A Ukrainian work permit is the decision of a regional employment centre allowing a named employer to employ a named foreigner in a named position. The employer applies and pays the state fee; the decision comes within up to 7 working days, and the permit lasts up to 2 years, renewable (Law No. 5067-VI, Arts. 42-3, 42-6).
In everyday speech “work permit”, “work visa” and “labour card” get mixed up. Ukrainian law uses one precise term: дозвіл на застосування праці іноземців та осіб без громадянства, a permit to employ foreigners and stateless persons. It is issued to the employer, names you, and covers one position for a set term. This page defines it under Law of Ukraine No. 5067-VI “On Employment of the Population”, Articles 42-1 to 42-10.
- 01Employer filesApplication, passport copy, photo, draft contract, fee (Art. 42-2)
- 02Centre decidesWithin up to 7 working days (Art. 42-6)
- 03Decision publishedState Employment Service site, within 2 working days (Art. 42-7)
- 04Copy to the embassyBasis of your D-04 work visa (Res. 118, para. 8)
The work permit, element by element
| Element | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian name | Дозвіл на застосування праці іноземців та осіб без громадянства |
| Legal basis | Law of Ukraine No. 5067-VI “On Employment of the Population”, Articles 42-1 to 42-10 |
| Who issues it | The regional employment centre of the State Employment Service where you will work |
| Who applies | The Ukrainian employer, with five documents: application, copies of your passport pages with a certified translation, a colour photo, the draft employment contract and proof of the fee (Art. 42-2) |
| Who pays | The employer: 3, 5, 8 or 10 subsistence minimums for a term of up to 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years (Art. 42-4) |
| Decision time | Up to 7 working days from registration of the application (Art. 42-6) |
| Term | Up to 2 years for hired employees; up to 3 years for seconded workers and intra-corporate transferees (Art. 42-3) |
| Salary | At least the national minimum wage, UAH 8,647 a month in 2026 |
| Extension | Employer files 20–50 calendar days before expiry; decision within up to 3 working days (Art. 42-6) |
| Changes | New position, new passport or renamed employer: amendment (Art. 42-5). New employer: new permit |
The separate salary threshold for foreigners was abolished in 2022 (Law No. 2623-IX), so the same minimum wage applies to foreign and Ukrainian workers. The full document checklist is in Ukraine work permit requirements 2026.
What the permit covers, and what comes after it
The permit answers one question: may this employer employ you in this position for this term. Entry is a second decision, the Type D work visa (D-04) from the Embassy of Ukraine, built on a certified copy of the permit; the difference is set out in work permit vs visa. Residence is a third, the temporary residence permit filed at the State Migration Service after entry, explained in the temporary residence permit, explained.
When a permit ends early
When the employment contract ends, the employer asks the employment centre to revoke the permit (Art. 42-10), and the work-based residence permit ends with it. The centre may refuse an application only on the grounds listed in Art. 42-9, and states them in a written decision. A permit offered with no employer, from a body other than the employment centre, or for a fee you pay to an agent does not match this procedure; how to check one is in fake work permit: how to check if it is real.
Questions about the Ukrainian work permit
What is a work permit in Ukraine?
Who issues the Ukrainian work permit?
How long is a Ukrainian work permit valid?
How much does a Ukrainian work permit cost, and who pays?
Can I change employer on a Ukrainian work permit?
Does the work permit let me enter or live in Ukraine?
Read next
- Ukraine work permit for PakistanisEmployer check, permit, visa and residence
- Work permit guideThe employer’s five documents and the timeline
- How to read a Ukrainian work permitSeven checks before you pay anyone
- Work permit timelineWhat sets the pace of each stage
Sources
Check it before you pay for a visa.
Employer verification, $199: register record, tax status, staff, signatory and the permit decision. Planning the route from scratch? The $99 eligibility assessment sets out the routes that fit you, in order, with an indicative timeline.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. General information, not legal advice for your case. Permit decisions rest solely with the State Employment Service of Ukraine. Travel to Ukraine is restricted by the war; check current advisories before planning.