A job offer from Ukraine starts the process. Next the employer applies for your work permit (decision within 7 working days) and sends a certified copy; with it you apply for the D-04 work visa through VFS (USD 404, decision within 10 working days); after entry you file the residence permit. Check the employer before any of this.
The job offer is the first document of the work route, and it matters: it is the reason the employer applies for your permit. Three more documents stand between it and lawful work, each issued by a different authority on its own deadline. This guide shows what happens after the offer, who does what and how to tell where your file stands today. Definitions of the four documents are on offer, permit, visa, residence permit.
- 01Job offerEmployer · private letter
- 02Work permitEmployment centre · ≤7 working days
- 03D-04 visaEmbassy via VFS · USD 404 · ≤10 working days
- 04Residence permitMigration Service, after entry
The four documents: who issues each and what it allows
| Document | Issued by | What it allows | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job offer | The Ukrainian employer | Starts the process: the draft contract goes into the permit file (Art. 42-2) | None set by law |
| Work permit | Regional employment centre of the State Employment Service | The employer may employ you in that position for up to 2 years (Art. 42-3) | Up to 7 working days; published on the service website within 2 (Arts. 42-6, 42-7) |
| Type D work visa (D-04) | Embassy of Ukraine in Islamabad, through VFS | Entry to Ukraine for that work | Up to 10 working days, up to 30 with checks (Res. 118, para. 19); USD 404 |
| Temporary residence permit | State Migration Service, in Ukraine | Lawful stay for the term of the job | File no later than 15 working days before your permitted stay ends; card within 15 working days (Res. 322) |
Step 1: check the employer behind the offer
An offer letter costs nothing to produce, so check the company before you pay for anything. Find it by its 8-digit EDRPOU code in the Unified State Register, confirm that it is active, and that the person who signed may act for it. Compare the salary with the minimum wage, UAH 8,647 a month in 2026: the draft contract the employer files for the permit cannot pay less. Warning signs in offers: fake job offer from Ukraine.
Step 2: the employer applies for the work permit
The employer files five documents with the regional employment centre: the application, copies of your passport pages with a certified Ukrainian translation, a photo, the certified draft contract and proof of the fee (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-2). The employer pays the fee (Art. 42-4). The decision is due within 7 working days (Art. 42-6) and appears on the State Employment Service website within 2 working days (Art. 42-7). The permit names the employer and the position, so a new employer means a new permit. How to read the decision: how to read a Ukrainian work permit.
Step 3: the D-04 work visa
The employer sends a certified copy of the permit (Resolution No. 118, para. 8). You book VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore and pay USD 404 for the D-04 visa under the embassy tariff for Pakistani citizens, plus the VFS charge in rupees. The Embassy of Ukraine decides within up to 10 working days, or up to 30 with additional checks (para. 19). On the Pakistani side, check whether your job needs protector clearance from BE&OE. Documents and fees: Ukraine work visa from Pakistan.
Step 4: the residence permit after entry
After entering on the D-04 visa you file the temporary residence permit at the State Migration Service no later than 15 working days before your permitted stay ends; the card is issued within 15 working days of the documents being accepted (Resolution No. 322, paras. 5 and 17). It lasts while the job lasts: when the contract ends, the employer asks for the permit to be revoked (Art. 42-10) and the residence permit is revoked on the employer's request (para. 63).
Where does your file stand today?
You have an offer letter
Ask for the employer's EDRPOU code and check it. Ask when it will file for the permit.
You were told the permit is issued
Ask for the decision date and find it on the State Employment Service website. A decision you cannot find means you are still at step 1.
You have a VFS appointment
The appointment and receipt start the visa stage. The visa is the D-04 sticker in your passport after the embassy decides.
Someone offers a “ready residence permit” before you fly
The residence permit is filed in Ukraine after entry. Treat the offer as a scam.
Lines that signal a scam
- “The job offer is your visa.” The visa is issued by the embassy on the basis of the permit.
- “Pay us the permit fee.” The law puts the permit fee on the employer.
- “Come on a visit visa and we will arrange the permit there.” See changing status inside Ukraine.
- “Guaranteed approval.” The permit, the visa and the residence permit are decisions of three state bodies.
Questions about job offers from Ukraine
Is a job offer enough to get a Ukraine work visa?
I have a job offer from Ukraine. What happens next?
Who pays for the work permit?
Do I need protector clearance for a Ukraine job?
Can I go to Ukraine on a visit visa and start the job there?
How do I know the job offer is real?
Read next
- Ukraine work permit for Pakistani citizensOur work route service, from employer check to residence permit
- Fake job offer from UkraineEight signs and how to check
- Ukraine work visa from PakistanThe full route with fees and documents
- Ukraine salary for Pakistani workersMinimum wage, taxes and net pay
Check the employer behind your offer.
Employer verification, $199: register, tax, signatory and court checks, with a written GO / CAUTION / STOP report in 2–3 working days. Not sure the work route fits you? Eligibility assessment, $99.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. Travel to Ukraine is restricted because of the ongoing war; verify current advisories. Permit, visa and residence decisions rest solely with the Ukrainian authorities.