Legal Navigator for Foreign Military Personnel

Residence Permits

Contents

General Information

A residence permit is a document that confirms the identity of a foreigner or stateless person and their legal grounds for temporary residence in Ukraine (temporary residence permit) or the right to permanent residence (permanent residence permit).

A temporary residence permit allows temporary residence in Ukraine for as long as the relevant grounds exist (for example, a military service contract and three months after its termination/dissolution).

A permanent residence permit, issued based on an immigration permit, is valid for an unlimited period and is issued for a ten-year term, after which it must be renewed. Importantly, the immigration permit remains valid even if the grounds on which it was issued no longer exist. For example, if a military personnel received an immigration permit based on military service and the contract was terminated after three or more years, this is not grounds for cancellation of the immigration permit.

Eligibility for an Immigration Permit (Permanent Residence Permit)

• Military personnel who have served three or more years in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, or the State Special Transport Service.

• Military personnel found unfit for service by the MME due to illnesses, injuries (wounds, concussions, mutilations) received in the line of duty, regardless of length of service.

• A spouse of a deceased military personnel of Ukrainian nationality, if they apply for immigration during martial law and within six months after its termination or cancellation.

Documents Required for a Residence Permit

• a valid passport of the foreigner (or all passports if multiple citizenships) or a stateless person’s identity document, with a type D visa (long-term visa is not required for foreigners or stateless persons arriving for family reunification, or those exempt under Ukrainian law), plus a copy of the passport page with the visa.

• an expired passport or one subject to replacement (possible for persons who must obtain a new document from a state that has committed armed aggression against Ukraine or does not recognise Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty),

• a notarised Ukrainian translation of the passport page with personal data,

• a valid medical insurance policy for the entire validity period of the permit (except for foreigners and stateless persons specified in Article 4, paragraph 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”),

• proof of payment of the administrative fee, or a document confirming exemption from payment,

• a document confirming registration in the State Register of Individual Taxpayers, including the tax ID number (if available),

• a military registration document and the military service contract.

A foreigner or stateless person may also submit additional documents to prove the grounds for obtaining the permit or confirm the information stated in the application form (for example, property ownership documents, rental contracts, etc.). Copies of such documents must be attached to the application form.

Foreigners who have provided instruction and other assistance have to submit:

• a submission from the Ministry of Defence, another central executive authority managing military formations established under the laws of Ukraine, or a law enforcement agency or a state body with law enforcement functions, which carried out anti-terrorist operations, national security and defence measures, or repelled and contained armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions,

• a petition from the commander of a unit of the Armed Forces, other military formations established under the laws of Ukraine, law enforcement agencies, or a state body with law enforcement functions that carried out anti-terrorist operations, national security and defence measures, or repelled and contained armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, drawn up according to the form and in the procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

If a written refusal to provide a submission or petition is received, a foreigner or stateless person may submit, together with the relevant application, a court decision establishing the fact of belonging to the persons specified in Article 4, part 20 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”.

• For foreigners or stateless persons who are providing/have provided firearms, tactical, radio-technical, explosive, medical, and other assistance and who apply for a residence permit no later than 12 months after the termination or cancellation of martial law, a submission from the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Internal Affairs is required confirming that the foreigner or stateless person provided the above-mentioned assistance during martial law in Ukraine.

Documents for an Application for an Immigration Permit

• a valid passport of the foreigner (or all passports if multiple citizenships) or a stateless person’s identity document (the document is returned after it is presented), and a copy/copies of these documents,

• foreigners and stateless persons entitled to receive an immigration permit under Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On Immigration” (part two, items 9 or 10; part three, item 1-1) may submit a passport whose validity has expired or is subject to replacement, if they must apply to an aggressor state for a new document,

• a certified Ukrainian translation of the passport page with personal data (and, in the case of multiple citizenship, of the passports of all relevant states) or of the stateless person’s identity document,

• three photographs sized 3.5 × 4.5 cm,

• a document confirming the legality of stay/temporary residence in Ukraine. The legality of stay/temporary residence of a foreigner or stateless person is confirmed by: a stamp on crossing the state border; or a stamp on the extension of the period of stay taking into account the permitted period of stay; or a temporary residence permit with a registered/declared place of residence valid at the time of submitting the documents; or other documents provided for by law,

• a document confirming place of residence (in Ukraine and abroad, from the previous country of residence). Military personnel may submit a certificate of military service as proof of residence in Ukraine.

For those who have received temporary residence permits, proof of residence in Ukraine is an extract from the territorial community register.

For those temporarily lawfully staying in Ukraine or applying through Ukrainian diplomatic or consular missions abroad, such proof of residence is:

• a property ownership certificate or state registration of housing ownership (returned after presentation) and its copy, and if the housing is not owned by the applicant,

• the written consent of the owner (co-owner) of such housing, certified according to the established procedure.

If the housing provided to the foreigner or stateless person is in state or municipal property, instead of a property ownership document, a document confirming the right of the host party to use the housing (warrant, properly executed lease/sublease/rental agreement, etc.) and its copy must be submitted, together with written consent for the foreigner/stateless person to reside from all adult residents registered/declared at that address.

• documented information on family composition (copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption papers, guardianship documents, etc.),

• a document issued by a healthcare institution confirming the absence of diseases specified in Article 9, part five, item 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On Immigration” (except for persons specified in Article 4, part three, items 1, 1-1, 3, and 6). Persons permanently residing outside Ukraine must provide a certificate issued by a medical institution in their country of residence, legalised according to the established procedure, unless otherwise provided by international treaties,

• proof of payment of the administrative or consular fee, or a document confirming exemption from payment.

Extension of Stay

Important: the right to temporary residence for foreign military personnel is confirmed by a valid contract for military service and remains in effect for three months after its termination. A passport stamp extending the period of stay, or a temporary residence permit issued for this period, is not obligatory; however, it is recommended to have one.

To extend the period of stay in Ukraine, the following must be submitted:

• a written application from the foreigner/stateless person and the host party, submitted personally to the State Migration Service at the place of residence of the foreigner/stateless person, no later than three working days before the expiry of the permitted stay in Ukraine,

• documents confirming the grounds for continued stay in Ukraine,

the foreigner/stateless person's passport and copies of the passport pages containing personal data, with a notarised Ukrainian translation.

Military personnel may submit an expired passport or one subject to replacement if a new document must be obtained from an aggressor state.

• Passaporte (documento de identidade) da parte receptora (pessoa física) ou do representante da parte receptora (pessoa jurídica)

• Documentos que comprovem meios financeiros suficientes para cobrir despesas de permanência do estrangeiro/apátrida na Ucrânia, ou garantias equivalentes da parte receptora