Сan CIS Citizens Obtain A Residence Permit Without Leaving Ukraine?

Let’s imagine a situation when a foreign national comes to Ukraine for employment purposes. Eventually, the foreigner realizes that if he stays in the country for more than 3 months (90 days), he needs to legalize his residense there.

As a general rule, which is valid for more than 200 countries around the world, you must have one of the grounds for staying in Ukraine to obtain a residence permit. In this publication we will elaborate on legalization of stay through employment in Ukraine.

Foreigners can stay in Ukraine for 90 days within 180 days. They need to obtain a work permit and then go abroad and obtain a D-type visa within this period. This is one of the documents that allows foreigners to enter Ukraine again and to obtain a residence permit there.

However, the process of legalization one’s stay in Ukraine is significantly different for citizens of Belarus, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. And today we will scrutinize the difference.

Legal advice for foreign citizens: CIS citizens staying in Ukraine

As for the citizens of the CIS, the Ukrainian legislation establishes a special procedure for legalizing their stay in the country. The fact is that most CIS citizens are not required to obtain a long-term visa. So, a citizen of the CIS country can enter Ukraine and obtain a work permit without obtaining a visa, as well as get a residence permit without obtaining a D-type visa, which means they don’t need to leave the country.

What does it mean? First of all, a simplified procedure for obtaining all necessary permits without extra trips abroad.

However, there are certain requirements that must be met:

• Such applicants may obtain a residence permit only on the basis of a work permit;
• The documents must be prepared and submitted within 30 days from the date of the last foreigner’s entry into the country after a work permit has been obtained.

Please note! Only residents of Belarus, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan may extend their legal stay in Ukraine without going to the territory of citizenship.

Citizens of the Russian Federation, who until recently also had the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine without going abroad, have now lost such a right. Now having obtained a work permit, they must leave the country and then come back to obtain a residence permit.

Related article: Forms Of The Foreigners’ Legal Stay In Ukraine

What should CIS citizens consider when obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine?

The possibility to legalise your stay in Ukraine without going abroad does not release you from responsibility for overstaying in Ukraine.

One may be faced with difficulties, for example, when determining the timeframe for submission of documents required for obtaining a residence permit. The foreigners shall meet the deadline of 90 days of stay, and the period of 30 days after they have obtained a work permit. Plus, they need consider all stages of the procedure.

Read also: What To Do If A D Type Visa Expires

One of the requirements is also to prepare a draft employment agreement with the employer to obtain a work permit, which subsequently becomes the basis for a residence permit.

Our lawyers have extensive experience in solving problems related to migration issues.They can ensure a successful legalization of your stay in Ukraine.

If you want to legalize your stay in Ukraine quickly and without extra expenses for leaving the country, don’t hesitate to call us!