Foreigners who have previously resided, are planning to enter or are currently staying in Ukraine often face the same migration issues. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions among foreign nationals about entering, leaving and staying in Ukraine

Legal assistance on entry and stay in Ukraine

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Millions of foreign nationals enter Ukraine every year, even in times of war. Among them are both those traveling on business and those who have a residence permit in the country. However, due to the fact that martial law has been imposed on the territory of Ukraine, a large number of foreign citizens face various migration issues, the answers to which are difficult to find in the public domain. The most common ones will be discussed further in the article.

What should foreigners do if their stay has expired? 

The rules in this regard have not changed, i.e. they are the same as before the war:

– citizens who came from countries with a visa regime are limited to the period within the validity of the visa;

– citizens who come from visa-free countries, as well as stateless persons, can extend their stay by submitting an application and a package of documents to the SMS.

Detailed information on the conditions and grounds for extending the period of stay in Ukraine is available on the official website of the SMS.

What should I do if my temporary or permanent residence permit expires?

1. If the foreigner is in Ukraine: contact the Migration Service unit. If the Migration Service has not resumed its work in the region where the foreigner is located or has not resumed its work in full, you can apply to a unit in another region.

2. If the foreigner is abroad: currently, the service of issuing/exchanging a residence permit in Ukraine is available for foreigners and stateless persons in five foreign citizen services "Passport Service". In particular, in Poland (Warsaw), Germany (Berlin), Slovakia (Bratislava), Spain (Madrid) and Turkey (Istanbul). Detailed instructions are here.

The foreigner traveled abroad without a residence permit (the residence permit is in a unit, etc.) or the residence permit expired while the foreigner was abroad

Entry into the territory of Ukraine without a residence permit is possible only on the basis of a new visa. However, foreigners can apply to a foreign "Passport Service" to obtain a new document.

What happens to a residence permit if it is not obtained within 6 months? 

According to the current legislation, if a foreigner or stateless person does not receive a residence permit within six months from the date of its issuance, it is destroyed by the territorial body/territorial unit of the SMS that issued it. In this case, the foreigner must obtain a new document.

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How to get a registration of the place of residence in Ukraine?

Two services are available to foreign nationals residing in Ukraine: registration and declaration of residence. We have described in detail the difference between them and how to obtain each service in this article.

Is it possible to apply for refugee status in Ukraine now?

Theoretically, it is possible. In practice, we advise you to directly contact the territorial body of the State Migration Service of Ukraine that interests you for advice. You can also call the telephone hotline to those territorial bodies/territorial units of the SMS located in safe regions where active hostilities are not taking place. For more information on obtaining refugee status and additional protection, please visit the SMS website.

Why is there still no simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship for russian citizens who have been living in Ukraine for a long time? 

Ukraine has simplified the conditions for acquiring citizenship for foreigners serving in the Armed Forces and for some other categories of persons. However, this issue of simplifying the rules for russian citizens is on hold, in particular due to russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

Where can I apply for Ukrainian citizenship?

In order to apply for Ukrainian citizenship, a foreigner must apply to a territorial unit of the SMS, a diplomatic mission or a consular office of Ukraine. Read all about the peculiarities of residence and acquisition of citizenship by a foreigner in Ukraine after or during service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine here.

Do I need to apply to an embassy to join the International Legion of Ukraine?

No, this information is outdated. Currently, foreigners can apply online through the official website of the International Legion. Detailed instructions on how to do this can be found here.

If you need advice on the rules of entry and stay, migration issues, or assistance with collecting, submitting or receiving documents, please contact Visit Ukraine lawyers. You can order a specialist consultation or full legal support via this link.

For more information, please contact the Visit Ukraine hotline (Telegram | WhatsApp).

We remind you! The rules of stay of foreigners on the territory of Ukraine are regulated by migration legislation. Read what documents confirm the right to legal stay of foreign nationals in Ukraine and how to obtain them in our previous article.