Ukraine Work Visa - Definitive Guide

There are certain formalities that you need to take care of at the time of applying for a job abroad. When you are planning on being employed in Ukraine, you will need a work visa for Ukraine, also called Ukraine work permit. It can be obtained once the candidate has a confirmed job in the country and has documentary proof of the same. There are two kinds of work permit, one is issued for a temporary purpose (Type C) while the other one is issued for a longer period of time, more than a year (Type D). They can be classified as follows:

• Short-term

On this permit, you will be allowed to work only for a limited time span. It can be issued if you are taking part in any kind of internships or training programs, research and similarly a few others. The validity of this permit is generally 180 days permitting a stay of 90 days per visit. It can be issued if the concerned work is less than a period of 3 months. Generally, it is a single-entry type, but it can also be double-entry if such a request is accepted by the consular.

• Long-term

This kind of work visa for Ukraine allows the applicants to work for a particular period of time. The first and foremost requirement for this permit is that the applicant must have a confirmed job in the country. It is issued to the newly hired candidates, employees who are intra-company transferees, professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers, etc. The validity of this kind of visa varies from 1 year up to 5 years. Normally it is a multiple-entry type of permit and can be extended under certain circumstances.

Before applying for the Ukraine work permit, you need to make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria. In order to get a work visa for Ukraine from India, you will have to apply to the Visa Application Centre (VAC). The procedure for the same is given as follows:

1. Visit the official VAC website and choose the work permit (Type C or Type D).
2. Fill out the application form. The form must be typed; handwritten forms are not accepted.
3. You can then collect the documents as per the provided checklist.
4. Submit the documents to the respective branch of the VAC.
5. Your form and the documents will then be verified.
6. After the verification is complete, you will be informed if there are other requirements as well.
7. You can then pay the required fee and the processing will begin.

At the time of filling out the form, you must make sure that you are providing the correct information and it is the same as documentary proof that you are providing. In case you find any difficulties, you can acquire professional assistance. If there is any kind of information that is found to be false or is unverifiable, there are chances that your Ukraine work permit application may get rejected. In such cases, your future application may get rejected based on your previous visa rejection. Therefore, it is convenient to appoint professionals so that there are fewer chances of errors.

The requirements for the issuance of a work visa for Ukraine will vary depending on the type of the permit, that is, whether it is a short-term type or a long term type. The common requirements are as follows:

• An original passport that is valid for at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Medical Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Acceptance Letter from the employer
• Medical Certificate (if applicable)
• Proof of accommodation - rent agreement, etc.
• Proof of purpose of visit - invitation letter, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document.

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 35mm x 45 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white or any other light colour.
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The cost of a work visa for Ukraine from India varies depending on several factors such as - whether the type of the permit, service fee and other charges. It can also vary as per the exchange rate of the currency at the time of application. The fee is to be paid at the time of submission of the application form and the required documents. It can be paid by cash or using a debit or a credit card and it is to be paid to the visa application centre. The fee is only for the permit and not for anything related to the company you have been employed in.

A work visa for Ukraine can be issued by applying to the respective VAC. You will need to have all the requirements and the documents must be verifiable. You must have the documents from the hiring organisation in Ukraine ready before filing the application.

At times, the process may seem complicated and the formalities involved can seem difficult to be carried out on your own. In such cases, professional consultation can be considered from the visa agencies. This will allow you to have your documents handled professionally and the procedure may even be quicker than the normal process. This way, the chances of visa rejection also get nullified.

The issuance of a Ukraine work permit takes up to 17 to 19 days. The required time will still vary depending on certain factors like the type of permit, workload at the embassy, the staff availability, whether the permit is a single-entry type or multiple-entry type of if documents are incomplete and the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others. The time increases and decreases according to these parameters.

After the submission of the documents and the application form, there is a certain set of procedures that takes place -

• Your documents will be verified by the Visa Application Centre (VAC).
• They will then be forwarded to the Ukranian Embassy for further verification.
• If there are any missing documents, you will be informed accordingly.
• You can submit the documents yourself personally, or you can get your representative to submit them for you.
• In case a representative is submitting the documents, there may be a couple of extra documents that will be required.
• In the meantime, you can even check the status of your permit.
• If a personal interview is requested by the embassy, you can apply for the same online from the Ukranian Embassy Website.

You can check the status of your business visa for Ukraine by visiting the website of the visa application centre (VAC) and entering your reference number and your date of birth. This is how you can track your application online. To check the status offline, you can contact the VAC on the provided contact number.

When the processing is complete, you will receive the permit delivered to your doorstep if you have paid for the service, else you can collect it yourself. There are certain things that you need to keep in mind when you have your permit in hand. Some pointers are given as follows:

• Before you travel

• Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries allowed on your permit. You are not permitted to stay in the country beyond this period.
• Make sure that you set a reminder for the expiry date of your visa as you won’t legally be permitted to stay in the country for any kind of work after your permit has expired.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border

• Get your documents checked and your passport verified by the Border Control.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Ukraine

• The permit allows you to stay in the country as a temporary resident, hence, also called as temporary resident permit.
• The permit does not grant you all the rights that are granted to the legal citizens.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for visa extension in time.
• If you need to apply for a permanent residency, you need to apply before the expiration of your permit. This is applicable only for the long term type.