A residence permit in Ukraine provides foreigners with wide opportunities to live and work in the country. Find out more about the types of residence permits, the rights and restrictions they provide, and whether the residence permit allows visa-free travel to Europe

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Obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine opens up a number of opportunities for foreigners, but at the same time has certain limitations. What rights does a residence permit provide, does it allow visa-free travel to Europe, and what types of permits are available - we will analyze further in the article.

In the previous article, we told you how many foreigners entered Ukraine in the first half of 2024 and from which countries they came most often.

What is a residence permit in Ukraine?

A residence permit is an official document that confirms the right of a foreigner or stateless person to reside in Ukraine. There are two types of residence permits:

1. Temporary residence permit - a document that allows a foreigner to legally stay in Ukraine for a certain period (usually up to one year).
2. Permanent residence permit - a document that gives the right to permanent residence in Ukraine.

Starting from June 1, 2018, both types of residence permits are issued in the form of a plastic card with a contactless electronic medium.

Does a residence permit in Ukraine allow visa-free travel to Europe?

Many foreigners are interested in whether a Ukrainian residence permit entitles them to visa-free travel to the European Union. It is important to understand:

– A residence permit in Ukraine does not entitle you to visa-free entry to EU countries.

– The regime of entry to any country in the world is determined by the person's citizenship, not by the presence of a residence permit in another country.

– A Ukrainian residence permit entitles you to enter Ukraine without a visa only.

In other words, a foreigner who has obtained a residence permit in Ukraine does not acquire the right to cross the border with the EU countries without a visa; only Ukrainian citizens have this right. However, if a foreigner with a Ukrainian residence permit is a citizen of a country that has a visa-free regime with the EU, he or she will be able to enter Europe without a visa and vice versa. However, this depends on the person's citizenship, not on the residence permit in Ukraine.

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Advantages of a temporary residence permit

Obtaining a temporary residence permit provides a foreigner with a number of rights and opportunities:

– Legal stay in Ukraine during the validity period of the residence permit

– The right to be employed and conduct economic activity, as well as the possibility of opening bank accounts

– Possibility to stay in Ukraine without leaving or to enter and leave freely

– Access to education (including free education for children)

– The right to import a personal car free of charge

– Pension provision in accordance with Ukrainian legislation

Advantages of permanent residence permit

Permanent residence permit provides even more opportunities:

– Unlimited period of residence in Ukraine and free crossing of the border without a visa (for entry and exit)

– Official employment without additional permits, the ability to conduct economic activity

– Equal rights with Ukrainian citizens in the field of education, healthcare, etc.

– The prospect of obtaining Ukrainian citizenship in the future

A residence permit in Ukraine is an important document for foreigners, which provides wide opportunities for living, working and studying in the country. Although it does not entitle you to visa-free travel in Europe, it greatly simplifies your stay in Ukraine and opens the door to many services and social guarantees in the country.

If you are a foreigner and plan to stay in Ukraine for a long time, you should consider applying for a residence permit. For professional assistance in migration law and paperwork, you can contact Visit Ukraine's legal experts. Our experts will help you understand all the nuances of Ukrainian legislation and successfully complete the necessary documents for a comfortable stay in Ukraine.

Read more about the peculiarities of obtaining a residence permit and the grounds for obtaining a document in our previous article.

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