When and how do you exchange a permanent residence permit in Ukraine?

When the permit is exchanged

A посвідка на постійне проживання (permanent residence permit, PRP) confirms a foreigner's right to live in Ukraine permanently. That right has no end date, but the card itself is issued for 10 years, and in certain situations the ДМС (State Migration Service, DMS) has to exchange it. The grounds are listed in paragraph 7 of the Procedure for processing, issuing and exchanging permanent residence permits, approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 321. If you are applying for the first time, start with the guide to permanent residence in Ukraine.

Paragraph 7 names these grounds:

Of these, a change of data is the easiest to overlook. A new passport with a different spelling of your name, or a new citizenship, triggers an exchange even though the card has not expired.

• a change in the information recorded in the permit, such as your name or citizenship;
• an error found in the information on the permit;
• expiry of the permit;
• a card that is no longer usable, meaning damage that prevents identifying the holder or reading the data;
• reaching a certain age, if the permit has no contactless electronic chip;
• a court overturning a DMS decision to revoke the immigration permit.

Lost or stolen permit

If your permit is lost or stolen, a new one is issued under the procedure set for an exchange. Report the loss to the DMS straight away so that nobody else can use the card. Temporary residence permits follow a similar procedure, described in the article on a lost residence permit.

Filing deadlines

Two situations are treated differently. When the exchange is triggered by an event, such as a change of name, paragraph 18 of the Procedure gives you one month from the date of that event to file the documents. When you first need a new passport, the period runs from the day you receive it.

Documents

Paragraph 40 of the Procedure lists what to file for an exchange:

Foreign documents must be legalised unless an international treaty provides otherwise. When the exchange is due to expiry or loss, you also file documents confirming your ground for permanent residence. Where those were lost or issued in temporarily occupied territory, you file documents that confirm the ground for a дозвіл на імміграцію (immigration permit) under the Law "On Immigration".

• the permit itself, unless it was lost or stolen;
• a valid passport;
• a certified translation of the passport page with personal data;
• documents confirming the reason for the exchange;
• proof that the administrative fee was paid, or that you are exempt from it.

Decision and collection

The decision on an exchange is made by the head of the territorial DMS office or unit, or by a person they authorise. Before deciding, the DMS identifies the applicant and checks the documents. If the exchange involves a change of name, citizenship or date of birth, the old and new data are also checked against the databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police and Interpol. The new permit is issued within 15 working days. You collect it where you filed, and that is when you hand in the old one.

Expired passport

As a rule, you need a valid passport. An exception exists for certain categories connected with military service and for family members of fallen service members. They may file an expired passport if obtaining a new one would mean applying to a state that has committed aggression against Ukraine or does not recognise its territorial integrity.

Martial law

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1202 sets a separate rule for permanent residence permits. A permit that expired, or was due for exchange, after 24 February 2022 confirms the right to reside in and enter Ukraine for the period of martial law and 30 calendar days after it ends. Once martial law ends, documents for the exchange must be filed within 30 calendar days.

This rule does not cover citizens of the Russian Federation. Wartime rules in general are explained in the article on entry and stay under martial law.

How to avoid problems

The wartime concession does not cancel the duty to exchange the permit. If you can exchange it now, do so, because the concession lasts only as long as martial law and the window after it ends will be short. The name on the new permit must match your passport, as explained in the article on differences in name spelling.

Lawyer's experience

Most often people come to me when their permanent residence permit expired long ago and they were relying on the martial-law concession. The concession does apply, but in everyday life an expired card raises questions you do not need. I advise exchanging the permit on time rather than waiting for martial law to end.

My second piece of advice concerns a change of passport. A new spelling of your name or a new citizenship in the passport means the permit has to be exchanged. Skip this and the data in your documents will diverge, and problems will surface at the bank or at the DMS.

If you need to exchange your permit, we handle the update of your permit data from preparing the documents to collecting the new card.

Frequently asked questions