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THE CITIZENSHIP DESK
UA flag

Ukraine

UKR

Ukraine is a large Eastern European nation of roughly 37 million people, significantly diminished from its pre-war figure due to displacement caused by Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The country remains under martial law, and Ukrainian male nationals aged 18–60 face exit restrictions and military mobilisation obligations, making physical relocation by foreigners impractical for the foreseeable future.

The hryvnia has depreciated sharply and infrastructure in eastern and southern regions has sustained severe damage. Ukraine's EU candidate status, granted in 2022, positions it for eventual accession. For diaspora and descendants of Ukrainian nationals, citizenship-by-descent provisions offer a legal pathway to documentation without requiring physical presence. Dual citizenship remains formally prohibited, though 2024 legislative amendments began narrowing exceptions, particularly for those with EU member-state citizenship.

Naturalisation
5 years
Tax system
Residence Based
Currency
Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
Capital
Kyiv
Region
europe
Population
37,000,000
Cost-of-living
30 /100
→ If you hold a Ukraine passport, see the Ukraine nationality guide

Passport Rank

#35

Visa-Free

128

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Ukraine passport has visa-free access to 128 destinations. See the full Ukraine passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Ukraine without a prior visa (80)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

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Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

2 approved English test centres in Ukraine →

Immigrating to Canada from Ukraine

Current IRCC processing times for Ukraine nationals, by application type.

Visitor visa (outside Canada)10 days
Super visa71 days
Study permit7 weeks
Work permitNo processing time available
Sponsor a dependent childNo processing time available
Adopted child (citizenship)Not enough data
Government-assisted refugeesNot enough data
Privately sponsored refugeessponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data

Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.

As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.

Sources & last verified

Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)

Country Details

Capital
Kyiv
Currency
Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)
Languages
Ukrainian
Population
37,000,000
Tax System
Residence Based
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed
Naturalisation
5 years
Schengen / EU
No
Climate
Humid continental with warm summers and cold winters; steppe conditions in the south
English Proficiency Rank
#43
GDP per capita
$5,866
Life expectancy
74.69 yrs
Population growth
2.92%/yr

GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).

Indices

Cost of Living

30

Safety

28

Healthcare

46

Quality of Life

88

Tax Summary

Tax System
Residence Based
Territorial Taxation
No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation
5 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
CityRent 1BR centreRent outsideGroceriesUtilitiesTransit pass
Kyiv$570$370$220$80$8
Lviv$430$270$200$70$7
Odesa$390$240$195$75$7

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Kyiv

-4°J
-3°F
2°M
10°A
17°M
21°J
23°J
22°A
16°S
9°O
2°N
-2°D

Rainfall range: 36–74 mm/month · Daylight 8h (winter) to 16h (summer)

Lviv

-3°J
-2°F
3°M
9°A
15°M
19°J
21°J
20°A
15°S
8°O
2°N
-2°D

Rainfall range: 38–90 mm/month · Daylight 8h (winter) to 16h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

  • Tourist
  • Long-stay D
  • Temporary Residence
  • Permanent Residence
  • Work Permit
  • Investor
  • Student
  • Family
  • IT Diia City
Authority
State Migration Service of Ukraine
Official Portal
dmsu.gov.ua
Phone
+380 44 371 03 11
Email
info@dmsu.gov.ua

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years
5
Language Test
Yes (Ukrainian basics)
Civic Test
Yes
Oath Required
Yes
Dual Allowed
No
Fee
$35
Processing
~12 months

Safety

GPI Rank

#163

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

  • ⚠Fake charity collectors in city centres claiming to raise funds for the military or displaced persons
  • ⚠Currency exchange street touts offering above-market hryvnia rates then palming counterfeit bills
  • ⚠Unlicensed taxi drivers overcharging arriving foreigners at Kyiv Boryspil airport

Examples of areas to avoid: Any area within 30 km of the active eastern and northern front lines (Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv oblasts) — martial law and active combat make these no-go zones for civilians, Kherson city left-bank (Oleshky side) — remains under occupation and subject to artillery fire, Odesa beachfront and port district at night — heightened risk from drone and missile strikes on port infrastructure

Regulators & official sources

Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Ukraine, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.

Ukrainian National Bar Association

UNBA

Professional self-governing body for advocates in Ukraine. Immigration status is administered by the State Migration Service of Ukraine and related state authorities; there is no separate immigration-adviser regulator identified in the public route guidance.

Ukrainian National Bar Association

Sources & last verified

Index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-20.

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Life logistics

Reference tables

Visa routes

Official visa and residence routes for Ukraine, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.

Residence

Immigration Permit

Residence

Permit route for people qualifying to immigrate to Ukraine permanently under quota or non-quota categories.

Leads to settlementThe immigration permit is valid for one year from issuance.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Permanent Residence Permit

Residence

Permanent residence document issued after an immigration permit and arrival for permanent residence.

Leads to settlementThe official page says a permanent residence permit is issued for 10 years.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Short-term / business

Short Stay and Extension of Stay

Short-term / business

Ukraine visitor-stay framework and extension process for people who need extra lawful stay time.

Visa-free stays are generally up to 90 days in any 180 days; visa-required stays are limited by the visa validity period. Extension timing depends on the approved basis.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Work (sponsored)

Temporary Residence Permit for Employment

Work (sponsored)

Temporary residence permit route for foreigners arriving in Ukraine for employment.

Sponsor requiredFor employment cases, the temporary residence permit is issued for the duration stated in the employment contract.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Family

Temporary Residence Permit for Family Reunification

Family

Temporary residence route for spouses and family members joining a Ukrainian citizen or qualifying resident.

Sponsor requiredThe general temporary residence rule is one year with exchange possible, unless a specific basis has a different period.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Study

Temporary Residence Permit for Study

Study

Temporary residence permit for foreigners who arrive in Ukraine to study.

Sponsor requiredThe official page says study temporary residence is issued for the duration of study indicated by the education-establishment order.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Investor

Temporary Residence Permit for Founder or Beneficial Owner

Investor

Temporary residence for qualifying founders, participants or beneficial owners of Ukrainian legal entities.

The official page says this temporary residence permit is issued for two years.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Humanitarian

Refugee Status or Subsidiary Protection

Humanitarian

Protection route for people seeking refugee status or subsidiary protection on Ukrainian territory.

Leads to settlementRecognition as a refugee or person in need of subsidiary protection is legal residence without time limits; the certificate for recognized people aged 16 or over is issued for a five-year term.
State Migration Service of Ukraine · reviewed 2026-07-23

Sources & last verified

Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.

Citizenship by Descent

Ukrainian Citizenship by Origin / Repatriation

Ukraine

Est. Cost

$500– $4,500

Processing

12–36mo

Verified 2026-07-07

Sources & last verified

  • Last verified