Illegal migrants in Ukraine: how many are there and what measures are taken against them?

Illegal migration is an urgent problem that requires a comprehensive approach. Ukraine actively fights against illegal stay of foreigners, but at the same time offers legal mechanisms for legalisation. Find out more about how many illegal migrants were detected in Ukraine in 2024, what measures are taken against them, and how a foreigner can legalise their stay in Ukraine

Legal assistance on migration issues for foreigners

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Irregular migration is a serious challenge for Ukraine, affecting security, economy and social sphere. Every year, the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS) identifies thousands of illegal migrants who stay in the country without proper documents.

The current statistics of illegal migrants in Ukraine in 2024, measures applied to such persons, as well as ways to legalise foreigners in Ukraine are described in the article below.

Illegal migrants in Ukraine: statistics

According to the State Migration Service of Ukraine, the number of illegal migrants in Ukraine has been on a downward trend over the past three years:

- 2024: 3,058 detected persons (2,288 men, 770 women).

- 2023: 3,389 detected persons (2,541 men, 848 women).

- 2022: 5,062 identified persons (men - 3,939, women - 1,123).

Obviously, since 2022, the number of illegal migrants has been decreasing, which may be due to increased control and a decrease in the flow of migrants due to the war.

Why you should contact a lawyer when applying for a residence permit in Ukraine - read here.

Measures against illegal migrants in Ukraine

Various measures are used to combat illegal migration in Ukraine:

- Voluntary return (a person decides to leave the country on their own). In 2024, 6 such decisions were made, in 2023 - 4, and in 2022 - only 2.

- Forced return. It is applied when a person is forced to leave Ukraine by a decision of the competent authorities. There were 2,657 such cases in 2024, 2,891 in 2023, and 4,744 in 2022.

- Forced expulsion of foreigners. It is applied in cases where an illegal migrant does not agree to leave voluntarily or violates the rules of stay. In 2024, 400 such decisions were made, in 2023 - 412, and in 2022 - 248.

- Entry ban to Ukraine. In 2024, 3,800 people were banned from entering Ukraine, 4,011 in 2023, and 5,267 in 2022.

- Placement of a person in a temporary accommodation facility (temporary stay centres for foreigners). In 2024, there were 225 such cases, in 2023 - 486, and in 2022 - 360.

Read more about how long you need to live in Ukraine to obtain citizenship here.

Even those who have legal grounds for staying in Ukraine may face problems with legalisation. To avoid risks and quickly regulate your status, you should seek the assistance of qualified migration lawyers. Specialists will help you prepare documents correctly, provide legal support and protect your interests in case of any complications.

How to get legalised in Ukraine?

To avoid problems with the law, foreigners can legalise their status in several ways.

1. Temporary residence permit

It can be obtained by:

- Founders or beneficiaries of Ukrainian companies (with investments of 100,000 euros or more).

- Students of Ukrainian educational institutions.

- Persons who have entered into a marriage with a citizen of Ukraine.

- Relatives of persons who have the right to temporary residence.

- Military instructors who assisted the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

- Other categories of persons in accordance with the legislation of the country.

Read more about how to obtain a temporary residence permit in Ukraine here.

2. Permanent residence permit

This status allows foreigners to live in Ukraine without restrictions. It can be obtained by:

- Investors (from $100,000).

- Highly qualified specialists.

- Refugees after 3 years of residence in Ukraine.

- Husband or wife of a Ukrainian citizen (after 2 years of marriage).

- Relatives of the first generation of Ukrainian citizens.

- Persons of Ukrainian origin.

- Other categories of persons in accordance with the legislation of the country.

You can find out how often foreigners are denied a permanent residence permit in Ukraine by following the link.

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Typical mistakes when trying to legalise

Migrants often face various problems when trying to legalise their stay in Ukraine.

One of the most common is the submission of an incomplete package of documents, which can lead to a refusal to obtain status. It is also important to comply with the application deadlines, as failure to do so may result in administrative liability or even deportation.

Often, migrants do not have official confirmation of the grounds for legalisation or do not take into account the latest changes in legislation, which also complicates the process of obtaining permits.

The rules of entry to Ukraine for foreigners in 2025 are available here.

When should I contact an immigration lawyer?

If a person has lost their legal status and wants to restore it, has been denied a residence permit, is at risk of deportation, or needs help in collecting documents, they should contact a qualified migration lawyer.

A lawyer will help you avoid mistakes, speed up the legalisation process and ensure legal security of your stay in Ukraine. Professional legal support can be a key factor in resolving complex migration issues.

Professional support will help you avoid possible penalties, such as fines for violating migration laws, forced return and expulsion, placement in a temporary detention facility, and even deportation from Ukraine.

Why should you order the services of a Visit Ukraine migration lawyer?

Visit Ukraine's lawyers have many years of experience working with applicants in migration law, specialised education and unquestionable expertise.

The portal's specialists know the current requirements and rules of different countries of the world and will provide:

- An integrated approach to solving urgent problems or issues.

- Competent strategy and support at all stages of the migration process.

- Quick assessment of the situation and assistance.

- Complete confidentiality of personal data.

Don't take any risks - contact Visit Ukraine's migration lawyers!

Visit Ukraine lawyers are a team of specialists with many years of experience who know all the nuances of migration legislation and will be able to find the best solution for your situation.

Paperwork, appealing against refusals, legalisation support - they will help you go through all the procedures without stress and unpleasant surprises.

Do not delay the solution of migration issues - book a consultation now!

Just to remind you! Obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine can be accompanied by many difficulties for foreign nationals. Here's how to avoid problems when applying for a residence permit in Ukraine, reduce the timeframe and successfully obtain documents.

Photo: State Migration Service of Ukraine

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