Quick HowTo answer. How to extend your stay beyond 90 days: (1) visit State Migration Service (SMS) before your 90-day period ends; (2) submit application + supporting documents (work contract / study enrolment / family invitation / Diia.City contract / marriage certificate); (3) police clearance certificate from your home country with apostille; (4) medical insurance with Ukraine coverage; (5) wait 7-15 working days; (6) receive a temporary residence permit valid for 1 year (renewable). Alternative to visa-free → 90 days — D-category visa through the consulate before arrival. Martial law: Cabinet Resolution No. 1124 / 2022 simplifies some procedures for foreigners already in Ukraine (online applications via diia.gov.ua for some categories).
Grounds for temporary residence
The Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners" (Art. 4) lists grounds for a temporary residence permit:
1. Employment (Work Permit, D-09):
- Ukrainian employer files a petition + contract.
- Work permit issued by the State Employment Service — then residence permit from SMS.
- Categories: highly-skilled specialists, IT specialists, scarce professions, foreign investment representatives.
2. IT specialist via Diia.City (Diia.City regime, spec):
- A Ukrainian IT startup as a Diia.City resident files a petition.
- Simplified procedure: work permit not required; residence permit valid for 2 years.
- Available since 2022; a popular path for foreign tech professionals.
3. Studies (Student visa, D-12/D-13):
- Enrolment in a university accredited by the Ministry of Education.
- Ukrainian universities (Taras Shevchenko KNU, KPI, Ivan Franko LNU, Karazin KhNU, etc.) accept foreigners on bachelor / master / PhD programmes.
- Residence permit valid for the duration of studies.
4. Family reunification (D-08):
- Spouse / minor children of a Ukrainian citizen or resident with a permit.
- Marriage certificate / birth certificate with apostille.
- Residence permit valid for the duration of marriage or family connection.
5. Marriage to a Ukrainian citizen (D-08):
- Marriage registration at RAGS (civil registry).
- After 2 years of marriage — apply for permanent residence + after 1 more year — apply for citizenship.
6. Humanitarian / religious mission (D-10):
- Invitation from a registered charity / religious organisation.
- For NGO volunteers, church workers, medical missions.
7. Investor (D-11):
- Investment of at least USD 100,000 in the authorised capital of a Ukrainian company.
- Bank documents confirming the transfer.
8. Entrepreneurship:
- Registration as a sole trader (FOP) or company in Ukraine.
- Business plan + evidence of economic viability.
9. Journalist with accreditation (D-06):
- MFA accreditation.
- Simplified path for war correspondents.
10. Researcher / scientific worker (D-04):
- Contract with NAS Ukraine, university, or scientific institution.
Step-by-step procedure
Step 1 — Document preparation in your home country.
- Foreign passport (valid > 6 months at filing).
- Police clearance certificate — with apostille for Hague Convention 1961 countries. For non-members — full consular legalisation.
- Medical certificate — for some categories (students, marriage to UA).
- Supporting documents — work contract, study enrolment, marriage certificate, investor bank statement — all with apostille.
- Translation into Ukrainian — notarised translation of all non-Ukrainian documents.
Step 2 — Entry to Ukraine.
- Usually visa-free 90/180 (for visa-free countries) — then apply for the residence permit before expiry.
- Or with a D-category visa (long-term entry visa) — issued by the consulate before travel; D-08 for family, D-11 for investor, D-12 for studies etc.
Step 3 — Application to SMS.
- Registration of residence (temporary) at the city SMS office based on your actual address.
- Submit application for a temporary residence permit — in person or via a lawyer with a power of attorney.
- State fee: ~510 UAH (€10); additionally ~250-500 UAH for consultation / notary services.
Step 4 — Wait for decision.
- 7-15 working days (standard).
- Accelerated review (additional fee): 3-5 days.
- Some regions / complex cases: up to 30 days.
Step 5 — Receive the permit.
- A plastic card with biometric data is issued.
- Term: 1 year for most categories; 2 years for Diia.City; duration of studies for students.
- Renewable before expiry (apply 1-3 months before expiration).
Martial law — Cabinet Resolution No. 1124 / 2022
Since February 2022, temporary residence procedures are adapted to martial law:
Simplifications:
- Electronic filing via Diia.gov.ua available for some categories (Diia.City IT, family reunification).
- Automatic stay extension for foreigners present in Ukraine on 24 February 2022 — no additional procedures until martial law ends.
- Humanitarian category expanded — for NGO volunteers, medical missions, simplified paperwork.
Complications:
- Biometrics — some regional SMS offices operate with limited capacity or are relocated; review times extend to 30-45 days.
- Frontline regions — in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts SMS operates limited / for defence needs only.
- Wartime restrictions for foreign men of conscription age — formally don't apply (foreigners are not subject to mobilisation), but additional biographical screening through SBU for risk categories (foreigners with RF/BY passports, etc.).
D-category visas — long-term entry
If you're not from a visa-free country (LATAM / MENA / Africa / Asia, not on the C6 list) and plan a long-term stay — start with a D-visa, not visa-free tourist entry.
D-categories (MFA Cabinet):
- D-01: diplomatic / official.
- D-04: researcher / scientific worker.
- D-06: journalist with accreditation.
- D-07: artists / sportspeople.
- D-08: family reunification.
- D-09: employment with work permit.
- D-10: humanitarian / religious.
- D-11: investor.
- D-12: student.
- D-13: military service (since 2022 — added category for foreign volunteer defenders).
- D-14: medical treatment.
Application at the Ukrainian consulate in your home country. Documents almost the same as for a residence permit. D-visa term — up to 1 year, after arrival in Ukraine → transition to a residence permit.
Edge cases — typical pitfalls
1. "I entered visa-free as a tourist, now want to stay longer." Possible if your grounds arose after arrival (e.g., got a job, married, enrolled at university). Then — apply for the residence permit before the 90-day expiry. Without new grounds — you must leave.
2. "I exit at 90 days and re-enter for another 90." This violates the 90/180 regime — a second stay over 90 days within a 180-day window is not allowed. Border check of history will catch this — risk of refusal.
3. "I have Ukrainian heritage — quick citizenship?" Yes, simplified path under Art. 9 of the Law on Citizenship — for "persons of Ukrainian heritage". Required: documented proof (grandfather/great-grandfather Ukrainian) + 2 years continuous residence in Ukraine with a permit. Complex but possible.
4. "I'm a refugee from Belarus / Russia — how to legalise?" Special categories since 2022: Temporary protection for citizens of Belarus and the Russian Federation who left their home country for political reasons — status is not equivalent to a residence permit but grants legal stay during wartime.
5. "I'm marrying a Ukrainian citizen — immediate citizenship?" No. First — temporary residence (D-08), 2 years continuous marriage, then permanent residence, then 1 more year — citizenship application. Total ~5 years.
6. "My investment is 80,000 USD instead of 100,000 — will it pass?" No. Minimum for D-11 = USD 100,000 in authorised capital. You can top up later — but at the moment of filing, the minimum must be met.
7. "I work remotely for a foreign company — do I need residence?" Yes, if you plan to be in Ukraine > 90 days in a 180-day window. Grounds — D-09 + work permit from a foreign employer for a Ukrainian division, or entrepreneurship (FOP registration), or Diia.City (if your employer is a Diia.City resident).
8. "I lost my passport during the permit application." Contact police (lost-document statement) + your home-country embassy (issue of an emergency passport or travel document). The residence application needs to be redone.
9. "I got a 1-year permit but lost my job after 6 months." Legally — the permit is tied to the grounds. Change of employer within the term (new job) — notify SMS within 10 days. Dismissal without new employment — the permit is cancelled in 30-90 days, you must leave or arrange new grounds.
10. "I have dual citizenship — Ukrainian-USA. How does this affect me?" Ukraine doesn't officially recognise dual citizenship (since 2024, a new law allows in some cases), but doesn't require renunciation of the other. For permit purposes, recommended to enter on the foreign passport, use it for SMS procedures.
Locale-aware notes (for English-language readers)
This English version covers anglophone professionals — US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland — relocating to Ukraine for work, study, family, IT, journalism, NGO, or humanitarian missions.
- US travellers — apostille via Secretary of State. US is a Hague Convention country. Apostille on police clearance (FBI background check) and other documents — obtained via the Secretary of State in the issuing state (or U.S. Department of State for federal documents). FBI check itself — submit via FBI Channeler (faster, 1-3 weeks) or directly via FBI (4-12 weeks). Additional layer: FBI background check is the standard police clearance for US citizens applying for Ukrainian residence.
- UK travellers — apostille via FCDO. UK is Hague. Apostille on ACRO Criminal Records Office documents — via Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk/get-document-legalised). ACRO Police Certificate — ~£55, 10-15 working days.
- Canadian travellers — apostille via Global Affairs Canada. Canada joined Hague Convention in 2024 (newly available). RCMP background check + apostille via Global Affairs Canada. Previously full consular legalisation was required; now simplified.
- Australian travellers — apostille via DFAT. Australia is Hague. Australian Federal Police National Police Check + apostille via Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (smartraveller.gov.au).
- Irish travellers — apostille via DFA. Garda Síochána certificate + apostille via Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Diia.City for English-speaking IT workers. Ukraine's IT sector has many English-friendly companies. Diia.City residents include EPAM, Sigma Software, Reface, Restream — all hire international talent with the simplified Diia.City permit (2-year permit, no work permit needed).
- Universities for anglophone students. Many Ukrainian universities offer English-language programmes — Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA), KSE (Kyiv School of Economics), Bogomolets National Medical University (English-language MD programmes), KPI (engineering). Tuition typically $3,000-$8,000/year.
- Insurance. Most US/UK/CA/AU travel insurance excludes Ukraine. Long-stay insurance with Ukraine coverage is required for permit renewal — see the Ukraine long-stay insurance guide.
- Embassy contacts (English-language). US Embassy Kyiv: kyiv.usembassy.gov. UK Embassy: gov.uk/world/ukraine. Canadian Embassy: international.gc.ca/country-pays/ukraine. Australian Embassy: ukraine.embassy.gov.au. Irish Embassy: ireland.ie/en/ukraine.