Get a permanent residence permit in Ukraine by quota: 3 most popular quotas in Ukraine

Registering permanent residence in Ukraine is a significant milestone for anyone looking to move there. Immigrants have specific reasons for doing so and are prepared to go through the necessary procedures and wait for all the required documents to be processed to have a calm and legal stay in Ukraine.

However, during the planning stage, those interested in moving to Ukraine in practice face a multitude of procedures and options. This leads to many questions such as:

• What specific procedure is suitable for me to legalize my stay in Ukraine?
• Who is eligible and has grounds for obtaining a permanent residency in Ukraine?
• What exactly is the "quota" for a temporary residency permit?
• How can one enter the "quota" and obtain a permit within an acceptable timeframe?

Today, we'll be sharing information for those who are planning to live in Ukraine for an extended period and have legitimate reasons to do so. We'll address important questions about quotas and procedures for obtaining a temporary residency permit.

If you're looking for a customized response that's tailored to your specific situation, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for a personalized consultation. See more details here.

You may also like: Is It Possible to Stay in Ukraine While Waiting for a Residence Permit?

What is a "quota for immigration" and how are they established?

A "quota for immigration" is a limit on the number of individuals who can obtain permanent residency in Ukraine each year, set by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Different categories have different quotas, so the number of individuals who can obtain residency permits will vary accordingly. 

Once an individual has obtained permission to immigrate, they can apply for a permanent residence permit within a year, which allows them to legally reside in Ukraine for 10 years and can be renewed afterward.

The following categories of individuals are included in the immigration quota:

• Cultural and scientific figures whose immigration is in the interests of Ukraine.
• Highly skilled professionals and workers that are needed by the Ukrainian economy, such as IT specialists or doctors.
• Individuals investing at least 100,000 USD in the Ukrainian economy.
• Relatives of Ukrainian citizens, such as siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.
• Individuals who previously held Ukrainian citizenship.
• Parents, spouses, and minor children of immigrants.
• Individuals who have continuously resided in Ukraine for 3 years since obtaining the status of a victim of human trafficking.
• Individuals who have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for more than three years.

The number of "quotas" for each group of individuals is distributed unevenly. For example:

• Quotas for investors are provided without limitations. There is no maximum limit for the number of individuals allowed.
• The quota for highly qualified specialists and workers has the highest limit of permitted immigrants (from the specified categories), with 4101 spots available for 2022.
• Next in line are parents, spouses, and minor children of immigrants with 2345 spots available for 2022.
• Individuals who are siblings, grandparents, grandchildren of Ukrainian citizens have an even lower number of spots available with only 805 for 2022.

You may also like: How Long Does It Take to Get a Permanent Residence Permit in Ukraine?

Requirements for obtaining a temporary residence permit through "quotas"

Here are some important things to keep in mind regarding the quota-based method:

• The number of quota-based spots for the most popular categories quickly runs out (usually by October), and it is limited in quantity for each region of Ukraine.
• Additional documents are required, including a certificate of no criminal record from the foreigner's home country, a document stating that they are not suffering from chronic alcoholism, drug addiction, or infectious diseases (as determined by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health), and proof of registration in the foreigner's home country.

The person must be legally present in Ukraine, for example, by having a type C visa. If the foreigner is a citizen of a country that has a visa-free regime with Ukraine, they can enter Ukraine without a visa, provided they do not exceed the allowed stay duration.

The person must have a valid international passport.

If a foreigner is currently abroad and planning to start the process of obtaining documents in Ukraine, they will first need to coordinate their entry into Ukraine properly. The situation will be easier for citizens who have a simplified entry process and do not require a visa. Our lawyers can also help with obtaining visas or invitations to Ukraine.

After submitting the documents for obtaining immigration permission through the quota system, the State Migration Service (SMS) will conduct a thorough examination of the submitted documents and the legality of the grounds for stay and immigration, along with authorized agencies such as the Police, Security Service, Border Service, and Interpol. This procedure cannot last more than one year.

When all the checks are done and responses from the authorized agencies are received, the SMS will decide on granting the foreigner a permit to immigrate to Ukraine.

The validity period of the permit is 1 year.

After obtaining the permit, it is necessary to apply for a permanent residence permit. Citizens of visa-free countries need to submit documents, while others need first to obtain a D-01 visa.

The validity period of the residence permit is 10 years.

Getting a permanent residence permit in Ukraine through a quota might be a suitable option for you if you:

• plan to reside in Ukraine permanently and don't want to deal with extending your permit every year;
• wish to have the flexibility to cross Ukraine's borders frequently without the need to apply for a new visa;
• have the desire to secure a particular position and job in Ukraine;
• are motivated to obtain Ukrainian citizenship;
• intend to relocate your family to Ukraine or reunite with relatives.

We'll go through the three most popular quotas for obtaining immigration permits with subsequent permanent residency for a better understanding of how the process works in practice.

You may also like: How to Fill Out Documents for Obtaining a D Visa?

The quota for permanent residency in Ukraine through family ties

This quota applies to foreigners whose relatives already hold Ukrainian citizenship, including:

• Grandfather, grandmother;
• Grandson, granddaughter;
• Sibling.

The main documents required are those that confirm the relationship, such as birth certificates, and so on.

It's important to have documents that can truly prove the relationship, and there may be difficulties if there are differences in surnames between you and your relatives. In such cases, you'll need to prepare a package of documents that not only confirms the relationship but also demonstrates the connection between your surnames.

Let's take a closer look at the specific documents that can confirm family ties:

1) For grandparents/grandchildren, you'll need:

• originals of the birth certificates of the receiving party, along with a translation, 
• the birth certificates of one of the parents, whose parents are the grandparents of the receiving party.

2) For siblings, you'll need the original birth certificates of the receiving and inviting parties, along with a translation, as well as original or certified copies of the parents' passports with a translation.

Please note! The family ties must be full-blooded. 

For more detailed information on the entire process, click here.

The quota for permanent residence in Ukraine if there are immigrants in the family

An immigrant is a foreigner who has obtained a permanent residence permit in Ukraine. This option is available to the following family members:

• Parents of the immigrant
• Spouse of the immigrant
• Minor children of the immigrant.

To apply for this quota, the following documents will be required:

• Documents proving the family relationship between the immigrant and the family member who has permanent residency
• A valid permanent residence permit from the immigrant.

Please note! The required documents may vary depending on the nature of the family relationship, which we will discuss in more detail below. In some cases, these documents may have been lost or damaged, so it's important to obtain duplicates or replacements as needed.

Attention! It does not matter for what reasons the immigrant received permanent residency – his family members can also obtain it based on blood relationship.

For more details on the entire procedure, click here.

The quota for permanent residency in Ukraine for highly skilled specialists

First of all, it should be noted that there is a LIST of professions and qualification requirements indicating the number of such individuals for each category, which is updated annually. For example, in 2021, there were about 40 different professions on the list.

IT specialists are among the most sought-after professionals under this quota and are provided with the largest number of available spots. Many IT specialists are interested in the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine, depending on their personal situation and career goals.

Key documents: To qualify for permanent residency, applicants must provide documentation that proves they meet the necessary qualifications for their specific profession. This includes work experience, education diplomas, and income level.

At our firm, we work with each client individually to evaluate their situation and determine if they are eligible to immigrate to Ukraine under the IT specialist quota. 

We've already gone into detail about the requirements and procedure for getting an IT specialist visa in Ukraine.

Depending on your situation, our legal team will put together the necessary document packages for your immigration under the quota and your subsequent permanent residency application.

The "quota" is basically the number of foreigners Ukraine is allowed to take in each year for different types of visas. Sometimes the quotas don't get used up within the year, while other times they're filled pretty quickly, depending on the circumstances and the number of applicants.

But the good news is that by speaking with one of our specialists ahead of time, you can get an idea of your chances of being included in the quota during a particular period, as well as how long the whole process might take.

Our services include:

• Analysis of the Client's situation and the possibility of obtaining a permit through the quota system;
• Assistance with the preparation of documents for obtaining an Immigration Permit, Temporary Residence Permit, D Visa, etc.;
• Help with obtaining missing documents, such as documents proving family ties with Ukrainian citizens;
• Preparation of the Client for the visit to Ukraine and the Consulate;
• Insurance registration in Ukraine;
• Full support throughout the process of obtaining permanent residency, including compliance with all deadlines;
• Assistance with the legalization of stay in Ukraine during the waiting period for permanent residency.

Check the cost of obtaining permanent residency in Ukraine here

All documents prepared by our lawyers meet the requirements of the legislation and enable clients to achieve their desired result on the first attempt.

We provide a turnkey service, meaning we will organize the obtaining of all necessary documents in Ukraine, register insurance for you, and ensure compliance with all relevant deadlines.

Didn’t find an answer to your question?

Everything you need to know about obtaining permanent residency in Ukraine here.

Everything about immigration to Ukraine for IT specialists here.