Residence in Ukraine

How does a foreigner get permanent residence in Ukraine?

Published 29 October 2026 · facts checked against the primary sources on 2026-10-29 · Ukraine For ALL, Kyiv

The immigration permit is the decision that matters. The card only records it. Article 4 of the Law lists who can get the permit, and that list splits into two groups: people who receive it outside any quota, and people for whom the Cabinet of Ministers may set a quota.

Who can get an immigration permit outside the quota?

Article 4(3) of Law No. 2491-III grants the permit outside the quota to:

• the spouse of a Ukrainian citizen after more than two years of marriage, and the children and parents of Ukrainian citizens;
• guardians and custodians of Ukrainian citizens, and people under the guardianship of a Ukrainian citizen;
• people entitled to Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin, except former citizens of Ukraine;
• people whose immigration is in the state interest of Ukraine;
• foreign Ukrainians, their spouses and children who enter and stay together;
• stateless persons who lived in Ukraine on a temporary residence permit for two years after being recognised as stateless;
• the spouse, minor children and parents of a spouse of a service member killed in the defence of Ukraine, including foreigners who served under contract or assisted Ukrainian units in combat areas (items 1-1 to 1-3).

Who falls under the quota categories?

Article 4(1) says the Cabinet sets an immigration quota "in the event of a mass arrival of immigrants". Article 4(2) then lists the categories for which a quota may be set:

The investor route has its own guide.

The five-year route counts only temporary permits issued on parts 4–6, 8–12 and 15 of Article 4 of Law No. 3773-VI: employment and gig contracts, technical assistance, religious work, branches and representative offices, cultural and volunteer programmes, foreign media, company ownership and family reunification with those people (Law No. 2491-III, Art. 4(2)(11)). Study under part 13 is outside the list, so years on a student card do not count.

What goes into the application?

The application is filed in person on paper: with the DMS office at the place of residence if you are lawfully in Ukraine, or with a Ukrainian consulate if you live abroad (Art. 9). Applicants filing in Ukraine from age 12 give fingerprints and a facial image. The general file under Article 9 contains:

1. Three photographs.
2. The passport and a certified Ukrainian translation of its data page.
3. Proof of lawful stay in Ukraine, when filing inside the country.
4. A document on the place of residence in Ukraine and abroad.
5. Family composition and the marriage certificate, if married.
6. A medical certificate on the diseases listed by the Ministry of Health (several military and family categories are exempt).
7. A criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship or residence (several categories are exempt).
8. The documents proving the specific category, as in the table above.
9. Proof of payment of the fee.

Foreign documents must be legalised or apostilled and come with a certified Ukrainian translation (Art. 9). For a spouse of a Ukrainian citizen, both spouses also give written consent to an interview and written tests.

How long does it take and what does it cost?

An immigrant who is abroad when the permit is granted gets a D visa at the consulate, enters, and files for the card at least 15 working days before the visa's term ends. An immigrant already in Ukraine files at least 15 working days before the current permitted stay ends (Art. 11).

Why are permits refused or revoked?

Article 10 lists the refusal grounds. Among them: an unexpunged conviction to more than one year of imprisonment, false information or forged documents, documents that do not prove lawful stay on the day of filing, a missing document, a past violation of the border or of the rules on foreigners, an entry ban, and unpaid obligations to the state or to other persons.

A marriage is checked for the signs listed in Article 4-1. The authority looks at whether the spouses live together, met or communicated before the marriage, share a language, and know each other's personal details. It interviews both spouses and may question other people. A marriage found fictitious by a court is a refusal ground (Art. 10).

The permit is revoked under Article 12, for example after a sentence of more than one year in Ukraine, a threat to national security, or a breach of the law on foreigners. The card falls with it. A new application can be filed one year after a refusal or revocation (Art. 14).

Citizens of Russia: under Cabinet Resolution No. 1232, for the duration of martial law and 30 days after it, DMS offices refuse to accept their immigration and permanent residence applications until a special law is in force. The exceptions are items 4, 6, 9 and 10 of Article 4(2) and items 1, 1-1 to 1-3, 2 and 4 of Article 4(3).

FAQ

Is there an annual quota for permanent residence in Ukraine?

Law No. 2491-III gives the Cabinet the power to set a quota "in the event of a mass arrival of immigrants" for the categories in Article 4(2). The categories in Article 4(3) are outside any quota.

Can the spouse of a Ukrainian citizen get permanent residence?

Yes, after more than two years of marriage, outside the quota (Art. 4(3)(1)). Until then the spouse lives on a temporary card; see marriage in Ukraine.

Do years on a student residence permit count toward permanent residence?

No. The five-year route counts only the grounds in parts 4–6, 8–12 and 15 of Article 4 of Law No. 3773-VI, and study is part 13.

How do I appeal a refusal?

Within two months of the decision, administratively, or in an administrative court (Law No. 2491-III, Art. 15). A refusal concerning the card itself is appealed within 30 calendar days (Resolution No. 321, para. 78).

My permanent residence card expired during the war. Is it still valid?

For everyone except Russian citizens, permanent residence cards that expired or became due for exchange after 24 February 2022 confirm lawful residence and the right to enter for the period of martial law plus 30 calendar days. The exchange file is due within those 30 days (Resolution No. 1202, as amended on 5 February 2026). Martial law was extended from 31 October 2026 for 90 days (Presidential Decree No. 1060/2026).

Does permanent residence lead to citizenship?

The immigration permit is one of the conditions for naturalisation, together with five years of continuous residence, the exams and lawful income; see Ukrainian citizenship for foreigners.