An invitation letter is the document a host in Ukraine sends to support your visa: a university through the official study portal, a registered company on its letterhead for a business visit, or a person in Ukraine for a private visit. For a D-04 work visa the employer's work permit takes its place. The Embassy of Ukraine decides the visa.
“Invitation letter” can mean four different papers. Each visa type has its own host and its own form of invitation, and the work route uses a different document altogether. This page defines the term, matches each kind of invitation to its visa, and points to the detailed pages: what an invitation must contain and how to tell a fake one.
- 01Host in UkraineUniversity, company or a person living in Ukraine lawfully
- 02Invitation issuedPortal invitation, letter on letterhead or notarised invitation
- 03Your visa fileInvitation + passport + other documents, filed at VFS
- 04Embassy decidesUp to 10 working days, extendable to 30 (Res. 118, para. 19)
Four kinds of invitation, by visa
| Visa | Who issues it | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Study (Type D) | The university, through your account on studyinukraine.gov.ua | Digital Invitation for Study, valid 6 months; portal application fee 3,100 UAH |
| Work (Type D, D-04) | The Ukrainian employer, after the employment centre issues the work permit | The visa file rests on a certified copy of the work permit (Res. 118, para. 8); a company letter can accompany it |
| Business visit (Type C) | A company registered in Ukraine | Letter on the company’s letterhead with its EDRPOU code, the purpose of the visit and a guarantee of costs |
| Private visit (Type C) | A person living in Ukraine lawfully | Invitation naming the purpose, term and place of stay; guest invitations are notarised |
Study visas start on the portal; the full route is in our Ukraine study visa guide for 2026. For work, the employer's permit is the key document, explained in work permit vs visa.
What an invitation does in your file
The invitation links you to a host the embassy can check. A company is found in the Unified State Register by its 8-digit EDRPOU code; a university invitation sits in the official portal; a private invitation carries a notary's certification. The letter states the purpose, term and place of your stay, and these must match the visa type you apply for and the rest of your documents. Details that differ from the register or from your passport are a reason for the embassy to ask questions or refuse, as described in Type D visa refusals.
What to check before you file
- The visa type the invitation is for matches the visa you are applying for.
- A company host is active in the Unified State Register under the EDRPOU code on the letter.
- A study invitation is visible in your own account on studyinukraine.gov.ua.
- Your name and passport number match your current passport.
- Any payment you made went to an official fee: the 3,100 UAH portal fee for study, or a fee the law assigns to you.
Questions about Ukrainian invitation letters
What is an invitation letter for a Ukrainian visa?
Who can issue an invitation letter for Ukraine?
Which Ukrainian visas need an invitation letter?
Is an invitation letter the same as a work permit?
How long is a Ukrainian study invitation valid?
Does an invitation letter guarantee a Ukrainian visa?
Read next
- What a Ukrainian invitation must containSeven details to read before you file
- Fake invitation lettersHow to tell a genuine invitation from a fake
- Document reviewA lawyer’s written review of up to 4 documents
- Ukraine visa from PakistanType D process, documents and fee
Sources
Have it checked before it goes into your visa file.
Document review, $349: up to 4 documents, a written memo in 3–5 working days and a 30-minute call. An employer behind a work offer? Employer verification costs $199.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. General information, not legal advice for your case. Visa decisions rest solely with the Embassy of Ukraine. Travel to Ukraine is restricted by the war; check current advisories before planning.