Ukraine temporary residence permit cost not much compared to other countries and it is quite easy to obtain the document in a legal way with the professional legal assistance of a lawyer. Foreign citizens and stateless persons have many reasons to visit Ukraine again. In order to simplify the procedure for entering the territory of Ukraine and legalise their stay here, it is recommended to apply for a temporary residence permit in accordance with immigration laws. Among the most popular Ukraine temporary residence permit benefits are a freedom of movement without a visa during the validity of the document, a right for official employment, a right to apply for visa to another country from the territory of Ukraine.
What is a temporary residence permit (TRP) in Ukraine?
A Ukraine temporary residence permit is a document certifying the identity of a foreigner or a stateless person and confirming the legal grounds for temporary residence in Ukraine. Sometimes people call the document a Ukraine trc card or posvidka (posvitka).
Who can apply for a temporary residence permit in Ukraine?
Foreigners and stateless persons who are temporary legally staying in the territory of Ukraine as well as reached the age of 16 years or have not reached the age of 16 years, but who have arrived solo to Ukraine with education purposes – on the basis of the application forms, submitted in person OR have not reached the age of 16 years or recognised legally as incapable person – on the basis of application forms of the persons, mentioned in the paragraphs 2-13, Article 4, Law of Ukraine “On the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons”, to whom they have arrived for the purpose of family reunification.
How to obtain TRP in Ukraine?
In accordance with Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine On Legal Status of the Foreigners and Stateless Persons the temporary residence permit is issued to:
1) foreigner or stateless person who, according to the law, has arrived in Ukraine for for the purpose of employment;
2) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of participation in technical assistance projects, registered according to the established procedure;
3) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of preaching and delivering religious instruction, carrying out religious rituals or other canonical activity, upon invitation of religious organizations and in agreement with a public authority that performed registration of this religious organization;
4) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of participating in the activity of branches, divisions, representative offices and other structural units of civil society (non-governmental) organizations of foreign states, registered according to the established procedure;
5) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of employment at representative offices of foreign business entities in Ukraine, registered according to the established procedure;
6) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of carrying out cultural, scientific or educational activity on the basis and according to the procedure established by international agreements of Ukraine or special programmes, a foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of participating in international and regional volunteer programmes or participating in the activity of organizations and institutions that engage volunteers on the basis of the Law of Ukraine on Volunteering, the information of which is present on the official website of Ministry of social policy of Ukraine;
7) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of working as a correspondent or representative of foreign mass media outlets;
8) foreigner or stateless person who is the founder and/or participant and/or beneficiary owner (controller) of a legal entity registered in Ukraine and whose share of ownership or a foreign legal entity, the beneficiary (controller) of which is such foreigner or stateless persons, in the authorized capital of a Ukrainian legal entity is not less than 100 thousand EUR at the official exchange rate established by the National Bank on the date of a foreign investment;
9) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of study;
10) foreigner or stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of family reunification with persons who are Ukrainian nationals or who during their legal stay on the territory of Ukraine in cases listed in parts 3 – 13 of Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons” has married the citizen of Ukraine;
11) foreigner and stateless person who arrived in Ukraine for the purpose of family reunification with the persons specified in parts 2 to 13 of this Article and received a temporary residence permit shall be deemed to be legally present on the territory of Ukraine;
12) foreigner or stateless person, which have been released from Migrant Accommodation Centres for foreigners and stateless persons illegally staying in Ukraine on the basis of the court decision to cancel decision on their detention or forced expulsion from Ukraine, or those who prior to expiration of the maximum period of their stay in such Centres have not been expelled from Ukraine on the basis of absence of travel document, transport connection with their country of origin or other reasons outside their control;
13) foreigners and stateless persons who have duly concluded a contract for military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine are considered to be those who legally temporarily reside on the territory of Ukraine for the period of the contract for military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Temporary residence on the territory of Ukraine of such foreigners and stateless persons is confirmed by a military ticket of privates, sergeants and non-commissioned officers;
14) foreigner and stateless person who provided instructor (shooting, tactical, medical, radio, explosive and other) assistance to units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, law enforcement agencies of special purpose, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine involved in anti-terrorist operation, being directly in the areas of its conduct, and / or involved in the implementation of measures to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, being directly in the areas of their conduct, or voluntary formations that were formed or self-organized to protect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and together with the above units participated directly in the anti-terrorist operation, ensuring its implementation, being directly in the areas of the anti-terrorist operation during the period of its conduct, as well as those who took part in combat or service tasks of the anti-terrorist operation and / or measures to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions together with the above units and volunteer formations and received a temporary residence permit, are considered to be on the territory of Ukraine on legal grounds, including in cases where the passport has expired or is subject to exchange, until the end of the temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation within the meaning of the Law of Ukraine “On the peculiarities of the state policy to ensure the state sovereignty of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions”.
When to apply for TRP in Ukraine?
Applicants need to have long term visa type D (in accordance to the purpose of intended stay), on arrival to Ukraine they have to approach territorial department of State migration service of Ukraine or its state owned enterprises which are available in limited cities, not later than 15 working (24 calendar) days prior the expiration of visa, and with a certain package of documents depends on the category.
After the submission of documents the applicant has to wait about 15 working days to receive the ready document. In some cases the applicant might be invited for an interview by officers of authorities that prosecute illegal migration, in order to clarify the purpose of intended stay and other related details.
What if you do not have your own grounds for TRP in Ukraine?
As you can see at the moment there are 14 legal reasons for obtaining a temporary residence permit in Ukraine. Our immigration lawyer can assess your requirements for intended stay in Ukraine and suggest possible options in accordance to that in order to pursue your best interests and protect from unpleasant problems such as refusal to issue a visa, temporary residence permit, its annual exchange or sudden revocation.
Violators of public order or “cheaters” who think that they outwitted state authorities will face penalties, deportation, entry ban, administrative or criminal liability
It is worth noting that you should not consider just buying such a reason for TRP in Ukraine or appropriate documents because state authorities of Ukraine have according rights to verify every application and if an applicant would fail to prove the purpose of intended stay in Ukraine it might result in refusal of the decision of issuance of the TRP.
For example, many foreigners from African, Middle East and Asian countries consider Ukraine as a destination for better employment opportunities and/or transit area and for this purpose consider obtaining a work visa based on work permit. However in case if such a person on arrival to Ukraine would not get employed officially, start to receive regular salary and pay taxes then the previously issued TRP can be revoked or migration service might refuse to extend its validity in the event of checking the absence of previously paid taxes. In addition, different sanctions will be set against such a person (penalties, deportation, entry ban, administrative or criminal liability).
The same applies to some foreigners from the EU and other west countries who come to Ukraine on work permits.
Thus, it is highly recommended to consider a right option on migrating to Ukraine in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
So, what is the most reasonable and secure way of obtaining TRP in Ukraine in case of absence of its own grounds?
Every case is very individual. However, given that there are only 14 categories of applicants for TRP in Ukraine and one of them is about illegals released from detention facilities for violation of public order, means that actually there are 13 categories left, the most reasonable and safe ways are:
1) employment;
2) registration of business and buying of property;
3) investment;
4) studying;
5) volunteering.
Our immigration lawyer has a wide experience based on everyday legal practice on resolving various legal matters related to the rules of stay of foreigners in Ukraine, and will be pleased to provide appropriate legal counseling and services to assist you to pursue your best interests.
Please note that a preliminary legal counseling is free of charge only if it does not require significant spending of time and analysing a number of documents. Thus, our immigration lawyer is in position to listen to you or chat on messenger, however in case of individual approach and proper assessment of the case it will be a paid service.
