MAGISTERS / IMMIGRATION AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
Work Permits for Foreign Nationals in Ukraine
We handle work permit applications and guide employers through to a decision.
We help Ukrainian companies and entrepreneurs legally employ foreign professionals: assessing eligibility, preparing documents, assisting with applications, renewals, and communication with the employment centre.
KYIV · KHARKIV · ODESA · SERVICES ACROSS UKRAINE
Work under a written agreement · 12+ years of legal practice · Support for employers and foreign employees
START WITH THE RIGHT PROCEDURE
Hiring a foreign employee? We will help you obtain the permit
A permit to employ a foreign national is obtainedby the employer for a specific individual. It is not a general authorisation allowing a foreign national to work for any employer. Separate permits are generally required for different employers.
01
Ukrainian company
You plan to hire a foreign professional, manager, or employee for a specific position.
02
Foreign founder or director
You need to determine whether a permit is required to manage your own company and how to formalise the employment relationship.
03
Renewal or amendment
A permit is approaching expiry, information has changed, or existing documents need to be amended.
Not sure whether a permit is required?We check the foreign national’s status and statutory exemptions before preparing an application.
WHAT WE HANDLE FOR YOU
Work permit applications with legal support
You make the hiring decision. We handle the legal aspects of the process and help you avoid unnecessary document returns and missed deadlines.
01 / ASSESSMENT
Check eligibility
We review nationality, immigration status, employee category, employer details, and the required permit duration.
02 / DOCUMENTS
Prepare the application package
We review the passport and its translation, draft employment agreement, photographs, and any supplementary documents required for the relevant category.
03 / SUBMISSION
Support the application
We prepare the application, verify the applicant’s authority, and assist in dealing with the relevant employment centre.
04 / DECISION
Monitor the process
We monitor the application, help address any deficiencies, and coordinate payment of the mandatory government fee.
05 / AFTER ISSUANCE
Keep track of subsequent deadlines
We explain how and when to conclude the employment agreement, submit its copy, and comply with the conditions for keeping the permit valid.
06 / NEXT STEPS
Residence permit and immigration status
Where needed, we separately assist the foreign employee with obtaining a temporary residence permit.
WHO NEEDS A PERMIT
Who needs a work permit and who can work without one?
As a general rule, an employer must obtain a permit to employ a foreign national. Ukrainian law also provides exemptions for certain categories.The right to reside and the right to work are not the same.
STANDARD PROCEDURE
Hiring a foreign national under an employment agreement
A permit is generally required when a Ukrainian legal entity or sole proprietor hires a foreign national. The rules depend on the person’s status and type of employment.
EXEMPTIONS
Permanent residence and certain protected statuses
In particular, foreign nationals who permanently reside in Ukraine and persons holding certain protection statuses may work without a separate permit. Other exemptions exist and must be checked individually.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Intra-company transfers, secondments, and study
Certain categories have specific eligibility grounds, documentation, deadlines, or exemptions from government fees.
We check exemptions against current legislation rather than relying solely on the name of a visa or residence permit.
TIMELINES AND DOCUMENTS
Up to 7 working days to decide an application
The regional employment centre must decide an initial permit applicationwithin 7 working daysfrom registration of the application. For renewals and amendments, the timeframe isup to 3 working days. Document preparation and certain additional approvals may take more time.
For nationals of certain countries, additional clearance from security authorities is required and may extend the overall process.
Our aim is to prepare the application properly so that avoidable errors and an unsuitable procedure do not cause delays.
STANDARD DOCUMENT PACKAGE
What you will need
Employer’s application in the prescribed form
Foreign national’s passport details and a duly certified translation
Colour photograph measuring 3.5 × 4.5 cm
Draft employment agreement or another document required by law
Additional supporting documents for special categories of employees
The exact list is determined after reviewing your circumstances.
OFFICIAL FEES IN 2026
Government fee for a foreign national’s work permit
The official fee depends on the permit’s duration and is calculated using the subsistence minimum set as of 1 January of the application year. This is apayment to the state, not the lawyer’s fee.
UP TO 6 MONTHS
UAH 9,984
Government fee for an initial permit valid for up to and including six months.
MORE THAN 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR
UAH 16,640
For initial permits valid for more than six months and up to and including one year.
MORE THAN 1 YEAR TO 2 YEARS
UAH 26,624
For permits valid for more than one year and up to and including two years.
Up to 3 years:UAH 33,280 for initial issuance, although this duration is not available to every category of employee. Certain categories qualify for fee exemptions. Different fees apply to renewals.
We agree on the lawyer’s fee for representation after assessing the circumstances and scope of work.
DO NOT MISS POST-ISSUANCE REQUIREMENTS
Obtaining the permit is only the first step
Mistakes after issuance can result in cancellation. We therefore assist not only with the application but also with the employer’s ongoing obligations.
90 CALENDAR DAYS
Concluding the employment agreement
The employer must conclude an employment agreement with the foreign national no later than 90 calendar days after the permit is issued.
10 DAYS
Copy of the agreement
After the agreement is concluded, a duly certified copy must be submitted to the employment centre within the statutory ten-day period.
IN ADVANCE
Permit renewal
An application for renewal must be submitted no earlier than 50 and no later than 20 calendar days before the permit expires.
EMPLOYMENT AND RESIDENCE
A work permit and temporary residence permit are related but separate procedures
A work permit allows an employer to lawfully employ a foreign national. To reside in Ukraine on the basis of employment, the foreign national generally needs to obtain a separatetemporary residence permitfrom the State Migration Service.
Depending on the person’s nationality, existing status, and grounds for entry, a long-stay visa and additional documentation may be needed. A work permitis not a substitute fora residence permit.
We can coordinate both procedures so that the employment agreement, work permit, and immigration documents remain consistent in their validity periods.
FROM EMPLOYER TO EMPLOYEE
One coordinated immigration plan
1.Determine whether an employment permit is necessary.
2.Check the foreign national’s immigration status and documents.
3.Coordinate the sequence of the permit, employment agreement, visa, and residence permit.
4.Monitor key deadlines and renewal requirements.
COMPLEX CASES
Was your permit refused or is it at risk of cancellation?
Missing documents, a non-compliant draft agreement, missed renewal deadlines, or additional clearance requirements may prevent a permit from being issued. In these cases, it is important to assess both the reason for refusal and whether the authority acted lawfully.
We review the documents, assess whether deficiencies can be corrected and a new application filed, prepare reasoned submissions, and challenge unlawful decisions where grounds exist.
OUR APPROACH
Identify the problem. Protect your interests.
We review the grounds for suspending consideration of an application, refusing it, or cancelling an issued permit.
We assess deadlines, facts, and available legal remedies.
We agree with the employer on the most appropriate course of action.
WHERE WE PROVIDE SUPPORT
Work permits in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa
We assist employers in these three cities and throughout Ukraine. The competent employment centre depends on the employer and the applicable filing procedure; in-person attendance is not necessarily required at every stage.
KYIV
Work permit in Kyiv
Legal assistance to companies, entrepreneurs, and foreign directors. Document review and interaction with the relevant employment centre.
KHARKIV
Work permit in Kharkiv
Applications for permits to employ foreign nationals, renewals, and support in complex immigration situations.
ODESA
Work permit in Odesa
Assistance to local employers hiring foreign nationals, preparing application packages, and completing the permit procedure.
QUESTIONS FROM EMPLOYERS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers about work permits: who applies, how government fees are calculated, and which deadlines must not be missed.
If your circumstances are unusual, such as hiring a foreign director or student, an intra-company transferee, or dealing with an existing refusal, the documents will need to be reviewed.
Who obtains the work permit: the foreign national or the employer?
The Ukrainian employer intending to hire a specific foreign national submits the application. The permit relates to a particular employer and employment arrangement.
How long does it take to obtain a work permit?
The law allows up to 7 working days for a decision on initial issuance and up to 3 working days for renewal or amendment. Document preparation, identified deficiencies, and special clearances can extend the overall timeline.
Can a foreign national be employed without a permit?
Yes, in circumstances provided by law. Examples include foreign nationals with permanent residence in Ukraine and certain holders of protected status. Whether an exemption applies must be verified against the person’s documents and legal status.
How long is a permit valid?
The duration depends on the employee’s category, employment agreement, and statutory limits. For ordinary foreign employees, the maximum is generally two years; certain categories can qualify for up to three years.
What are the government fees in 2026?
For initial issuance: UAH 9,984 for up to 6 months; UAH 16,640 for more than 6 months to 1 year; UAH 26,624 for more than 1 year to 2 years; and UAH 33,280 for more than 2 years to 3 years, where available. These are government fees, not the lawyer’s fee.
Can employment serve as a basis for a temporary residence permit?
Yes. For many foreign nationals, a permit to employ them is one of the grounds for obtaining a temporary residence permit, but the residence application is a separate procedure handled by the State Migration Service. Requirements depend on the person’s status.
What happens if the employment agreement is not submitted on time?
Failure to provide a copy of the employment agreement within the statutory period is grounds for cancellation of the permit. Post-issuance deadlines therefore matter just as much as preparing the initial application correctly.
What determines the lawyer’s fee?
The complexity of the matter, number of employees, need for translations or additional documents, support with applications and renewals, residence permits, or appeals against refusals. We agree on the scope of work and fee before starting.