Declaration and registration of residence: how can a foreigner obtain it in Ukraine?

Foreigners residing in Ukraine are required to officially register their place of residence. We will tell you in detail about the current rules: when declaration and registration are required, what documents and information are needed, where to apply and how the procedure works

Legal assistance for foreigners in Ukraine

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Temporary registration in Ukraine is an important procedure for foreigners who plan to stay in the country for a long time. This process not only facilitates legal residence in the country, but also provides access to various public services. In this article, we will take a detailed look at how a foreigner can register their place of residence in Ukraine.

Instructions on how a foreigner can pay for utilities for an apartment in Ukraine can be found here.

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For more information on how to obtain medical insurance for a temporary residence permit in Ukraine, please visit the Visit Ukraine portal.

Legislative framework: what laws regulate the registration of foreigners in Ukraine?

On 1 December 2021, the Law of Ukraine No. 1871-IX of 5 November 2021 ‘On the provision of public (electronic public) services for declaring and registering a place of residence in Ukraine’ (hereinafter referred to as Law No. 1871-IX) came into force. which regulates relations in the field of providing public (electronic public) services for declaring and registering the place of residence (stay) of individuals in Ukraine, as well as establishes a new procedure for providing such services in terms of their digitisation.

In order to implement the provisions of Law No. 1871-IX, on 7 February 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 265 ‘Certain issues of declaring and registering the place of residence and maintaining registers of territorial communities’ (effective 14 March 2022), which approved, among other things, the Procedure for declaring and registering the place of residence (stay).

The provisions of Law No. 1871-IX, in particular, introduce new terms – ‘declaration of a person's place of residence’ and ‘registration action’.

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Declaration VS registration of a person's place of residence: what is the difference?

The main difference between declaring and registering a place of residence lies in the form and procedure for doing so:

1. Declaring your place of residence: this is the process of submitting an electronic declaration of your place of residence via the Unified State Web Portal of Electronic Services (how to use the ‘Dія’ portal as a foreigner, read here). This form of declaration is mainly possible for privately owned accommodation or in the case of accommodation in a dormitory, if the consent of the authorised person managing the dormitory has been obtained.

2. Registration of place of residence: this is a procedure that involves submitting an application in paper form to the registration authority or through an administrative service centre. Registration involves entering information about a person's place of residence in the register of the territorial community and is possible for dwellings of any form of ownership.

What medical certificate is required to obtain an immigration permit to Ukraine, we discussed in the previous article. You can also find out how to obtain an immigration permit to Ukraine and what difficulties may arise in the process.

When does a foreigner need to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine?

A citizen of Ukraine residing in the territory of Ukraine, as well as a foreigner or stateless person who legally resides permanently or temporarily in Ukraine, are required to declare or register their place of residence within 30 calendar days of arrival at their new place of residence (stay).

That is, a foreigner or stateless person is required to declare or register their place of residence and the place of residence of children under the age of 14 (including newborns) whose parents or other legal representatives they are, within 30 calendar days from the date of moving to Ukraine – obtaining a permanent residence permit, temporary residence permit, refugee certificate, certificate of a person in need of additional protection, certificate of a person granted temporary protection – or after deregistration from the declared or registered place of residence.

Important! A necessary step in emigrating to Ukraine is obtaining a certificate of no criminal record. Read how to do this quickly and without unnecessary hassle on the Visit Ukraine portal.

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How to submit a declaration of residence for a foreigner in Ukraine?

You can declare your place of residence in Ukraine through the Diya Portal by submitting a declaration in electronic form.

This process requires the following actions and documents from the individual:

1. Authentication on the Diya Portal using a digital key (how to obtain a qualified electronic signature (QES) as a foreigner, read here).

2. Filling out the declaration of residence:

The declaration must include:

– Personal data: surname, first name, patronymic, gender, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship.

– Address of residence for declaration and information about previous place of residence (archival references about previous place of residence can be obtained remotely through a lawyer's request).

– Contact details: telephone number, email address and other available means of communication.

– Identity documents: passport details or other identification document, unique number in the Unified State Demographic Register, taxpayer registration number.

– Information for specific groups, such as persons liable for military service, including information about military registration documents.

– Information about the payment of administrative fees and the date of the declaration.

How much does it cost to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine – current figures on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Please note! A person submitting a declaration of residence through the Unified State Web Portal of Electronic Services (Portal Dія) is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

If the declarant is not the owner or co-owner of the dwelling (for example, if a foreigner rents an apartment in Ukraine), they must include detailed information about each of the owners or co-owners of the dwelling in the declaration:

1. Full names, surnames, patronymics (if any)

2. Dates of birth

3. Passport details

4. Registration numbers of taxpayer identification cards

5. Information about documents confirming ownership of the property

6. Contact details

Please note! A document confirming residence in Ukraine may be required by a foreigner when opening a bank account.

How can a foreigner register their place of residence in Ukraine?

Registration of a person's place of residence (stay) is carried out during a personal visit to the registration authority (including through an administrative service centre) at the address of residence, regardless of the form of ownership.

To register a place of residence (stay), a person or their legal representative, an authorised representative of the place of residence or an authorised representative of a specialised social institution, a facility for homeless persons, or another provider of social services with accommodation must submit:

1. A completed application in the prescribed form.

2. Passport or other identity document (for children under 14 years of age - birth certificate or equivalent document)

3. Certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine (if registering the place of residence of a child under 14 years of age for the first time, if both or one of the parents is a foreigner or a stateless person)

4. Document confirming the right to reside in a specific dwelling

5. Receipt for payment of the administrative fee, if such payment is required

Registering your place of residence is an important step for everyone in Ukraine, as it ensures your rights and access to necessary services. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact our lawyers for qualified assistance. You can request a consultation with a lawyer or full legal support on the Visit Ukraine website.

Reminder! We previously discussed whether it is possible to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine remotely and how to do so.

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