Renewing or exchanging a Ukrainian residence permit in 2026

The short answer

In Ukrainian law a residence permit is not extended. When it expires, or when the details on it change, the card is exchanged for a new one. The procedure is the same one used for the first card, with some extra documents.

• Temporary residence permit. Exchange documents on expiry may be filed no later than the last day of the card’s validity. If fewer than 15 working days remain, you can file only at a territorial office of the State Migration Service, which extends your temporary residence for the time needed to decide (point 19 of the Procedure approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 322 of 25 April 2018).
• Permanent residence permit. The card is issued for 10 years. Exchange documents on expiry may be filed no later than 15 working days before the expiry date (points 4 and 19 of the Procedure approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 321 of 25 April 2018).
• Other changes (new passport, change of name, an error on the card, a damaged card): exchange documents are filed within one month of the event (point 18 of both Procedures).

What changed in 2026 for expired permits

From 2022 to May 2026 a wartime rule, Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1202 of 21 October 2022, treated temporary and permanent residence permits that expired or became due for exchange after 24 February 2022 as still valid during martial law. That rule has been narrowed.

Temporary residence permits: the wartime extension is over

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 141 of 5 February 2026 removed temporary residence permits from Resolution No. 1202. It entered into force three months after publication, on 7 May 2026. Point 2 of Resolution No. 141 required foreigners and stateless persons (other than citizens of the Russian Federation) whose temporary permit fell due for exchange after 24 February 2022 to apply for the exchange within 90 days of that date, which ran to early August 2026.

That window has now closed. From 7 May 2026 an expired temporary residence permit is no longer treated as valid on the strength of the wartime rule. If your card expired and you did not file within the 90 days, contact us before you travel or deal with any authority, because the right next step depends on your basis of stay and on when the card expired.

Permanent residence permits: still covered while martial law lasts

For permanent residence permits the wartime rule still applies. Under Resolution No. 1202 as amended, a permanent residence permit of a non-Russian citizen that expired or became due for exchange after 24 February 2022 confirms lawful permanent residence and the right to enter Ukraine for the period of martial law and 30 calendar days after it ends. The holder must file for the exchange within those 30 calendar days.

Martial law has most recently been extended to 31 October 2026 by Law of Ukraine No. 4928-IX of 14 July 2026, and further extensions are possible. We still recommend exchanging an expired permanent card now rather than waiting: the 30 day window after martial law ends will be the same for everyone, and offices will be busy.

What happens if you live on an expired permit

Article 203 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences, in the wording of Law No. 3196-IX of 29 June 2023, sets the fines. One tax-free minimum income is UAH 17 for this purpose.

The fine is not the only risk. Under Article 26 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”, breaching the rules on the legal status of foreigners can lead to a decision on forced return, which may carry a ban on re-entering Ukraine for three years.

Price

Paid separately in every case: the official fee for the new card as set by the state (we tell you the exact amount before you pay), a medical insurance policy covering the full term of a new temporary permit (see medical insurance), and a notarised translation of your passport if your passport has changed. Documents issued abroad must be legalised or apostilled and translated with a notarised translator’s signature (point 13 of both Procedures).

Documents for an exchange on expiry

For a temporary residence permit the base set is listed in point 32 of the Procedure approved by Resolution No. 322, and point 40 adds what is needed when the exchange is due to expiry.

• Your passport, and a Ukrainian translation of its personal data page certified as the law requires.
• The residence permit being exchanged. It is handed back to you after filing and surrendered when you collect the new card.
• A valid medical insurance policy for the whole term of the new permit (certain categories, including foreign service members, are exempt).
• The documents for your basis of stay, for example a work permit, a volunteer organisation’s invitation or a company document, as listed in point 33 of that Procedure.
• Proof of payment of the official fee, and your Ukrainian taxpayer number if you have one (see tax number).

Your basis of stay must still exist on the day you file. A temporary permit follows its basis: if the job, the study or the invitation behind it has ended, the exchange is not available on that basis and a new route is needed.

How long it takes

A new card is issued within 15 working days of the day the documents are accepted (point 5 of both Procedures). The decision itself is taken no later than the tenth working day. These are the statutory deadlines, not a promise about queues.

1. We check your dates and your basis, including whether your permit was caught by the end of the wartime extension.
2. We prepare the file and arrange insurance and translations where needed.
3. We accompany you to the State Migration Service office on the day of filing and handle the paperwork there.
4. You collect the new card, and we help you register your address if it has changed.

Questions we are asked

UA-Residency is the practice of Taras Guk, a licensed Ukrainian attorney in Kyiv (certificate KV No. 000685). Residence permits are issued and exchanged by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, which decides every application; we do not decide and we cannot guarantee that any application will be granted. You may apply to the State Migration Service yourself and pay only the official fees. Deadlines, fines and fees are set by Ukrainian law and may change without notice. See also our services.

Last updated: 28 September 2026