UA-Residency is a private law practice, not a government body, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Ukraine. Residence permits and immigration permits are granted by the State Migration Service of Ukraine. We prepare and file applications and represent you before it. See our Terms and Conditions.
Residence routes in Ukraine compared
There is no single "residence visa" in Ukraine. Each permit rests on its own legal ground: volunteering, employment, a degree, an investment, family ties or Ukrainian ancestry. Temporary permits cost less and are faster; permanent residence needs an immigration permit. Our fees range from $700 to $2,800.
ASK WHICH ROUTE FITS YOUAll routes at a glance
| Route | Who it is for | Temporary or permanent | Term | Quota | Our fee | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year temporary residence permit | A foreign national invited by a registered volunteer organisation, usually already in Ukraine visa-free | Temporary | 1 year, renewable | No | $700 | Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, Art. 4(10); CMU Resolution No. 322 |
| D-04 employment route | A founder who sets up a Ukrainian company and is employed by it as director | Temporary | Up to 2 years, the term of the work permit | No | $2,400 | Law on Employment of the Population, Arts. 42-1, 42-3; Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, Art. 4(4) |
| Permanent residence by qualification | A holder of a bachelor's degree or higher in a speciality on the Ministry of Economy's list for the year | Permanent | Permanent residence card valid 10 years, then exchanged | Category for which a quota may be set | $1,500 | Law on Immigration, Art. 4(2)(2); Ministry of Economy Order No. 3663 of 3 March 2026 |
| Investment route | A person who has invested at least USD 100,000 in foreign currency, in practice into their own Ukrainian company | Permanent | Permanent residence card valid 10 years, then exchanged | Category for which a quota may be set | $2,800 (the USD 100,000 investment is separate and stays in your company) | Law on Immigration, Art. 4(2)(3); CMU Resolution No. 1983 |
| Family reunification or marriage: temporary permit | The foreign spouse or family member of a Ukrainian citizen, or of a foreign national lawfully residing in Ukraine | Temporary | Up to 1 year per card, renewable | No | $700 | Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, Art. 4(14), 4(15); CMU Resolution No. 322 |
| Family or marriage: permanent residence | The spouse of a Ukrainian citizen after more than two years of marriage, and the children and parents of Ukrainian citizens | Permanent | Permanent residence card valid 10 years, then exchanged | No, outside the quota | $1,500 | Law on Immigration, Art. 4(3)(1) |
| Ukrainian citizenship by descent | A person whose own birth, or whose parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, links them to the territory of Ukraine before 24 August 1991 | Citizenship, not a residence permit | Permanent | No | Stage 1 $100, stage 2 $1,700 | Law on Citizenship of Ukraine, Art. 8 |
Our fees are for our legal work as described on each route's page. What each fee includes differs between routes, so read the page for the route before comparing totals. The binding figure is the one in your written engagement agreement.
1-year temporary residence permit, $700
For a foreign national invited by a non-governmental organisation entered in the state register of organisations that may engage foreigners in volunteer activity. If you are in Ukraine visa-free with enough days left, no D-10 visa is needed first. The permit is valid for one year and renewable. Details and conditions: 1-year residence permit.
Legal basis: Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons", Article 4, part ten; Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322 of 25 April 2018, paragraph 4 (a temporary residence permit is issued for not more than one year, save for listed exceptions).
D-04 employment route, $2,400
You set up a Ukrainian company, it employs you as director, and that employment carries a work permit and a temporary residence permit for up to two years. It requires a salary at the statutory floor and a D-04 visa from a Ukrainian consulate. Details: 2-year residence permit via D-04.
Legal basis: Law "On Employment of the Population", Articles 42-1 and 42-3; Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons", Article 4, part four, and Article 5, part four.
Permanent residence by qualification, $1,500
For holders of a bachelor's degree or higher in a speciality on the list approved by the Ministry of Economy for the year. No job, income or investment is required. The result is an immigration permit and a permanent residence permit. Details and the 2026 list: permanent residence by qualification.
Legal basis: Law "On Immigration", Article 4, part two, point 2; Order of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture No. 3663 of 3 March 2026.
Investment route, $2,800
For a person who has made a foreign investment of at least USD 100,000 in the economy of Ukraine, in practice by transferring it from their own account abroad into their own Ukrainian company. The investment is your money, not our fee, and setting up the company is included in the $2,800. It is not a "Golden Visa"; Ukraine has no programme by that name. Details: investment route to permanent residence.
Legal basis: Law "On Immigration", Article 4, part two, point 3, and Article 9; Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1983 of 26 December 2002, paragraph 6.
Family reunification or marriage to a Ukrainian citizen
Temporary permit, $700. A foreign national who comes to Ukraine to reunite with a family member who is a Ukrainian citizen, or who marries a Ukrainian citizen while lawfully here on one of the grounds listed in the law, may receive a temporary residence permit. So may family members joining a foreign national who lives in Ukraine on certain temporary grounds (Article 4, part fifteen). For spouses of Ukrainian citizens the law treats it as valid until permanent residence or citizenship is obtained; each card is issued for up to one year and renewed.
Permanent residence, $1,500. The spouse of a Ukrainian citizen, where the marriage has lasted more than two years, and the children and parents of Ukrainian citizens receive an immigration permit outside the quota. For spouses the State Migration Service checks the genuineness of the marriage, including by interview (Article 4-1 of the Law "On Immigration").
Details: residence permit through family or marriage.
Legal basis: Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons", Article 4, parts fourteen and fifteen; Law "On Immigration", Article 4, part three, point 1, and Article 4-1.
Ukrainian citizenship by descent, $100 then $1,700
This is citizenship, not a residence permit. It is based on your own or your ancestors' birth or permanent residence on the territory of Ukraine before 24 August 1991, up to a great-grandparent. Since 16 January 2026 adult applicants sit exams in the Constitution, history and the Ukrainian language. Stage 1, the eligibility check, is $100; stage 2, the full process, is $1,700. Details: citizenship by descent under the 2026 law.
A person entitled to citizenship by territorial origin may also receive an immigration permit outside the quota and a permanent residence permit, without the citizenship exams (Law "On Immigration", Article 4, part three, point 3).
Legal basis: Law "On Citizenship of Ukraine", Article 8, as amended by Law No. 4502-IX.
What applies to every route
- The decision is the state's. Residence and immigration permits are granted by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, work permits by the State Employment Service, visas by consulates. We do not guarantee any result.
- You can apply yourself. You may deal with the authorities directly and pay only the official charges.
- Paid separately where the route's page says so: state and consular charges, notary, translations, legalisation or apostille of foreign documents, and medical insurance where it is not already included. See also Ukraine visa fees.
- Permanent residence card. Issued within 15 working days of accepting the documents and valid for 10 years (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 321 of 25 April 2018, paragraphs 4 and 5).
- Immigration permit. Decided within six months of filing in Ukraine, or one year of filing at a consulate abroad (Law "On Immigration", Article 9).
Questions we are asked
Which route is the cheapest way to live in Ukraine legally?
For most people who can enter Ukraine visa-free, the 1-year temporary residence permit at $700 is the cheapest of our services. It is temporary and has to be renewed. If you need permanent residence, the qualification route and the family route for spouses married to a Ukrainian citizen for more than two years are $1,500 each.
What is the difference between temporary and permanent residence?
A temporary residence permit is tied to its ground, such as a job, a volunteer invitation or family reunification, and ends when that ground ends. A permanent residence permit is issued on the basis of an immigration permit under the Law of Ukraine "On Immigration"; the card itself is valid for 10 years and is then exchanged.
Is there an immigration quota in Ukraine?
The Law of Ukraine "On Immigration" allows the Cabinet of Ministers to set a quota for certain categories, including qualified specialists and investors. Since 2023 the Law provides for a quota in the event of a mass arrival of immigrants. Spouses married to Ukrainian citizens for more than two years, and persons entitled to citizenship by territorial origin, receive an immigration permit outside the quota. We check the position for your category before filing.
Can I switch from a temporary permit to permanent residence later?
Yes, if you meet the conditions of one of the permanent routes when you apply. A temporary permit does not turn into permanent residence by itself; the permanent residence permit requires a separate immigration permit from the State Migration Service.
Who takes the decision?
Residence permits and immigration permits are granted by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, work permits by the State Employment Service, visas by Ukrainian consulates, and citizenship by the State Migration Service or a consulate. We prepare, file and represent, and we do not guarantee any result. You may apply yourself and pay only the official charges.
Tell us your nationality and what you want to do in Ukraine
WhatsApp +380 73 728 4656 or email info@uaresidency.com
CONTACT UA-RESIDENCYUA-Residency is the practice of Taras Guk, a licensed Ukrainian attorney in Kyiv (certificate KV No. 000685). Residence permits and immigration permits are granted by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, work permits by the State Employment Service and visas by Ukrainian consulates. We prepare, file and represent; we do not decide, and we do not guarantee that any application will be granted. You may apply to these authorities yourself and pay only the official charges. The rules described here are set by Ukrainian law and may change.
Last updated: 28 September 2026