Ukraine Work Permit Guide for Employers. 2026

Decision time: 7 working days. Issuing authority: Regional Employment Centre (State Employment Service). Residence permit: State Migration Service (DMSU). Last reviewed: May 2026.

Quick answer

The employer submits the work permit application to the Regional Employment Centre — decision in 7 working days, no labour market test. Fee: based on subsistence minimum × permit duration.

The employee then applies for a Type D visa at a Ukrainian consulate. After arrival: Temporary Residence Permit at the State Migration Service (DMSU). Standard permits: up to 2 years.

Intra-company transferees and seconded workers: up to 3 years. Renewal: submit no earlier than 50 days and no later than 20 days before expiry. Russian/Belarusian nationals: SBU clearance required — indeterminate processing time.

Who does not need a work permit in Ukraine

Permit-exempt categories under Article 42 of the Law of Ukraine on Employment

Other categories provided for by Ukrainian law and international treaties ratified by the Verkhovna Rada:

• Foreign nationals with permanent residence status in Ukraine
• Recognised refugees and those granted additional or temporary protection in Ukraine
• Foreign maritime and aviation staff serving companies operating in Ukraine
• Accredited foreign media workers
• Professional sportspeople and artists working in their specialisation
• Emergency rescue workers performing urgent tasks
• Staff of foreign representative offices registered in Ukraine
• Religious ministers temporarily in Ukraine at the invitation of a registered religious organisation
• Participants in international technical assistance projects
• Academic staff invited to teach or conduct research at Ukrainian higher education institutions
• Foreign nationals awarded stateless person status by the competent Ukrainian authority.

Russian Federation and Belarusian nationals — extended processing under SBU clearance

Applications for work permits for citizens of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, and nationals of other states officially designated as posing a threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are subject to Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) clearance. The standard 7-working-day decision period is suspended until the SBU either grants or refuses clearance — there is no fixed deadline for SBU review. Employers should treat processing time for these nationalities as indeterminate and plan accordingly. The SBU may also refuse clearance, resulting in permit refusal regardless of document completeness.

State fees for Ukraine work permits

The fee is calculated as a multiple of the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons, which as of 1 January 2026 is UAH 3,328. The fee must be paid before submission, and the original receipt is a mandatory part of the application package.

Permit Duration	Multiple	Total State Fee (2026)
Up to 6 months	3×	UAH 9,984
6–12 months	5×	UAH 16,640
1–2 years	8×	UAH 26,624
2–3 years (ICTs/Seconded)	10×	UAH 33,280

The renewal fee is 1 subsistence minimum less than the initial issuance fee for the equivalent duration. Certain categories receive free permits, including refugees and persons awaiting refugee status decisions, foreign students at Ukrainian universities, stateless persons, and foreign nationals who participated directly in repelling Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.

How to get a work permit in Ukraine: the full process

The process runs in strict sequence across two government authorities. Steps 1 and 2 are employer-led. Steps 3 through 6 involve the employee. No step can begin before the previous one is complete.

Employer prepares application package and pays state fee

The registered Ukrainian employer pays the state fee before submission — fee amount confirmed per the subsistence minimum table above. The application package is assembled: the standard application form (approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 68 of 24 January 2023), a certified Ukrainian translation of the employee’s passport biographical pages, a 3.5 × 4.5 cm colour photograph, a draft employment contract, and the original fee payment receipt. A power of attorney is required if a representative submits on the employer’s behalf. Employer action — fee must be paid before submission.

Application submitted to Regional Employment Centre, decision within 7 working days

The employer submits the complete package to the Regional Employment Centre covering the employer’s registered location. Submission routes: in person during office hours; by post with an inventory of contents; or through an Administrative Services Centre (Центр надання адміністративних послуг — ЦНАП). The centre must issue its decision within 7 working days of registering the application. For renewals and amendments: 3 working days. The decision is communicated by email and posted on the centre’s website. Russian/Belarusian nationals: processing suspended pending SBU clearance — no fixed deadline.

Employee applies for Type D visa at Ukrainian consulate in home country

With the approved work permit, the employee applies for a Type D long-stay visa at the Ukrainian consulate or embassy in their country of residence. Standard processing: a few days to 10 business days. Expedited processing (available since March 2017): 5 business days. Consulates may extend processing by up to 30 business days if further examination is required. The employee applies in person. Employee action — in-person application at Ukrainian consulate.

Employee enters Ukraine, employer concludes and reports employment contract

The employee enters Ukraine on the Type D visa. The employer must conclude the employment contract with the foreign national within the statutory period and submit a copy to the Regional Employment Centre within 10 calendar days of signing. Unified social contribution (єдиний внесок) must begin within 2 months of the contract date, failure to do so is an automatic ground for permit cancellation under Article 42-10 of the Law on Employment. Contract copy to Regional Employment Centre within 10 days of signing; USC within 2 months.

Employee applies for Temporary Residence Permit at State Migration Service (DMSU)

The employee applies for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) at the State Migration Service of Ukraine (Державна міграційна служба України — DMSU), presenting the approved work permit as the basis. The TRP application must be submitted no later than 15 working days before the D-visa’s permitted stay expires. Even nationals of countries that are visa-exempt for entry into Ukraine must obtain a D-visa as the basis for their first TRP application. Apply at DMSU no later than 15 working days before D-visa permitted stay expires.

Residence registration completed

The foreign national completes formal registration of their place of residence with the local authorities, confirming their registered address in Ukraine for the duration of the TRP. This is the final step that fully regularises the right to live and work in Ukraine. Employee action — confirms registered address for TRP duration.

Process	Timeline	Details/Notes
Work permit	7 days	Regional Employment Centre decision
Type D visa	5–10 days	Ukrainian consulate — expedited available
Contract filing	Within 10 days	After signing — copy to Employment Centre
TRP at DMSU	Before D-visa ends	No later than 15 working days before expiry
Total lead time	4–8 weeks	End-to-end typical timeline

Ukraine is operating under martial law — what employers must know

Ukraine has been under martial law since 24 February 2022. Employers hiring in Ukraine in 2026 operate under an amended legal framework. Key payroll and employment implications: the military tax (військовий збір) on employment income was increased from 1.5% to 5% from 1 January 2026, applying to all employees including foreign nationals.

Monthly payroll reporting to tax authorities replaced quarterly reporting from 2025. Normal working hours may be extended to 60 hours per week for employees of critical infrastructure facilities. The work permit process for foreign nationals continues to operate under the standard framework, but applications for Russian Federation and Belarusian nationals are subject to Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) clearance with no fixed processing deadline.

Foreign nationals working legally in Ukraine under a valid work permit and Temporary Residence Permit are not subject to Ukrainian mobilisation obligations. However, employers should confirm the current security situation affecting their specific operating location before initiating a hire.

Ukraine’s work permit system is employer-led and processed through the Regional Employment Centre of the State Employment Service. There is no labour market test — it was abolished in 2017. The employer submits the application, pays the state fee, and receives a decision within 7 working days. Once the permit is issued, the employee applies for a Type D visa at a Ukrainian consulate and, after arrival, applies for a Temporary Residence Permit at the State Migration Service. Two post-permit employer obligations are critical: the employment contract must be concluded and reported within statutory deadlines, and unified social contribution must begin within 2 months — failure on either ground triggers permit cancellation.

Documents required for a Ukraine work permit

Documents listed below are from Article 42-2 of the Law of Ukraine on Employment (as amended), confirmed by the State Employment Service official FAQ (dcz.gov.ua). All documents in foreign languages must be translated into Ukrainian with certified translation.

Employer documents, submitted to Regional Employment Centre

Required Document	Notes
Application form — standard format	Approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 68 of 24.01.2023; employer confirms position does not require Ukrainian citizenship or state secrecy access
State fee payment receipt	Must be paid before submission; original receipt required; wrong amount voids the application
Draft employment contract or gig contract	Certified by the employer; must match the position and conditions to be specified on the permit. Not required for seconded workers — see below.
Power of attorney	Required if a representative submits on the employer’s behalf rather than the employer’s director in person
For intra-company transferees: decision of foreign entity on transfer + employment contract	Copy of the foreign company’s decision on the transfer specifying duration, and copy of the employment contract with the Ukrainian entity
For seconded workers: foreign economic contract + proof of employment relationship	Copy of the agreement between the Ukrainian and foreign entities providing for use of foreign labour; copy of the employment document confirming the worker’s relationship with the foreign employer.

Employee documents, submitted with application

Document	Notes
Passport copies — biographical pages Required	Certified Ukrainian translation; all pages containing personal data. Stateless persons and certain refugee applicants have specific alternative documents — see official guidance.
Colour passport photograph Required	3.5 cm × 4.5 cm; white background; face forward, eyes open, mouth closed; recent
Educational certificates	With certified Ukrainian translation and apostille/legalisation if required. Not mandatory for all categories — employers may require as part of internal process. Not a stated DCZU requirement for standard employees but required for certain specialist roles.
Police clearance certificate	From country of citizenship or recent residence; apostilled or legalised; translated into Ukrainian. Required by some regional centres, confirm locally.

Grounds for permit cancellation under Article 42-10 of the Law on Employment

• Employer fails to submit a copy of the signed employment contract to the Regional Employment Centre within the statutory deadline.
• Employer fails to pay unified social contribution within 2 months of the employment contract date — monitored by the Employment Centre through Pension Fund data exchange.
• The foreign national is found to be working under conditions different from those specified in the permit, or for a different employer.
• Fraudulent or inaccurate information submitted in the permit application documents.
• A deportation or forced expulsion order is issued against the foreign national.
• A court conviction of the foreign national for a criminal offence that has entered into legal force.
• A submission for cancellation received from the National Police of Ukraine, Security Service, or another competent state authority on grounds of threat to national security or public order.
• The employer’s registration is cancelled or the legal entity is dissolved.

When a permit must be amended, 30-day rule

The employer must notify the Regional Employment Centre and request a permit amendment within 30 days of any of the following changes occurring:

Employer name change, reorganisation, or spin-off of the employing entity; change of name by the individual entrepreneur employer; the foreign national obtaining a new passport (including due to a name change); or a change in the foreign national’s position or transfer to a different role within the same employer during the permit’s validity.

Permit amendments are free of charge. Failure to report changes within 30 days exposes the employer to liability under Ukrainian law. The Regional Employment Centre processes amendment decisions within 3 working days.

Ukraine work permit at a glance. 2026

Feature	Detail
Issuing authority	Regional Employment Centre, State Employment Service of Ukraine (dcz.gov.ua)
Decision time — new permit	7 working days from registration of complete application
Decision time — renewal / amendment	3 working days
Labour market test	Abolished — not required since 27 September 2017
Standard permit validity	Up to 2 years (tied to employment contract duration)
Seconded workers / intra-company transferees	Up to 3 years
Renewal window	No earlier than 50 calendar days and no later than 15 working days before expiry
Employment contract filing deadline	Copy to Regional Employment Centre within 10 calendar days of signing
Unified social contribution deadline	Must commence within 2 months of contract signing — non-payment is a cancellation ground
Amendment notification deadline	30 days from change — free of charge; processed in 3 working days
Russian/Belarusian nationals	Extended processing — SBU clearance required; no fixed deadline
Martial law military tax	5% (increased from 1.5% from 1 January 2026) — applies to all employees
TRP deadline after entry	Apply at DMSU no later than 15 working days before D-visa permitted stay expires

Acumen International: Your Employer of Record in Ukraine

In Ukraine, the “Right to Work” is inextricably linked to the status of the legal employer. Ukrainian law is explicit: work permits can only be sponsored by a registered Ukrainian legal entity. Without a local presence, a foreign company cannot legally name itself as an employer, register with the State Employment Service, or execute a compliant Labour Code contract.

Acumen International acts as your fully-vetted legal employer in Ukraine. We don’t just assist with a visa; we utilise our established Ukrainian entity to house your talent, assuming 100% of the legal and administrative burden.

What We Manage as Your Registered Employer:

• LPA Sponsorship & Fast-Tracking: We submit all work permit applications to the Regional Employment Centre under our own license. By acting as the sponsor, we bypass your need for local entity setup, managing the 7-day decision window and all state fee remittances.
• Wartime Tax & Payroll Compliance: Ukrainian payroll in 2026 is high-frequency. We manage the 5% Military Tax (increased from 1.5%), the 18% Personal Income Tax, and the 22% Unified Social Contribution (USC).
• The USC Cancellation Shield: A critical risk in 2026 is the 2-month cancellation trigger: if USC payments aren’t registered within 60 days of contract signing, the work permit is automatically revoked. As your Employer of Record (EOR) in Ukraine, we guarantee these payments are logged via the Pension Fund to keep your permits active.
• Martial Law Reporting: We handle the transition from quarterly to monthly reporting to the tax authorities, ensuring all military and social insurance data is filed within the new statutory 2026 deadlines.
• Residency (TRP) Integration: Once we secure the work permit, we provide the necessary employer-side documentation for the State Migration Service (DMSU), enabling your employee to secure their Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) smoothly.

While Acumen International carries the legal risk and handles the bureaucratic heavy lifting, your business maintains 100% day-to-day control over the employee’s tasks, objectives, and output. We provide the compliant infrastructure; you provide the vision.

Official government resources in Ukraine

1. State Employment Service of Ukraine (Державна служба зайнятості) — work permits for foreigners

The authority that issues work permits for foreign nationals through its Regional Employment Centres. Official FAQ on permit documents, fees, and procedures: old.dcz.gov.ua/storinka/dokumenty-i-kontakty

2. State Migration Service of Ukraine (Державна міграційна служба — DMSU)

Issues Temporary Residence Permits (TRPs) for foreign nationals in Ukraine based on approved work permits. Also handles permanent residence and citizenship applications.

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine — consular visa information

Official guidance on Type D long-stay visa applications, Ukrainian consulate locations, and visa processing times for foreign nationals.

4. State Tax Service of Ukraine — military tax and payroll obligations

Payroll tax obligations including the 5% military tax rate (effective 1 January 2026), monthly reporting requirements, and unified social contribution rules for employers of foreign nationals.

Frequently asked questions

Can the employer submit the work permit application before the employment contract is signed?

Yes, and this is the correct sequence. The employer submits a draft employment contract (проєкт трудового договору) as part of the permit application, not a signed contract. The signed contract is concluded after the permit is issued and the employee arrives in Ukraine. The copy of the signed contract must then be reported to the Regional Employment Centre within 10 calendar days of signing. The draft contract must accurately reflect the terms that will appear on the permit (role, salary, duration, and employer) because any discrepancy between the draft and the signed version requires an amendment application to the Employment Centre.

What happens if the employer misses the 2-month unified social contribution deadline?

Missing the 2-month deadline for commencing unified social contribution payments is one of the explicit statutory grounds for permit cancellation under Article 42-10 of the Law on Employment. The Regional Employment Centre monitors compliance through data exchange with the Pension Fund of Ukraine — it is not a self-reported obligation. A permit that is cancelled on this ground cannot simply be reapplied for immediately; the cancellation creates a record that affects future permit applications by the same employer for a period set by law. For EOR arrangements, unified social contribution is managed by the employing entity from the first payroll run — this compliance obligation is built into the employment setup, not handled separately.

If the employee’s role changes after the permit is issued, does a new permit need to be obtained?

It depends on the nature of the change. A change in the job title within the same employer, for example a promotion or role reclassification that does not change the substantive function, can be handled by filing a permit amendment with the Regional Employment Centre within 30 days of the change at no fee. The amendment is processed within 3 working days. However, if the employee moves to a substantively different position or transfers to a different Ukrainian employer, the existing permit becomes invalid and a new application must be filed from the beginning. The employer should consult the Regional Employment Centre before implementing any role change to confirm whether an amendment or a new application is required.

Can the same foreign national hold work permits from two different Ukrainian employers simultaneously?

Yes, this is explicitly permitted under Ukrainian law. Two or more Ukrainian legal entities can obtain work permits for the same foreign national simultaneously, for example where the individual serves as managing director or other executive role across multiple Ukrainian companies within the same group. Each employer files a separate application to their relevant Regional Employment Centre. A second part-time position is also allowed, but only after obtaining an additional permit specifically covering that part-time role, a single permit cannot cover employment with multiple employers unless structured as described.

Does a foreign national working remotely for a Ukrainian employer from outside Ukraine need a Ukrainian work permit?

Ukrainian law requires a work permit for foreign nationals applying their labour in Ukraine — the territorial criterion is relevant. A foreign national working entirely outside Ukraine for a Ukrainian employer is not applying their labour on Ukrainian territory in the same sense as an employee physically present in the country. However, this is a nuanced area of Ukrainian employment law, and the position depends on the nature of the work, the contractual structure, and the employee’s physical location. Where the individual intends to spend any significant period working from within Ukraine, the work permit requirement applies. Employers in this situation should obtain specific Ukrainian legal advice before assuming no permit is needed.

Is a police clearance certificate required for all Ukraine work permit applications?

The official document list published by the State Employment Service (dcz.gov.ua) under Article 42-2 of the Law on Employment does not include a police clearance certificate as a mandatory document for standard work permit applications. However, individual Regional Employment Centres have in some cases requested it as a supplementary document during the review process. The original page for this topic included it as a standard requirement — that reflects earlier practice rather than the current statutory list. Employers should prepare a police clearance certificate as a precautionary document but should not treat it as a fixed mandatory requirement under the current law.

Can a foreign national who entered Ukraine on a tourist or short-stay visa begin the TRP process in-country?

Entry on a tourist or short-stay visa does not provide the basis for a Temporary Residence Permit application in Ukraine. The TRP for employment purposes requires a Type D long-stay visa as the entry document. Even visa-exempt nationals (those who can enter Ukraine without a visa) must obtain a Type D visa as the basis for their first TRP application. The correct sequence is always: work permit approved first, then D-visa obtained at the consulate, then entry into Ukraine on the D-visa, then TRP application at the State Migration Service. Attempting to regularise status after entry on a short-stay visa is not a valid procedure under current Ukrainian immigration law.