A Ukrainian work permit lets a named employer hire you; the regional employment centre issues it to the employer under Law No. 5067-VI. The work visa, a Type D visa with code D-04, lets you enter Ukraine; the Embassy issues it to you on a certified copy of that permit. You need both, permit first, then a residence permit.
A “work visa” in a job offer stands for two decisions by two authorities in Ukrainian law. The employment centre decides whether this employer may employ you; the embassy decides whether you may enter. Each has its own fee, its own deadline and its own payer. This page sets them side by side, following Law of Ukraine No. 5067-VI “On Employment of the Population”, Articles 42-1 to 42-10, and Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 118 on visas.
- 01Employer appliesRegional employment centre · 5 documents (Art. 42-2)
- 02Work permitDecision within up to 7 working days (Art. 42-6)
- 03D-04 visa fileYou file at VFS with a certified copy of the permit
- 04Work visaEmbassy decides within up to 10 working days
- 05Residence permitState Migration Service, after entry
Work permit and work visa, side by side
| Work permit | Work visa (D-04) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian name | Дозвіл на застосування праці іноземців | Віза типу D, код D-04 |
| Issued by | Regional employment centre of the State Employment Service | Embassy of Ukraine in Pakistan, with applications through VFS Global |
| Issued to | The employer; you are named in it | You, as a sticker in your passport |
| Who applies and pays | The employer, with the state fee of 3, 5, 8 or 10 subsistence minimums by term (Art. 42-4) | You: consular fee USD 404 for Pakistani citizens, plus the VFS service charge |
| Decision time | Up to 7 working days (Art. 42-6); published on the State Employment Service site within 2 working days (Art. 42-7) | Up to 10 working days, extendable to 30 for additional checks (Resolution No. 118, para. 19) |
| What it allows | This employer may employ you in this position | You may enter Ukraine for the purpose of the stay |
| How long it lasts | Up to 2 years; up to 3 years for seconded workers and intra-corporate transferees (Art. 42-3) | The period stated on the visa; you file for the temporary residence permit in Ukraine before that stay ends (Resolution No. 322, para. 17) |
Each document has its own definition page: what a Ukrainian work permit is, and the fees for every visa type in Ukraine visa fees from Pakistan.
Why the order is fixed
The D-04 visa file must include a certified copy of the work permit (Resolution No. 118, para. 8). Within 3 working days of the permit decision, the employment centre also sends it electronically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Border Guard Service and the State Migration Service (Art. 42-7). The embassy therefore sees the same decision you hold, and a visa application without one has nothing to rest on. After entry, the permit is also the ground for your temporary residence permit, as set out in the four documents in order.
Where the two get blurred in sales pitches
- A “work visa” offered with no permit decision date and no employer EDRPOU code.
- A “permit fee” to be paid by you to an agent; the law puts the permit fee on the employer (Art. 42-4).
- A permit “issued in your name” with no employer on it; every permit names the employer that applied (Art. 42-2).
- A promised visa: the visa is the embassy's own decision (Resolution No. 118, para. 19), and nobody can sell it in advance.
How to check a permit you have been sent is set out in fake work permit: how to check if it is real.
Questions about work permits and work visas
Is a work permit the same as a work visa in Ukraine?
Which comes first, the work permit or the visa?
Who pays for the Ukrainian work permit?
Can I get a Ukrainian work visa without a work permit?
How long does each document take?
How can I check that my work permit is real?
Read next
- Ukraine work permit for PakistanisEmployer check, permit, visa and residence, handled by lawyers
- Ukraine work visa from PakistanThe full process in 5 stages
- What a Ukrainian work permit isIssuer, term, fee and changes
- Fake work permitsHow to check a permit before you pay
Sources
Check the employer and the permit behind your offer.
Employer verification, $199: register record, tax status, staff, signatory and the permit decision, with a GO / CAUTION / STOP verdict. Still choosing a route? Start with the $99 eligibility assessment.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026. General information, not legal advice for your case. Permit and visa decisions rest solely with the Ukrainian authorities. Travel to Ukraine is restricted by the war; check current advisories before planning.