Employment Service before lawful employment, unless a specific exemption applies (e.g., certain EU citizens, highly qualified specialists). The employer applies; processing takes 10–30 working days.

Private medical insurance is required for residence permit applications and strongly recommended for all expats. Ukraine's public health system (which is undergoing reform) has limited capacity for foreign nationals, and the ongoing war has significantly impacted healthcare infrastructure in many regions. Ensure your policy includes medical evacuation coverage.

Required for family-based residence permits, school enrolment, inheritance proceedings and civil registration. Ukraine is a Hague Apostille member; documents from Hague member countries require apostille. Certified Ukrainian translation by a sworn translator (sworn/notarially certified перекладач) is required for all non-Ukrainian documents.

Required for regulated professions, university enrolment and employer due diligence. Ukraine is a Hague Apostille member; apostille from Hague member countries is required. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (МОН України) handles nostrification (recognition) of foreign academic degrees. Certified Ukrainian translation required.

A valid foreign driving licence with an IDP (International Driving Permit) is recognised in Ukraine. If your licence is not in Latin or Cyrillic/Ukrainian script, a certified Ukrainian translation is required. For long-term residents, a Ukrainian driving licence can be obtained from the Service Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Сервісний центр МВС).

Bank statements, employment contracts, sale agreements, tax returns and payslips are required for property purchases, large bank transfers and KYC compliance. Ukrainian banks apply strict anti-money-laundering rules, particularly for foreign nationals.

Required for importing dogs and cats into Ukraine. Core documents include a microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785), a valid rabies vaccination record (not less than 21 days old), a veterinary health certificate and an import permit from the State Service of Food Safety and Consumer Protection (Держпродспоживслужба). Due to the ongoing war, border crossing points and import routes should be verified before travel.