Three types of visa
Ukrainian visa law recognises three types of visa. They are set by paragraph 4 of the Rules for issuing visas, approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 118. Each type has its own purpose, its own validity and its own number of entries. The overall procedure for getting a visa is described in the guide to getting a Ukrainian visa.
Transit visa B
A transit visa lets you pass through Ukraine on the way to a third country. Each transit stay may not exceed five days. You apply with a document proving the transit, such as a ticket or a visa for the third country, and carriers submit documents on the carriage of goods or passengers.
In practice a transit visa is rarely needed. Our clients almost always travel to Ukraine intending to stay, and for them the other two types are the ones that matter.
Short-stay visa C
A visa C is meant for short trips. It allows a stay in Ukraine of 90 days within any 180 days. As a rule it is issued for six months or for the period stated in the documents, but for no longer than five years.
The key thing to remember is the gap between how long the visa is valid and how long you may stay. A visa C can remain valid for years, yet the number of days you may spend on it is still capped by the rule. How to count those days is explained in the article on the 90/180 rule.
Visa C does not lead to a residence permit. Even if someone entered on a visa C and found a job, they cannot obtain a residence permit on that visa and will have to leave the country to get a visa D.
Long-stay visa D
A visa D is issued for entry with the aim of arranging documents for long-term stay or residence in Ukraine. It is always multiple-entry and is valid for 90 days. Within that time the foreigner enters and applies for a посвідка на тимчасове проживання (temporary residence permit, TRP).
This visa is issued only for a ground backed by a document. Most often that is a work permit, an immigration decision, an invitation to study, proof of marriage to a Ukrainian citizen, or a document showing that the applicant belongs to the family of a foreigner with a residence permit. The difference between the two main types is covered in detail in the article on visa C versus visa D.
Purpose-of-travel codes
Every visa sticker carries a code for the purpose of travel. The codes are set by the Instruction on the procedure for issuing visas, approved by joint order No. 469/897/605 of the МЗС (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MFA), the Interior Ministry and the Security Service of Ukraine. The code defines why the visa was issued, and it determines which residence permit you can apply for after entry.
For visa D the Instruction sets the following codes:
How to choose the visa type
Your choice depends on the purpose of the trip, not on which visa is easier to obtain. If you are going for a few weeks on business or to see relatives, you need a visa C, or visa-free entry if it applies to your country. If you plan to live and work in Ukraine, you need a visa D with a code that matches the ground for your future residence permit.
The code on a visa D has to match the ground on which you will apply for the residence permit. An employee needs D-04, a student D-13, and the spouse of a Ukrainian citizen D-14. How to obtain a residence permit through employment is explained in the article on the residence permit for employees.
What else is on the visa sticker
Besides the type and the code, the sticker shows the length of stay, the validity period, the number of entries, your name in Latin script and your passport number. The name on the visa must match the machine-readable zone of your passport. Check all of these details as soon as you receive the visa, because a mistake on the sticker is easier to fix at the consulate than at the border.
Lawyer's experience
Most often I hear from foreigners who entered on a visa C or visa-free and have already found a job. They hope to obtain a residence permit without leaving Ukraine. For citizens of countries that need a visa this is usually impossible, and they have to leave to get a visa D.
So I advise deciding on the visa type before the trip, based on the end goal. If the goal is to live and work in Ukraine, we first handle the work permit and then go straight on to a visa D with code D-04. That way the foreigner enters once, and on the right visa.
If you are unsure which visa you need, our visa support starts with identifying the type and the code.
Official sources
- Rules for issuing visas for entry into Ukraine and transit through its territory, Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 118, paras. 4, 8
- Instruction on the procedure for issuing visas, joint order of the MFA, the Interior Ministry and the SBU No. 469/897/605, Section III
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: consular matters and visas
Frequently asked questions
Which visa do I need to work in Ukraine?+
A long-stay visa D with code D-04, employment. It is issued on the basis of a certified copy of the work permit, or of an employment contract for those who do not need a permit.
Can I turn a visa C into a visa D while in Ukraine?+
No. Visas are issued by Ukraine's diplomatic missions abroad, and the visa type cannot be changed after entry. For a visa D you apply to a consulate with a document proving the ground.
What does the code on the visa mean?+
The code shows the purpose of travel, for example C-06 for tourism or D-13 for study. It defines why the visa was issued, and it determines which residence permit you can apply for after entry.
How long is a visa C valid?+
As a rule six months, or the period stated in the supporting documents, but never longer than five years. Your stay on it is limited to 90 days within any 180 days.
Can I live in Ukraine for a year on a visa D?+
No. A visa D is valid for 90 days and serves to let you enter and apply for a residence permit. The right to live in Ukraine for longer comes from the residence permit itself.
This article is general guidance, not individual legal advice.