Every long-stay route from Pakistan to Ukraine runs through the same seven stages: a lawful ground, a document from the Ukrainian side, your Pakistani documents, the Type D visa at VFS, entry, the temporary residence permit and registration in Ukraine. Only the ground document changes: a work permit, a university invitation, a company or a family member.
- 01Lawful groundWork, study, business or familyYou (we check for $99)
- 02Ukrainian side moves firstWork permit, university invitation, company or family statusEmployer, university, company, family member
- 03Pakistani documentsPolice certificate, HEC, MoFA apostille, translationYou · police, HEC, MoFA
- 04Type D visaVFS Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore · ≤10 working daysYou · Embassy decides
- 05Entry to UkraineOn the Type D visa, for the purpose stated in itYou · border service
- 06Residence permit (TRP)Card within 15 working daysYou · State Migration Service
- 07Registration in UkraineAddress, taxpayer number, bank account where neededYou
What changes by route
| Work | Employer gets your work permit from the State Employment Service (decision within 7 working days, Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-6); D-04 work visa USD 404 |
|---|---|
| Study | University invitation through the official portal studyinukraine.gov.ua; Type D visa USD 70 |
| Business | A company registered in Ukraine: a founder’s share of at least EUR 100,000 is a residence ground (Law No. 3773-VI, Art. 4, part 12); with a smaller share, the company employs you on a work permit |
| Family | The status of your family member in Ukraine; family-reunification residence permit |
Visa fees are from the Embassy of Ukraine tariff for Pakistani citizens (from 1 August 2024). The full cost table: Ukraine visa fees from Pakistan.
Stage 1 — Choose a lawful ground
A long-stay route exists only when one of the grounds above applies to you. Our $99 eligibility assessment names the routes that fit your case in order, with an indicative timeline and your first action, in writing within 3 working days.
Stage 2 — The Ukrainian side moves first
The employer files your work permit, the university issues the invitation, the company is registered, or the family member’s status is confirmed. You supply documents; the filing on this stage belongs to the Ukrainian side. For the work route, see how the employer gets the permit.
Stage 3 — Pakistani documents
A police character certificate issued by the District Police Officer when the consul asks for it (Resolution No. 118, para. 10), degrees attested by HEC (PKR 3,000 per document), the MoFA apostille (PKR 3,000 per document) and Ukrainian translations. HEC comes before MoFA, and translation after the apostille: apostille & legalisation.
Stage 4 — Type D visa
You apply through VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore; the Embassy of Ukraine decides within up to 10 working days, or up to 30 with additional checks (Resolution No. 118, para. 19). Documents and fees: Type D visa process from Pakistan.
Stage 5 — Entry to Ukraine
Travel on the Type D visa within its validity, for the purpose written in it. Some agents sell entry on a visit visa with a promise to “switch” inside Ukraine. The residence permit is filed with a Type D visa in your passport (Resolution No. 322), so the switch gives you no status, and staying or working without one can end in forced return and an entry ban — see entry bans.
Stage 6 — Temporary residence permit
File 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). The residence permit, more than the visa, is your status in Ukraine: residence permit (TRP).
Stage 7 — Registration in Ukraine
Register your address, get a taxpayer identification number and, where you need one, open a bank account. Keep the residence permit and the ground document (work permit, enrolment, company) valid: the TRP depends on them.
Application process questions
What is the step-by-step process to move to Ukraine from Pakistan?
How long does the whole process take?
Can I do the steps myself?
Which Pakistani documents are needed?
What do I do after arriving in Ukraine?
Official sources
Know your route, its order and timeline before you pay anyone.
$99 eligibility assessment: a lawyer-validated written answer within 3 working days. Before you go further, read the Pakistan applicant guide.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. Deadlines from Law No. 5067-VI and Cabinet of Ministers Resolutions No. 118 and No. 322. Decisions rest solely with the Ukrainian authorities. Travel to Ukraine is restricted during the war; check current advisories before you plan.