Do I need to leave Ukraine to get a long-term visa type D for a residence permit – Visit Ukraine lawyers explain

If you are a foreigner who plans to live in Ukraine, obtaining a long-term visa (type D) and a residence permit are key steps in legalizing your stay. Find out how to get a visa and residence permit, what documents you need, and how to simplify the process using the example of a real request to the VU migration lawyers team

Get legal assistance on entry, stay and legalization of foreigners in Ukraine

GET

Every day, Visit Ukraine team lawyers help foreigners who plan to legalize their stay in Ukraine. And one of the most popular requests that our specialists face concerns obtaining a long-term type D visa and a residence permit in Ukraine. Visit Ukraine lawyers will tell you in detail about all aspects of legalizing your stay in Ukraine in the article below.

Obtaining a long-term visa (type D) and a temporary residence permit in Ukraine - legal advice from Visit Ukraine

In this article, we explain how to obtain a long-term visa and a residence permit, what documents are required for this, and whether a foreigner needs to leave the country to legalize his or her stay, using the example of one of our clients' real requests.

Query: I am a foreigner, a citizen of Poland. I want to apply for a long-term type D visa in Ukraine, but I am already in Ukraine. I have a Ukrainian wife here. Do I need to go abroad to apply for a visa and a residence permit?

Do I need to leave Ukraine to apply for a type D visa?

Yes. According to Ukrainian legislation, a long-term visa (type D) can only be issued by Ukrainian consular offices abroad. If you are already in Ukraine, you need to apply to the Ukrainian embassy or consulate in your country or in another country where Ukraine has a diplomatic mission (for example, Poland) to apply for this visa.

How to get a temporary residence permit in Ukraine?

If you have a registered marriage with a Ukrainian citizen, you can apply to the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS) for a temporary residence permit, but you must have a long-term type D visa.

You will need the following documents:

● Passport document (with translation into Ukrainian and apostille/legalization, if necessary);

● A document confirming the legal grounds for staying in Ukraine;

● Marriage certificate;

● Receipts of payment of the state fee;

● Medical insurance;

● Documents confirming the place of residence in Ukraine (lease agreement, registration certificate, etc.).

By the way, we told you how much it costs to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine in our previous article.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Can I extend my stay in Ukraine without a type D visa?

If you are staying in Ukraine on legal grounds (for example, under the visa-free regime), you can apply to the SMS for an extension of your stay.

If your reason for staying in Ukraine requires a D visa, for example, you want to apply for a residence permit on the basis of family reunification, then you will have to travel to Poland or another country to obtain this visa. However, the period for submitting documents and obtaining the visa itself is not long. It can be done in a couple of days, but you will need the help of a qualified lawyer.

How can Visit Ukraine lawyers help with visa and residence permit application?

It can be difficult to navigate the immigration laws of Ukraine, and any mistakes in the documents can lead to delays or even refusal to issue a visa and residence permit. Visit Ukraine's team of lawyers offers full support in obtaining a type D visa and residence permit, ensuring a smooth and fast process of obtaining the necessary documents.

Contact our specialists for a personal consultation and get professional help with your immigration process in Ukraine!

We remind you! Obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine is a complex process that requires legal knowledge. Read what are the benefits and risks of doing it yourself and when you should contact an immigration lawyer in our previous article.

Photo: Freepik

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.