Immigration support for hiring expats in Ukraine via EOR/PEO
Hiring foreign nationals in Ukraine requires full alignment with local immigration and labour laws. For companies without a Ukrainian legal entity, this process presents legal and administrative barriers — from work permit sponsorship to residence registration.
Acumen International provides a compliant employment and immigration solution. Acting as the legal employer of record, we enable companies to onboard expatriates in Ukraine without the need to establish a local entity. We sponsor the work permit, issue a fully localised employment contract, and manage the entire immigration and registration process in Ukraine.
When to Use This Solution
This service is suitable for companies that need:
- Long-term employment of foreign nationals in Ukraine, fully aligned with local labour and immigration law
- A temporary workforce presence before incorporating a local legal entity
- A compliant structure for relocating or assigning foreign employees as part of broader global mobility programmes
Acumen acts as the legal employer, assuming formal obligations for immigration compliance, payroll, social security contributions, and documentation. You retain full managerial oversight of the employee’s day-to-day responsibilities.
Work Permit Processing Time in Ukraine
The standard processing time for a work permit in Ukraine is up to 15 working days after complete submission. This estimate assumes properly prepared documentation and no delays due to role classification or nationality-specific issues. Visa issuance and TRP registration add time to the full onboarding process.
Step-by-Step Immigration Process for Foreign Employees
Hiring a foreign national legally in Ukraine under a work permit and temporary residence permit (TRP) involves the following steps:
- Labour Market Search (if required): In some cases, confirmation is needed that no suitable Ukrainian national is available for the role.
- Work Permit Application: Filed by Acumen International with the Ministry of Economy, based on the drafted employment contract.
- D Visa Application: Submitted by the applicant in their country of residence after work permit approval.
- Entry to Ukraine: Once the D visa is issued, the foreign national enters Ukraine.
- Temporary Residence Permit Application: Based on the approved work permit; submitted to the State Migration Service.
- Residence Registration Completion: Final step that legally confirms the individual’s residence in Ukraine for the duration of the permit.
The employment contract must exactly match the terms set out in the work permit (role, salary, duration, employer), and the employer must maintain legal employment and tax status throughout the employee’s stay.
Required Documentation for Work Permit and TRP (Main Applicant)
| Name | Notes |
| Complete Application form | Completed in Ukrainian; submitted by legal employer |
| Passport copy | Valid 6+ months; requires notarised translation into Ukrainian. |
| 2 colour passport photographs | 3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Resume / CV (last 5 years) | Showing education and relevant work history; required for eligibility verification |
| Police Clearance Certificate | From country of citizenship or recent residence; apostilled or legalised and translated into Ukrainian. |
| Ukrainian Police Clearance | Only required if the applicant has previously lived in Ukraine. Obtained from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. |
| Educational Certificates | With translation into Ukrainian and Apostille/legalization. |
| Medical Certificate | The medical certificate must be legalized/Apostilled in the country of issuance and translated into Ukrainian. |
| Passport valid for six months minimum | At least 2 blank adjoining pages; required for D visa issuance |
| Draft Employment Contract or Job Offer Letter | Must match permit details exactly (role, term, salary); used to initiate permit |
| Proof of state duty payment | Official receipt confirming payment of permit issuance fee |
If you need to hire expatriate employees in Ukraine without establishing a local legal entity, we can sponsor their work permits, manage the full immigration process, and employ them on your behalf via our Ukrainian EOR infrastructure.
Contact our team to let us take up your foreign employees’ immigration matters and relieve you of the responsibility of getting work permit by working with our local partners to organise and obtain all the necessary permits, as well as provide you with a detailed update on the progress of the process.