A Ukrainian residence permit is the biometric card the State Migration Service issues to a foreigner who lives in Ukraine lawfully. It comes in two kinds: a temporary residence permit, tied to one ground such as work, study or family and lasting as long as that ground, and a permanent residence permit, issued for 10 years after an immigration permit.
In Ukrainian law, residence is always residence on a basis. The card, called посвідка на проживання, records which basis you hold and until when. A Pakistani citizen starts with the temporary card on a ground such as a job or studies; the permanent card comes later, and only through a category of the Law “On Immigration”. This page defines both and links to the detailed pages for each.
- 01Entry on a Type D visaIssued for the purpose of your stay
- 02Temporary cardOne ground · term of that ground
- 03Immigration permitOnly in a category of the Law “On Immigration”
- 04Permanent cardValid 10 years
The two Ukrainian residence cards
| Temporary residence permit | Permanent residence permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian name | Посвідка на тимчасове проживання | Посвідка на постійне проживання |
| Short name in English | TRP, TRC, temporary residence permit | PRP, permanent residence permit |
| Rests on | One ground of Law No. 3773-VI, Art. 4: work, study, family, a company stake of EUR 100,000 or more, and others | An immigration permit under the Law “On Immigration”, Art. 4 |
| Term | One year by default; work: the contract term; founders: two years; studies: the study period | 10 years |
| Issued by | State Migration Service, within 15 working days of acceptance | State Migration Service, within 15 working days of acceptance |
The temporary card is covered in depth in the temporary residence permit, explained; the routes from one card to the other in TRP vs permanent residence.
What the card does for you
- Confirms that you live in Ukraine lawfully for the term printed on it.
- Records your ground, so a change of ground means a new application.
- Lets family members of a work, founder or student holder live in Ukraine on their own cards for the same period (Law No. 3773-VI, Art. 4, part 15).
- Counts toward permanent residence when held continuously for five years on the work, founder and certain other grounds (Law “On Immigration”, Art. 4, part 2, item 11).
Its limits
The residence card is a national document of Ukraine. Ukraine is outside the Schengen area, so travel to EU states follows their own visa rules. Ukrainian citizenship is a separate procedure under the Law “On Citizenship of Ukraine”. The card is also separate from the permission to work: on the work ground, your employer holds a work permit, explained in what a Ukrainian work permit is.
How the card is issued and exchanged
You file in person at the State Migration Service no later than 15 working days before your permitted stay ends, and the card is issued within 15 working days of acceptance (Resolution No. 322, paras. 5 and 17). The service treats renewal of a temporary card as an exchange, filed up to the card’s last day with the ground still valid, and only at a DMSU territorial office when fewer than 15 working days remain (para. 19); changed details are reported for exchange within one month. The steps are in our residence permit guide.
Questions about Ukrainian residence permits
What is a residence permit in Ukraine?
What is the difference between a TRP and a PRP?
Which residence permit can a Pakistani citizen get first?
How long does it take to get a Ukrainian residence card?
Does a Ukrainian residence permit allow travel to the Schengen area?
What happens to my residence permit if I lose my job?
Read next
- Residence permit serviceGround check, address and the State Migration Service file
- Temporary residence permit, explainedGrounds, card terms and deadlines
- TRP vs permanent residenceTwo statuses and the routes between them
- Residence permit timelineWhat sets the pace from entry to card
Sources
Find out which residence permit is open to you.
Eligibility assessment, $99: the grounds open to you, in order, with an indicative timeline and your first action, in writing within 3 working days.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. General information, not legal advice for your case. Residence decisions rest solely with the State Migration Service of Ukraine. Travel to Ukraine is restricted by the war; check current advisories before planning.