Temporary Residence Permit for IT Specialists: How to Live and Work Legally in Ukraine

Ukraine remains one of the most dynamic countries in Europe in the IT sector. Companies are growing rapidly and actively attracting talent not only among Ukrainian professionals but also among IT experts from abroad. In turn, foreign developers, product managers, and startup founders are eager to relocate to Ukraine to join fast-growing teams and collaborate with market leaders.

The country is also attractive because of the opportunity to work with a relatively low tax burden. Thanks to the special legal framework Diia City, IT companies receive flexible conditions for taxation and employment.

However, for legal work in Ukraine, a foreign national must have a temporary residence permit, and the hiring company must obtain approval from the employment center to employ foreign workers. It is important to understand how to properly prepare the documents in order to avoid wasted time and prevent mistakes.

In this article, we will cover who needs a temporary residence permit, how to obtain it, and why legal support can save months of time and help avoid unnecessary stress.

You might also like: List of Documents for Obtaining Work Permit in Ukraine and Extending Its Validity

Who in the IT Sector Needs a Residence Permit Through Employment

A temporary residence permit allows a foreign national to live and work legally in Ukraine and to cross the border without a visa during the period for which it is issued, with the possibility of extension. As a general rule, the residence permit is issued for the duration of the work permit, which ranges from 6 months to 3 years.

Most often, the residence permit is obtained by:

• IT specialists who have signed an employment contract or a gig contract with a Ukrainian company;
• entrepreneurs or freelancers who have opened a private entrepreneur status in Ukraine;
• owners or co-founders of Ukrainian IT companies;
• family members of IT specialists who already hold a residence permit.

To receive a residence permit, a work permit issued by a Ukrainian employer is mandatory. This is the starting point of the legalization process.

How an IT Specialist Can Obtain a Temporary Residence Permit Through Employment

The process seems simple only in theory. In practice, any mistake can delay the result for weeks or even months, and in some cases, it may lead to a refusal. The main steps are:

1. Obtaining a work permit for a foreign employee 
   
   This permit must be obtained by the employer who intends to hire the foreign worker. It is issued by the Employment Center. The document is prepared for a specific company, a specific position, and a specific foreign citizen.
   
   
2. Applying for a type D visa 
   
   First, it is necessary to register on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and create a personal account. The next step is to log in, fill out the application form, and submit it. In the same account, you must choose and book a time slot for visiting the consulate and submitting the required documents.
   
   
3. Preparing the document package 
   
   This includes translations, certified copies, insurance, the employment contract, obligations, an invitation letter, and other required paperwork.
   
   
4. Submitting documents to the migration service and obtaining the foreigner’s ID card, the temporary residence permit 
   
   After receiving the D visa, the foreign national enters Ukraine and submits the documents for the residence permit at the local migration office or at the Passport Service center.
   
   
5. Registering the place of residence 
   
   After receiving the residence permit, the place of residence must be registered within 30 days.

Successful case: Obtaining a D Visa Based on Employment in Ukraine: How We Helped a Beijing Citizen Secure a Visa

Typical Mistakes That Lead to Refusal

Bureaucracy does not forgive inattention. Even a minor inaccuracy can disrupt the entire process and sometimes even result in a foreigner being barred from entering Ukraine for years. Below are the most common mistakes we regularly encounter in practice, along with a brief explanation of their consequences and what to do to avoid them.

• Errors in documents. Check every field letter by letter. Pay special attention to insurance documents, including the spelling of the foreigner’s first and last name, their address, and passport details. We also recommend purchasing insurance with a small time buffer because any bureaucratic delay can extend the processing period.
• Inaccuracies in the work permit, such as an incorrect company name or job title. The employer must ensure that the work permit is issued specifically for the given employee and for the exact position they are being hired for.
• The foreigner not being present at their registered address at the time of inspection and issues with address registration. A formal or careless approach to this requirement is the most common reason for refusal. Carefully check the street name, house number, and apartment number listed in the application. Pay attention to the phone number as well. During the waiting period for the temporary residence permit to be issued, it is advisable not to leave for long periods and to answer all calls.
• Missing submission or extension deadlines. It is common for foreign nationals or companies to wait until the last day or miscalculate timeframes, resulting in missed submission deadlines. If you are not confident in handling this process yourself, it is better to work with a migration lawyer who can organize everything quickly and correctly and prepare and verify all documents.

In our practice, we have also handled cases where the outcome depends not only on the quality of document preparation but also on expertise and practical experience in the field of migration. When preparing documents, it is important to take into account the specific nuances of the particular basis and the particular case. For example:

• if a refusal was issued previously, it is necessary first to carefully review the reasons and grounds for that refusal and to eliminate them;
• if the foreigner has entered Ukraine before, it is essential to determine whether they previously received any documents and to check information in public registers, including the register of debtors;
• it is important to determine whether other legal grounds for residence in Ukraine exist, because in many cases, there may be a more effective or simpler option.

We wrote even more about refusals in our material: Why a person may be refused a temporary residence permit in Ukraine.

Legal Support for Obtaining a Temporary Residence Permit

We provide full support for obtaining a temporary residence permit, taking on all bureaucratic risks for the client. Our approach helps shorten processing times, avoid mistakes, and ensure a predictable result. We:

• advise which legal basis is best suited for your situation;
• prepare the complete document package at every stage and assist with submission;
• communicate with the migration service on your behalf;
• monitor the issuance of the completed permit.

We work with IT companies, startups, and specialists who value their time and want to be confident in their legal status. With our support, the legalization process is fast, stress-free, and without unnecessary risks.

Contact us today and we will start the process without delay.