Notify the DMS first
A lost or stolen посвідка (temporary residence permit, TRP) does not stop being valid by itself while the ДМС (State Migration Service, DMS) does not know it is missing. So the first step is a written notice to the territorial office of the DMS. Send it as soon as you can, because the period for notifying is short and it runs from the day you discovered the loss.
In the notice, give the permit number, the date and the circumstances of the loss. The number is printed on the card, and this is exactly where a photo of the permit, taken as soon as you received it, becomes useful. Print the notice in two copies and ask for your copy to be stamped as received.
Our guide to the TRP explains the general procedure for obtaining the card. Here we focus on what changes once the card is gone.
Document checklist
0/5 doneWhat happens to the lost card
Subparagraph 9 of paragraph 63 of Procedure No. 322 names loss or theft as a ground for revoking the permit. After your notice, the old card therefore stops being a valid document. If it turns up later, you can no longer use it, and it is better to hand it in to the DMS.
Revocation for loss has nothing to do with your conduct and is not a penalty. Its purpose is to stop anyone else from using the missing card. Your basis for residence, whether employment, marriage or studies, is unaffected. Your status stays the same, only the physical document confirming it has to be replaced, and that should happen as quickly as possible.
How to get a new permit
Applications for a permit to replace a lost one go to the same places as a regular application. Under paragraph 16 of the Procedure, these are the state enterprise managed by the DMS, a ЦНАП (administrative service centre, TsNAP) or the territorial DMS office where you live.
The package consists of the standard documents under paragraph 32 and a document confirming your basis. A full list with notes on each item is in the article on documents for a TRP. Pay attention to the health insurance policy, which has to cover the term of the new permit, not the old one.
Pay the administrative fee in the same way as for a first application. The office where you file will tell you the amount. Bring the original receipt, because a copy is not accepted with the application form.
When more than the permit is lost
Often the permit disappears with a wallet, and the passport goes with it. In that case the order changes. You first replace your passport at your country's consulate, because without a valid passport no new permit will be issued, and an expired or missing passport is a ground for refusal. Only then do you file for the permit.
While you are waiting for the passport, notify the DMS about the lost permit so that the date is on record. A new passport also means new data in other documents, including your work permit if you are employed.
A damaged card
Sometimes the permit is not lost but damaged so badly that the data cannot be read or the chip no longer works. That is not a ground for revocation as a lost card but a reason for an exchange. The exchange procedure is set out in the article on exchanging a residence permit.
What to keep so that a future loss is easier
Replacing a permit is much simpler when you have its details at hand. Keep a separate record of the card number, the code of the issuing authority, the date of issue and the expiry date. Copies of your passport, the document confirming your basis and your insurance policy will also be needed.
Store these copies in two places, for example in cloud storage and with someone close to you. If your wallet disappears along with your phone, this backup set lets you send the notice to the DMS the next day and start on the new card, instead of spending a week piecing the information together.
Lawyer's experience
In our practice, most of the time after a lost permit is spent not at the DMS but on finding the data. Clients often do not remember the card number or the issuing authority code, and without them the notice is incomplete. That is why I always advise photographing both sides of every document as soon as you receive it and storing the photos somewhere they will not be lost together with your phone.
My second piece of advice concerns travel. If the loss happens just before a planned trip, do not set off on the off chance. First record the loss with the DMS and find out which documents will confirm your status at the border, or a problem with the card can turn into a problem getting back into Ukraine.
For help with the notice and the new package, we handle replacing a lost residence permit until the new card is issued. How to close a permit properly when you leave Ukraine for good is explained in the article on revoking a residence permit.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my residence permit if I find it again?+
No. Once you report the loss, the permit is revoked and the card is no longer valid even if it turns up. Hand it in to the DMS rather than carrying it as an identity document.
Do I lose my right to live in Ukraine together with the card?+
No. Losing the card does not cancel the basis on which it was issued. Your job, marriage or studies remain, and a new permit is issued on that same basis.
Can I leave Ukraine without my residence permit?+
Without a document that confirms your lawful stay, crossing the border may become complicated. If the trip cannot wait, speak to a lawyer before you go so that you carry documents confirming your status.
Do I need to go to the police if my permit was stolen?+
Procedure No. 322 requires a written notice to the DMS. Reporting the theft to the police is a separate step, and the police record may help with explanations, but it does not replace the notice to the DMS.
Do I pay for a replacement permit?+
Yes. A permit issued to replace a lost one is paid for with the administrative fee, just like a regular application. The office where you file will give you the exact amount and payment details.
This article is general guidance, not individual legal advice.