Why does a foreigner need the IPN?
The IPN is your identifier in all financial relations with Ukraine. Without it an employer cannot hire you officially, a bank will not open an account, a notary will not certify a purchase agreement, and state registers simply 'do not see' you.
That is why the IPN is usually the first document we recommend after arrival: it is free, fast and required for almost everything that follows.
How to get it, step by step
- 1Get a notarized Ukrainian translation of your passport (if you have not already).
- 2Fill in the individual's registration card (form 1DR). Blanks are available on site.
- 3File the passport, translation and card at any taxpayer service center of the STS.
- 4Collect the document with your number within the period the officer names. Usually a few working days.
Nuances from practice
- The IPN is issued for life: no need to change it when renewing the permit or the passport
- A representative with a notarized power of attorney can file for you, personal presence is optional
- Your name spelling in the IPN comes from the passport translation: a translation error will travel into all future documents
- Lost the paper with the number: the number itself does not disappear, a duplicate is issued under the same procedure
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the IPN without a residence permit?+
Yes. The IPN is issued regardless of migration status: legal presence, a passport and a translation are enough. Tourists can get it too.
Is the IPN required for the residence permit application?+
It is not on the basic document list for the permit. But you will need it right after: for the employment contract, the bank, taxes, so arrange it in parallel.
I object to numbers for religious reasons. Is there an alternative?+
The law allows refusing the number on religious grounds with a passport note, but for foreigners this procedure is almost never applied in practice and makes life much harder. Realistically: official work is impossible without the IPN.
This article is general guidance, not individual legal advice.