Work · Exemptions

Who can work in Ukraine without a work permit?

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

The exemption belongs to the person's status or job, so it lasts only while that status or job lasts. An employer who hires an exempt foreigner signs a regular employment contract with them, and that contract is what the migration office and the consulate look at.

Which foreigners are exempt from the work permit?

Law No. 5067-VI "On Employment of the Population", Article 42(6), names these groups:

A foreigner outside these items is hired on a permit, unless another law or a ratified treaty creates an exemption under item 12.

What replaces the permit for an exempt worker?

The employment contract does. For a temporary residence permit based on work, Law No. 3773-VI, Article 5(4), says that a foreigner employed without a work permit files the employment contract or gig contract in place of the permit. A holder of the foreign Ukrainian certificate files the contract and that certificate.

The visa follows the same logic. For a long-term type D visa for work, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for a certified copy of the work permit, and exempt foreigners provide a copy of the employment contract instead. Persons of Ukrainian descent provide their certificate and the contract.

Where does the exemption stop?

• Positions reserved for Ukrainian citizens. Article 42(5) closes jobs that by law require Ukrainian citizenship to all foreigners, exempt or not, unless a ratified treaty says otherwise.
• The job outside the exemption. Group 8 covers staff of the branch or representative office itself. A foreigner who moves from the representative office to a Ukrainian LLC of the same group moves to an employer that needs a permit.
• Group 11 covers the inviting institution. A visiting professor who also takes a job at a private company needs that company to obtain a permit.
• Students. Foreign students of Ukrainian universities are absent from the list. Article 42-1(1)(6) gives them their own permit category, issued for up to one year during studies (Art. 42-3), and Article 42-4(4) makes that permit free of charge.

Which permits are issued free of charge?

Some foreigners still need a permit, but the employer pays no fee for it. Article 42-4(4) lists:

1. people for whom a decision was taken to process documents for refugee or complementary protection status, and people appealing a refusal to process them;
2. foreign students of Ukrainian higher education institutions who intend to work during and after their studies;
3. people who applied for recognition as stateless, and people appealing a refusal;
4. foreigners who took a direct part in repelling the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

For everyone else the fee runs from UAH 9,984 for up to six months to UAH 33,280 for two to three years in 2026. The full table, documents and deadlines are in how an employer hires a foreigner in Ukraine.

What else works without a separate permit?

Two situations inside one employer, both in Article 42:

• Part-time work for the same employer. A foreigner may hold a second, part-time position with the employer that holds the main permit, as long as the part-time contract ends no later than the main permit (Art. 42(2)).
• Covering an absent colleague. A foreigner may combine the permitted job with the job of a temporarily absent employee for up to 60 calendar days in a calendar year (Art. 42(3)).

A second employer always needs its own permit.

What happens if an employer gets the exemption wrong?

The amounts use the minimum wage of UAH 8,647 a month set from 1 January 2026 by the State Budget Law for 2026. The fine falls on the employer. For the worker, a job without a permit or exemption also leaves no lawful basis for a work-based temporary residence permit under Law No. 3773-VI, Article 4(4).

FAQ

Do permanent residents of Ukraine need a work permit?

They are exempt. Article 42(6)(1) of Law No. 5067-VI lets employers hire foreigners and stateless persons who permanently reside in Ukraine without a permit. They are employed on the same terms as Ukrainian citizens, apart from positions that require Ukrainian citizenship.

Do people under temporary protection in Ukraine need a work permit?

They are exempt. Article 42(6)(3) covers foreigners recognised as needing complementary protection or granted temporary protection in Ukraine. Refugees and holders of an immigration permit are covered by Article 42(6)(2).

Can a foreign company's representative office in Ukraine hire foreigners without a permit?

Yes. Article 42(6)(8) exempts staff of branches and representative offices of legal entities formed under foreign law. The office itself must be registered, which is covered in how to register a representative office in Ukraine.

Can a foreign student work in Ukraine without a permit?

The current list in Article 42(6) does not include students. The employer obtains a student permit under Article 42-1(1)(6), valid for up to one year during studies, and Article 42-4(4) waives the fee for it.

Does a foreigner married to a Ukrainian need a work permit?

Article 42(6) names no separate group for spouses of Ukrainian citizens. A spouse who holds a permanent residence permit or an immigration permit is exempt under items 1 and 2. In any other case, check the status the spouse actually holds against the Article 42(6) list before the first working day.