Many foreign citizens come to Ukraine, and many stay in our country for a long time. Some people stay here for life, work, and start families. However, in order to stay in Ukraine on a long-term basis, you need a residence permit. If you plan to start a family in Ukraine, you can obtain a residence permit in Ukraine based on marriage or a marriage contract. The Zigma Law Firm offers services for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine upon marriage with a citizen of Ukraine. We provide turnkey services for obtaining all necessary documents.
What do you need to know about obtaining a residence permit based on marriage?
If you plan to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine upon marriage, it is recommended to arrive in the country no less than a day before the date of the marriage and obtain an entry stamp and visa. In addition, it is not recommended to leave the country less than a day after the marriage. If you urgently need to leave the territory of Ukraine, it is better to do this the next day after the marriage.
After you have submitted an application and a package of documents, you need to wait for the decision of the State Migration Service. According to the law, up to 15 working days are allotted for issuing the decision. No later than this period, you must issue the necessary document or send a reasoned refusal. In the event of an illegal decision of the State Migration Service, you can appeal it to higher authorities or in court with the help of a lawyer or independently.
After receiving the certificate, a person is obliged to register at the place of residence – to issue a residence permit. For this, according to the law, 30 calendar days are allotted. That is, within a month, a foreign citizen who has received a residence permit in Ukraine by marriage or on another basis is obliged to provide information about his place of residence to the State Migration Service.
Extension of a temporary residence permit in Ukraine on the basis of marriage is carried out according to a similar procedure. It is necessary to submit a similar package of documents + the previous residence permit. Documents must be submitted no later than 15 calendar days before the expiration of the previous document.
What kind of residence permit can I get?
According to the current legislation of Ukraine, there are two types of residence permits in Ukraine. You can obtain one of them, namely:
- temporary residence permit – upon marriage. A temporary residence permit can be obtained for a period of 1 year. After that, it can be extended for another 1 year.
- permanent residence permit in Ukraine upon marriage. This document has no expiration date. The person who issued the document can stay in the territory of Ukraine and enjoy the benefits for an unlimited amount of time (however, this document must be changed/updated every 10 years).
It is important to know that a residence permit in Ukraine on the basis of marriage gives the opportunity to obtain citizenship under an accelerated procedure. As a standard, to obtain citizenship you need to live in the territory of Ukraine for more than 5 years. If you intend to obtain citizenship and a passport of Ukraine on the basis of a marriage certificate, 2 years of residence in the territory of Ukraine with your wife or husband are enough.
What privileges does the permit provide?
A residence permit is an important document for a foreign citizen who plans to reside in Ukraine. It provides a number of privileges, including:
- legal stay in Ukraine;
- work or opening a business without a work permit;
- studying in secondary, secondary specialized or higher educational institutions without additional documents;
- receiving any banking and financial services, etc.
However, the permit has certain limitations. For example, if you received a residence permit in Ukraine by marriage or for any other reason, you do not have the right to vote – you cannot participate in elections to state authorities. However, after 2 years of residence in Ukraine, you can apply for citizenship and enjoy all the rights that a citizen of our country, Ukraine, is entitled to.
What documents are required to obtain a residence permit?
In order to obtain a residence permit based on marriage in Ukraine, you must contact the territorial department of the State Migration Service. You must submit a package of documents that includes:
- a notarized copy of the foreign citizen’s passport with a notarized transfer;
- a notarized copy of the marriage certificate;
- medical insurance for a period of 1 year;
It is important to know that citizens of countries with which Ukraine does not have a visa-free regime must have an entry visa in their passport – a type “D” visa. For citizens of countries with which Ukraine has a visa-free regime, this requirement does not exist. The passport must only have an entry stamp, which confirms the legality of the foreigner’s (non-resident’s) entry into the territory of Ukraine.
The Zigma Law Firm offers clients services for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine based on marriage or on any other grounds. We offer turnkey services. Our specialists will provide advice, prepare documents, and represent your interests in government bodies and instances.