Investment route to permanent residence in Ukraine

What this route is, and what it is not

The legal basis is Article 4, part two, point 3 of the Law of Ukraine "On Immigration" No. 2491-III of 7 June 2001. It names, among the categories of immigrants, persons who have made a foreign investment in the economy of Ukraine in foreign convertible currency of not less than USD 100,000.

The result is an immigration permit. On the strength of it the State Migration Service issues a permanent residence permit, under Article 5 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons".

It is not a "Golden Visa"

Ukraine has no official programme called Golden Visa, and the term does not appear in Ukrainian law. There is no government fund to pay into, no real estate option and no fixed state "investment product". The investment is yours, it sits in your own company, and the state checks that it arrived and was not returned.

It is not the investor's temporary permit either

Ukrainian law separately allows a founder or owner of a Ukrainian company whose share in the capital is at least EUR 100,000 to receive a 2-year temporary residence permit (Article 4, part twelve of the Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons"; Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322 of 25 April 2018, paragraph 4). That is a different procedure with a different result. This page is about permanent residence.

How the investment is confirmed

The procedure is set by the Procedure for proceedings on applications for an immigration permit, approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1983 of 26 December 2002, as amended. Paragraph 6 of that Procedure describes the key document: a bank certificate on the receipt of a foreign investment in the economy of Ukraine.

• The certificate confirms either that at least USD 100,000 in foreign convertible currency was received and used for a foreign investment in Ukraine, or that at least USD 100,000 in foreign convertible currency was transferred from your own account abroad to the current account of the company you set up in Ukraine.
• It is signed by the head of the bank or of its branch, carries a number and a date, is sealed, and is valid for six months from the date of issue.
• Together with it you file the charter of the company and/or registered investment agreements (Article 9 of the Law "On Immigration").

Before deciding, the State Migration Service sends a request to the bank that issued the certificate to check whether the investment has been returned. You give written consent for that request when you apply. On the day of the decision it also checks your company in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (paragraph 17 of the Procedure).

The decision on this category is taken by the State Migration Service of Ukraine itself, not by a regional office (paragraph 2 of the Procedure).

Quota

Investors are one of the categories for which the Cabinet of Ministers may set an immigration quota. Since the amendments made by Law No. 3180-IX of 29 June 2023, Article 4 of the Law "On Immigration" provides for a quota to be set in the event of a mass arrival of immigrants, rather than every year. Before you invest, we check whether any quota is in force for this category and tell you in writing.

Price

Paid separately

• State charges. The administrative charge on the immigration permit application is 0.5 of the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons (Article 9 of the Law "On Immigration"), UAH 1,664 in 2026 according to the Diia service guide. If you file abroad, a consular charge applies instead. The permanent residence permit carries its own administrative charge, as set by the state; we tell you the exact amount before you pay.
• Notary for the immigration file. Notarial copies and certified translations of your foreign documents for the immigration application. Notary fees and state charges for setting up the company are included in our fee.
• Translations and legalisation of your foreign documents: every document issued abroad must be legalised or apostilled and filed with a certified Ukrainian translation. See notarised passport translation and apostille.
• Bank. Charges of your bank abroad and of the Ukrainian bank for the transfer, the account and the investment certificate.
• Running the company. A Ukrainian company files reports from its first month. The running costs are set out on our company registration page.

The binding figure for your matter, and the payment schedule, are the ones in your written engagement agreement.

Documents

Under Article 9 of the Law "On Immigration", the application is filed with:

• three photographs;
• your passport and a copy, with a certified Ukrainian translation of the page with your personal data;
• if you file in Ukraine, the document confirming that you are here lawfully;
• a document on your place of residence in Ukraine and abroad;
• information on your family composition, and a copy of your marriage certificate if you are married;
• a medical document confirming that you do not suffer from chronic alcoholism, substance abuse, drug addiction or the infectious diseases on the official list;
• a criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship and/or permanent residence;
• the charter of your company and/or registered investment agreements, and the bank certificate on the receipt of the investment;
• proof of payment of the administrative or consular charge.

Documents issued abroad must be legalised, unless a law or an international treaty of Ukraine provides otherwise, and filed with a certified Ukrainian translation. An incomplete file is left without progress until the gaps are filled.

For the permanent residence permit itself you then file an application form, your passport with a type D visa unless the law provides otherwise, a certified translation of the passport data page, a copy of the decision granting the immigration permit and proof of payment of the charge (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 321 of 25 April 2018, paragraph 32).

Step by step

1. Consultation. We check your situation against the grounds for refusal in Article 10 of the Law "On Immigration" and against any quota in force, before you move any money.
2. Your Ukrainian company. We obtain your Ukrainian tax number and incorporate the company, with the share capital structured for the investment. This is included in the $2,800. The company is registered to you. In some cases we can also offer a resident director service, quoted separately.
3. The investment. You transfer at least USD 100,000 in foreign convertible currency from your own account abroad to the company's account in Ukraine. The bank then issues the investment certificate, which is valid for six months, so the timing is planned with the filing.
4. Your personal documents. Criminal record certificate, medical document, legalisation or apostille, translation and notarisation.
5. Filing. With the State Migration Service in Ukraine if you are here lawfully, or with a Ukrainian consulate if you permanently reside abroad.
6. Decision. The State Migration Service of Ukraine decides within the statutory period.
7. Permanent residence permit. If the immigration permit is granted and you are abroad, the consulate issues a long-term visa for entry. You then apply for the permanent residence permit, which is issued as a card valid for 10 years.

Timeframes set by law

These are the legal maximums for the authorities. They do not include the time to set up the company, make the transfer and prepare your documents, and we do not promise any particular date.

Other routes to compare

If you hold a degree in a listed speciality, permanent residence by qualification needs no investment. If you want a working business and a 2-year permit, see the D-04 employment route. If you simply want to live here for a year, see the 1-year temporary residence permit. With Ukrainian roots, citizenship by descent may be open to you. All routes side by side: compare residence routes in Ukraine.

Questions we are asked

UA-Residency is the practice of Taras Guk, a licensed Ukrainian attorney in Kyiv (certificate KV No. 000685). The decision on an immigration permit is taken by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, and the permanent residence permit is issued by its bodies. We prepare, file and represent; we do not decide, and we do not guarantee that any application will be granted. You may apply to the State Migration Service yourself and pay only the official charges. State charges, statutory periods and the rules described here are set by Ukrainian law and may change. Nothing on this page is investment advice.

Last updated: 28 September 2026