Legal Navigator for Foreign Military Personnel

Stay on the Territory of Ukraine

Contents

Stay on the Territory of Ukraine During Service and After Discharge

During the military service, a foreigner is considered to be legally staying on the territory of Ukraine. Documents confirming this fact include a military ID, i.e. a military service book, plastic ID or electronic ID (Armed Forces of Ukraine), certificates or service ID (National Guard of Ukraine). After discharge from military service, foreigners may currently stay on the territory of Ukraine for 3 months.

Starting from May 2026, a temporary residence permit will serve as confirmation of legal stay. The period of legal stay in Ukraine has also been changed.

Foreigners who are already serving must obtain such a permit by November 2026. For those who are just joining the military, it will be issued after signing the contract.

Foreigners who have been discharged from military service will be able to legally stay in Ukraine for 6 months after receiving a temporary residence permit.

However, this does not apply to foreigners whose contract was terminated (dissolved) due to:

• Court sentence involving imprisonment or restriction of liberty

• Failure to pass the probationary period

• Unsuitability for the position

• Refusal to undergo a polygraph test

In such cases, the foreigner is required to leave the territory of Ukraine immediately after the contract termination (dissolution).

Obtaining a Temporary Residence Permit

Starting in May 2026, all foreign military service members are required to obtain a temporary residence permit.

Documents must be submitted in person (remote submission is not possible) to:

1. The territorial body of the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS). This is equivalent to a migration office. Such offices exist in every regional center. See the list here.

2. Alternatively, you may apply through an Administrative Service Center or the State Enterprise 'Document', but only if they have the appropriate technical equipment. Therefore, applying to the SMS is the preferred option.

Prepare a set of documents:

• Original and copy of a valid passport

• Notarized Ukrainian translation of the passport

• Receipt confirming the administrative fee payment

• In some cases not related to obtaining a residence permit on the basis of military service, a valid health insurance policy is required.

• A military ID, i.e. a military service book, plastic ID or electronic ID (Armed Forces of Ukraine), or service ID (National Guard of Ukraine)

• Military service contract

• A commitment from the military unit to notify the SMS in case of early termination of the contract

Officially, if you participated in combat as an instructor or volunteer, but don`t sign a contract, the procedure is simplified. You need to submit an application to the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Internal Affairs so they can provide an official submission confirming participation in combat or assistance to the Defense Forces units for at least six months. In practice, this can be difficult or time-consuming, which may lead to a violation of the legal stay period in Ukraine.

Additionally, a temporary residence permit may be issued to the spouse of a foreign national for the duration of their legal stay in Ukraine. For this, both spouses must apply together and submit, in addition to the documents listed above, the original military service contract and military ID.

If you wish to remain in Ukraine for reasons not related to military service, additional documents must be provided depending on your grounds (a full list can be found here). In some cases, to obtain the permit and extend your stay, it may be necessary to leave Ukraine and re-enter.

The permit is issued within 15 working days after submission of documents.

• If you have just signed the contract, you must obtain the permit immediately after signing.

• If you are already serving, the permit must be obtained by November 2026.

Obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit

1. Obtaining an Immigration Permit

It is available to:

• Those who served in the Armed Forces or National Guard for at least three years in peacetime or one year during martial law

• Those declared unfit for service due to injury, trauma, concussion, or mutilation sustained in combat

• Spouses, parents, and children (under 18 years old) of a foreign national who died during service or while assisting the Defense Forces units

To obtain the immigration permit

1. You must book an appointment in the digital queue system (in advance via the SMS website or on-site via a terminal at the office) at the territorial body of the State Migration Service of Ukraine, where an electronic application will be generated in your presence and the required documents attached. See the address of this authority here.

2. Prepare the documents:

• The original and a notarized copy of a valid passport (if the foreigner’s country of origin has committed an act of armed aggression against Ukraine, such a foreigner may submit an expired passport)

• Notarized Ukrainian translation of the passport

• A document confirming lawful stay in Ukraine (for example, a temporary residence permit) (for foreign military personnel, such documents include a military service contract, military ID, and an extract from the order on discharge from service (if the foreigner has been discharged from military service))

• Three photos (3.5 × 4.5 cm)

• A document confirming place of residence in Ukraine (if the foreigner is serving in the military, they should provide a certificate of military service (Form 5 certificate); if discharged from service, either documents confirming ownership of housing in Ukraine or a notarized consent from the property owner for the registration and residence)

• Information about family composition and a copy of the marriage certificate (if married) (if documents are in a foreign language, a notarized Ukrainian translation is required)

• A medical certificate confirming the absence of chronic alcohol or drug use disorder, substance abuse, and dangerous infectious diseases (tuberculosis, cholera, etc.). This is not required when applying for immigration on the basis of military service.

• A criminal record clearance certificate from the foreigner’s country of origin, issued either by a competent authority of that country or its embassy/consulate in Ukraine (not required when applying on the basis of military service)

• A certificate of residence from the foreigner’s country of origin

• Receipt confirming the administrative fee payment

For service members declared unfit due to injury, trauma, post-concussion syndrome, or mutilation sustained while performing combat tasks, an additional document is required: a MMC (VLK) conclusion confirming unfitness and the link between the injury and service

The application review period is up to six months from the date of submission.

The period of legal stay for submitting an application for an immigration permit for foreigners who remain in Ukraine after termination of their contract is six months.

If you cannot collect the documents within this period, you should extend your legal stay.

2. Obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit

A permanent residence permit is a document granting the right to live in Ukraine indefinitely. It is issued after obtaining an immigration permit.

• To obtain it, you must book an appointment in the online queue (in advance via the SMS website or on-site at a terminal in the office) for the service 'Issuance of a permanent residence permit' at the territorial office of the State Migration Service (SMS). During this visit, you will be photographed and fingerprinted.

• Prepare the following documents:

1. Original and copy of a valid international passport

2. Notarized Ukrainian translation of the passport

3. A copy of the decision granting the immigration permit

4. Receipt confirming the administrative fee payment

5. A copy of the taxpayer identification number (РНОКПП)

• The permit is issued within 15 working days after submission of documents. The application status can be checked on the SMS website under 'Check application status'. When the status 'Document delivered to the office' appears, you may go to the same SMS office.

If you have a Taxpayer Identification Number (RNOKPP), your data will also appear in the Diia app.

The permit is issued for 10 years, after which it must be replaced. To do this, apply to the SMS no later than 15 days before the expiration date with the same set of documents.

The right to permanent residence is not lost – this is only a technical replacement of the document.

Extension of Stay in Ukraine

If you are legally in Ukraine but need to stay longer than your current status allows, you may officially extend your period of stay.

To do this, you must apply to a territorial office of the State Migration Service (SMS) at your place of residence in Ukraine.

To extend your stay in Ukraine, you must have a valid reason. This may include:

• Treatment or childbirth

• Care for a sick family member

• Extraordinary circumstances preventing departure

• Inheritance procedures

• Grounds for obtaining an immigration permit or temporary residence permit

• Other circumstances preventing departure

To extend your stay in Ukraine, you must prepare the following documents:

• Documents confirming the reason for staying (for example, a medical certificate, inheritance documents, etc.)

• The original and copies of passport pages with personal data, along with a notarized Ukrainian translation

• The passport of the receiving party, i.e., the person or organization with whom the foreigner resides in Ukraine

• Proof of sufficient financial resources This may include cash or a bank card with a statement confirming available funds

• Receipt confirming the administrative fee payment

A decision on extension is made within three business days after submission of documents.