Ukraine Work
Work permit
How to start a business as a foreigner in Ukraine
What documents do Belgian citizens need for official employment in Ukraine?
Belgian citizens can enter Ukraine without a visa. However, if you plan to work officially, you need to obtain a work permit.
1. If the work lasts up to 90 days, a work permit is sufficient, and you can work within the permitted period without additional documents.
2. If you work for more than 90 days, after obtaining a work permit, you need to apply for a temporary residence permit to stay in Ukraine legally.
💡Obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine with Visit Ukraine lawyers: your reliable way to legalization
This process has clear legal requirements, so it is important to prepare documents in advance. Below are detailed instructions on how to properly prepare all the necessary documents for Belgians.
Who needs a work permit in Ukraine?
Most foreigners and stateless persons need a work permit in Ukraine. This applies to the following categories.
1. Foreign employees: persons who have entered into an employment contract with a Ukrainian employer.
2. Seconded foreign workers: employees of foreign companies sent to perform a certain amount of work or provide services in Ukraine.
3. Intracorporate assignees: employees transferred to the Ukrainian representative office of a foreign company.
4. Foreigners and stateless persons who came to study: persons who study in higher education institutions of Ukraine and wish to work during or after their studies.
5. Highly paid foreign professionals: specialists with a high level of qualification and appropriate salary.
6. Founders, participants or beneficiaries of Ukrainian legal entities: foreigners who are founders, participants or beneficiaries of Ukrainian companies.
7. Graduates of the world's leading universities: persons who have graduated from universities included in the top 100 in world rankings
8. Foreign workers in creative professions: artists, musicians, writers, etc.
9. Foreign IT professionals: specialists in the field of information technology.
Can a Belgian citizen work in Ukraine without a work permit?
Some categories of foreigners can work in Ukraine without obtaining a work permit.
- Persons permanently residing in Ukraine: foreigners and stateless persons with an immigration permit.
- Refugees and persons in need of complementary or temporary protection: persons who have been granted the appropriate status in Ukraine.
- Representatives of foreign maritime (river) fleet and airlines: persons who serve such companies in Ukraine.
- Employees of foreign media accredited in Ukraine: journalists and other media workers.
- Athletes, artists, and workers of the arts: persons who work in their specialty in Ukraine.
- Employees of emergency services: persons performing urgent work.
- Clergy who are foreigners: persons invited by religious organizations for canonical activities.
- Foreigners who arrived to participate in the implementation of international technical assistance projects.
- Teachers and researchers: persons invited to work in higher education institutions of Ukraine.
Documents required to obtain a work permit for Belgians
An employer wishing to employ a foreigner, including a Belgian, must submit the following documents to the relevant employment center.
- An application in the prescribed form: a form approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in which the employer confirms that the position does not require Ukrainian citizenship and access to state secrets.
- A copy of the foreigner's passport: pages with personal data together with a duly certified translation into Ukrainian.
- Color photo measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
- Draft employment agreement (contract) or gig contract: certified by the employer (except in the case of seconded employees).
- A document on payment of the permit fee: the amount of the fee depends on the validity period of the permit.
Additional documents may be required depending on the category of Belgian citizen.
Health insurance with war risk coverage for Belgians in Ukraine
If you are planning to work or stay in Ukraine for a long time, it is important to take care of your safety and take out health insurance with war risk coverage.
What does the insurance policy include?
✔️ Emergency medical care, diagnosis and treatment.
✔️ Hospitalization and medical support if necessary.
✔️ Repatriation in case of injury or death due to military operations.
✔️ Financial protection in case of an accident caused by military risks or terrorist acts.
It takes only a few minutes to apply - follow the link, choose the insurance package that suits you best and receive an electronic policy immediately after payment. Be sure of your safety!
💡 You can find detailed step-by-step instructions and answers to all your insurance questions here.
Procedure for obtaining a work permit for Belgian citizens
After preparing a full package of documents, the employer begins the procedure for obtaining a work permit for a foreigner. The main stages of the procedure are as follows:
1. Preparation and submission of documents
- The employer carefully checks the completeness of the documents (application, copy of the passport, photo, draft employment contract and proof of payment of the state fee).
- The documents are submitted to the employment center at the location of the company in the region under the control of the Ukrainian authorities. It is important to note that the temporarily occupied territories do not have functioning employment offices for these procedures.
2. Consideration of the application
The Employment Center checks the documents. The processing time is usually up to 7 business days. During this period, they check the compliance of the submitted documents with the requirements of the law, as well as confirm that the declared vacancy does not really require additional permits (for example, for access to state secrets).
3. Payment of the state fee
In case of a positive preliminary decision, the employer receives the details for paying the state fee. The payment must be made within 10 business days after receiving the details. The amount of the fee may vary depending on the validity period of the permit and the category of the employee.
4. Issuance of the permit
After the payment is confirmed, the employment center issues an official permit. The permit is documented and is the basis for legal employment of a foreigner in Ukraine.
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1. Paperwork: work permit, residence permit, citizenship.
2. Business services: company registration, opening a bank account.
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Validity of the permit and its extension
1. Validity period:
A work permit can be issued for different periods of time, which is determined by the category of employee:
- Up to 1 year for standard foreign employees.
- Up to 3 years for business travelers and intra-corporate assignees.
- Special categories, such as highly qualified specialists or graduates of prestigious universities, may be granted a permit for a longer period, allowing them to plan a long-term career in Ukraine.
2. Extension of the permit:
A work permit in Ukraine can be extended an unlimited number of times if there are grounds for doing so. To do so, the employer must submit an application to the Employment Center within the established deadlines: not earlier than 50 days and not later than 20 days before the expiration of the permit. Missing these deadlines may mean the need to re-obtain the permit from scratch, so it is important to take care of the extension in advance.
The cost of obtaining a work permit for foreigners in Ukraine in 2025
The amount of payment depends on the validity period of the permit and is determined on the basis of the subsistence minimum (SM) for able-bodied persons as of January 1, 2025 - UAH 3028.
How much does it cost to obtain a work permit for a Belgian citizen?
Validity period of the permit | Cost |
Up to 6 months | 9084 UAH (3 times the monthly wage) |
From 6 months to 1 year | 15 140 UAH (5×PM) |
From 1 to 2 years | 24 224 UAH (8×PM) |
From 2 to 3 years | 30 280 UAH (10×MW) |
How much does it cost to extend a work permit?
Extension period | The cost |
Up to 6 months | 6056 UAH (2 x PM) |
From 6 months to 1 year | 12 112 UAH (4×PM |
From 1 to 2 years | 21 196 UAH (7×PM) |
From 2 to 3 years | 27,252 UAH (9×PM) |
How to pay?
1. After receiving confirmation of the application approval, the employer receives payment details.
2. Payment is made to the bank account of the regional employment center.
3. The payment receipt must be attached to the application package.
Where can I find the current details?
On the official websites of employment centers or from labor law consultants.
According to the Law of Ukraine, non-resident foreign citizens have the right to conduct business in Ukraine.
Even despite the war, more and more businesses have been started and are developing in the country.
Business immigration to Ukraine: how to get a residence permit
A businessman can be granted a temporary residence permit in Ukraine in two cases
- on the basis of a work permit;
- on the basis of investments in the country's economy in the amount equal to or exceeding EUR 100,000 thousand (in this case, the foreigner has grounds for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Ukraine).
Usually, foreign nationals choose the first option: when planning a business in Ukraine, they first obtain a work permit and a temporary residence permit, and only then start their business.
A foreigner registers a company with a much smaller capital according to the charter, becomes its director or chooses another position using a work permit, and receives a three-year residence permit. During the three years, they have the opportunity to develop their business and prepare documents for immigration.
🔑 Tip: if you need to register a sole proprietorship, but do not have enough time to study all the details, use comprehensive legal support.
💼 Our team of professionals knows how important it is to register a sole proprietorship correctly, because it determines the future of your business. We are ready to take care of all the worries and difficulties of this process so that you can concentrate on your business.
We provide full support and advice so that you can be sure of your safety. Follow the link to get a legal consultation.
Opening a legal entity for foreigners in Ukraine
Find out what you need to know before starting a business in Ukraine for a foreigner here.
The main step on the way to business immigration is to set up your own company, or open a legal entity for foreigners. The procedure is quite simple and transparent, almost no different from the usual registration, and has its own nuances in the preparation of documents due to the status of the founder - a citizen of another state.
Important!
A foreigner becomes a founder of a company, but cannot be its director, as he or she does not yet have a work permit. Such a permit can be obtained only if the company is registered and has a director. Therefore, a Ukrainian is temporarily appointed as a director, with whom an agreement is concluded for a certain period of time, and who will sign documents on behalf of the legal entity.
It should be noted that the grounds for legalizing a stay in Ukraine and obtaining a temporary residence permit are work permits, not business start-ups. That is, a temporary residence permit is issued on the basis of employment. To do this:
- a newly established company applies for a work permit for its founder;
- after the foreigner receives the permit, the company's director is changed.
💡 Important! If you need legal assistance or full legal support from a lawyer on entering Ukraine, starting a business in the country, registering companies, opening a bank account, you can order a consultation with a qualified lawyer on the Visit Ukraine website.
Our experienced specialists will provide an individual approach to everyone and help in any force majeure situations. By ordering a consultation on starting a business in Ukraine, lawyers can help you with such issues as:
- business registration in Ukraine;
- conducting business in Ukraine and entering the Ukrainian market;
- registration of LLCs and sole proprietorships in Ukraine;
- Preparation of the necessary package of documents for registration of an LLC or a sole proprietorship;
- obtaining an individual tax number;
- choosing the optimal form of organization, business registration, as well as choosing the form of the company's activity;
- preparation of the company's constituent documents;
- immigration to Ukraine on the basis of business, etc.
Order the required service by following this link.
The main stages of legalization of a foreigner's stay in Ukraine to start a business:
1. Execution of a power of attorney to represent the interests of a foreigner in the authorities.
2. Registration of a legal entity. Registration of a company for foreigners, as well as for citizens of Ukraine, is subject to the availability of a notarized Charter and other constituent documents.
3. Obtaining a work permit for the owner of the company. A work permit for a foreigner is issued for a period of 3 years. The package of documents includes an application, a passport for presentation and a notarized copy in Ukrainian, a 3.5×4.5 cm photograph, and a copy of the employment contract certified by the employer.
4. Obtaining a type D visa. The D-04 visa is granted to citizens of other countries for employment, and a business immigrant uses the visa validity period to obtain a temporary or permanent residence permit.
5. Obtaining a temporary residence permit for 3 years. The package of documents, in addition to the passport of a foreign citizen and its notarized translation into Ukrainian, contains an insurance policy and the charter of the company founded by a foreigner.
6. Obtaining a TIN for a foreigner. To obtain a tax number for a foreigner, you need to apply to the local office of the State Tax Service with a package of documents - an application, a passport and a copy with a Ukrainian translation, as well as a temporary or permanent residence permit.
7. Registration of the residence address. The procedure involves entering information into the Unified Demographic Register with an address for correspondence and delivery of correspondence. Only one address is indicated, even if the person lives in several places. The registration data is included in the residence permit, both temporary and permanent.
Please note!
Most of the stages, such as preparation of constituent documents, company registration and change of management, notarization of documents, and obtaining a work permit, can be done even without the physical presence of a foreigner in Ukraine. To do this, a power of attorney with signature rights must be issued for representatives in Ukraine. It is best to execute such a power of attorney at the Ukrainian consulate, which will help to avoid the procedure of legalizing the document and translating it into Ukrainian. Thus, a foreigner can prepare the "basis" for his/her stay in Ukraine while still in his/her home country.
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Documents for registering a company by a foreigner
In order to register a company in Ukraine, a foreign national must provide a certain set of documents. These documents are slightly different in cases where the foreigner is an individual and when he is a legal entity.
When registering a foreigner as a sole proprietor, the following documents must be submitted
- a copy of the passport of the LLC owner;
- a copy of the taxpayer identification number card;
- a list of planned activities of the company;
- contact details of the foreigner - an individual;
- a notarized power of attorney for registration of documents and signing of the charter for a legal entity.
A foreigner - legal entity must submit the following documents
- a copy of the passport and a copy of the taxpayer identification number of the LLC director and chief accountant;
- a copy of the charter of a non-resident legal entity (a copy must be notarized);
- a copy of the registration document (a copy must also be notarized);
- a copy of the document certifying the authority of the official (notarized);
- a notarized power of attorney for the right to sign the statutory documents and perform other operations related to the company's registration;
- a document certifying the location of the legal entity.