In this article, we will discuss the procedure of obtaining an immigration permit and a permanent residence permit for foreign Ukrainians, as well as some advantages of the status of a foreign Ukrainian in Ukraine.
One of the legal grounds for obtaining an immigration permit to Ukraine is the status of a foreign Ukrainian. This category of foreigners has the right to obtain an immigration permit beyond the immigration quota. This means that the number of foreign Ukrainians who can obtain a permit is not limited in a certain calendar year.
Who is a foreign Ukrainian?
A foreign Ukrainian is a person who is not a citizen of Ukraine and is a foreigner or a stateless person and has Ukrainian ethnic origin. In particular, a person or his / her ancestors belong to Ukrainian nation and recognize Ukraine as the homeland of their ethnic origin. Such a status can be obtained only under certain conditions, including Ukrainian self-identification, ethnic origin from Ukraine, and the absence of Ukrainian citizenship. The latter condition is very important because only a foreigner or a stateless person can obtain the status of a foreign Ukrainian.
A foreigner shall confirm his / her Ukrainian ethnic origin either by documents (archival certificate of birth or residence of a person in Ukraine, birth, marriage, or death certificate) or by testimonies of Ukrainian citizens, foreign Ukrainians or public organizations of foreign Ukrainians.
In order to obtain the status of a foreign Ukrainian, a foreigner needs to apply to the embassy or consulate of Ukraine abroad or directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Consideration of documents may take up to 90 days from the date of application, after which the person obtains a certificate of a foreign Ukrainian. Such a certificate is valid for 10 years with the possibility of its extension.
The procedure of obtaining a permanent residence permit in Ukraine
In order to obtain an immigration permit to Ukraine, a foreigner who has a certificate of a foreign Ukrainian shall apply to the migration service at the place of residence in Ukraine or to the embassy or consulate of Ukraine abroad.
A foreigner shall apply for an immigration permit and submit the entire package of documents personally.
Before submitting the documents, the foreigner shall undergo a series of medical examinations and obtain a medical certificate stating that such a person does not suffer from chronic alcoholism, drug addiction, or infectious diseases. This certificate, together with other documents, for example, a notarized passport`s translation into Ukrainian, needs to be presented to the migration service.
In addition to the abovementioned, among the documents that the applicant shall provide there is a certificate of no criminal record. It is very important that such a certificate has to be issued in the country of citizenship of a foreigner and properly legalized (by affixing the stamp “Apostille” or by going through the consular legalization procedure).
After the migration service accepts the application, the stage of consideration and analysis of documents begins. The documents` consideration shall not last more than one calendar year from the date of application. During this period, all necessary checks are carried out, as a result of which an immigration permit is issued or a decision to refuse issuance of such a permit is made.
The next step is obtaining an immigration permit to Ukraine and receiving a permanent residence permit on the basis of an immigration permit. The residence permit is issued in a form of an ID card with implanted contactless electronic media. Unlike a residence permit in the form of a booklet, which was valid indefinitely, a modern permanent residence permit is issued for 10 years with the possibility of its extension.
The last stage in obtaining a permanent residence permit is the registration of a foreigner’s place of residence in Ukraine (domicile). The immigrant shall register his / her place of residence no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the permanent residence permit issuance.
Benefits of the foreign Ukrainian status
The most important advantage of obtaining a certificate of a foreign Ukrainian is the ability to apply for an immigration permit to Ukraine. Not only a foreigner, who is a foreign Ukrainian but also his / her spouse and children, if they came to Ukraine together, can apply for the permit and obtain a permanent residence permit in Ukraine.
Another benefit of the status of a foreign Ukrainian for foreigners – citizens of countries who need a visa to enter Ukraine is the right to obtain a multiple entry visa to Ukraine for 5 years free of charge and without an invitation on the basis of a certificate of a foreign Ukrainian.
Foreign Ukrainians are also given the opportunity to study at Ukrainian higher educational institutions at the expense of the state budget within the established admission quotas.
It is also important that foreign Ukrainians have the right to work in Ukraine officially without obtaining a work permit, as well as to acquire Ukrainian citizenship by a simplified procedure.
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