A residence permit for family reunification in Ukraine is an official document for temporary residence, which is issued to foreign citizens for the purpose of joining family members who are already legally residing in Ukraine. At the same time, the law allows reunification only for certain categories of people and under certain conditions.
In this article, we will thoroughly explain who can apply for a residence permit for family reunification, under what conditions, and the procedure for obtaining this document.
Advantages of obtaining a residence permit for family reunification in Ukraine
Obtaining a residence permit is a mandatory step for foreigners who plan to stay in Ukraine for more than 90 days or longer than their visa allows. However, foreign citizens often do not realize the advantages of obtaining this permit.
Some advantages of obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine include:
- The ability to live as a family in Ukraine completely legally;
- Children born in Ukraine to parents who are legally residing in Ukraine will be considered citizens of Ukraine;
- After just 2 years of marriage, a foreigner can apply for a permanent residence permit in Ukraine (for most grounds, it takes 5 years);
- No need to apply for a visa each time to visit family in Ukraine or count the days of stay;
- With a residence permit, crossing the state border is significantly easier, etc.
For more about the advantages of obtaining a residence permit and other grounds for obtaining it, you can read here.
Who can apply for a residence permit for family reunification in Ukraine?
From the name of the grounds for obtaining the permit, it is clear that the document can be issued to family members, but the legislation allows only certain categories of people to obtain a permit for reunification. The issue is regulated by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from April 2018, No. 322.
According to the Resolution, the following categories of people can obtain a residence permit for reunification:
- Children under the age of 16;
- Persons with limited legal capacity or who are legally incapacitated;
- Persons who are married to Ukrainian citizens;
- Persons who are married to foreigners holding a residence permit;
- Foreign pensioners or disabled persons.
For each category, a corresponding set of documents must be collected, and in some cases, difficulties may arise, so it is advisable to contact qualified specialists.
The process of obtaining a residence permit
The process of obtaining a residence permit involves several stages. Depending on the foreigner’s citizenship, there may be more or fewer stages. Also, depending on citizenship, there may be other difficulties, which we explain during consultations when reviewing a specific case.
1. Grounds for obtaining a residence permit
The grounds for obtaining a residence permit for family reunification are documents that confirm the existence of family relations. First of all, this concerns the marriage certificate. It may also include a birth certificate, a pension status certificate, a court decision declaring a person legally incapacitated, etc.
If you are in a relationship but have not yet registered your marriage, you may need our expedited marriage registration service. More details here.
2. Obtaining a D-14 or D-15 visa
A mandatory condition for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine is obtaining a D visa. This applies both to foreigners from visa-free countries (European countries, the USA, Canada, and others) as well as to foreigners from fully visa-required countries (China, India, Nigeria, Australia, etc.). The only exceptions are 6 post-Soviet countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Uzbekistan.
A D-14 visa is issued for the purpose of reunification with Ukrainian citizens, while a D-15 visa is required for reunification with foreigners residing in Ukraine on the basis of a residence permit.
Visas to Ukraine are always issued in Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad. It is impossible to obtain a visa to Ukraine within Ukraine.
We will help you register for visa submission at the Ukrainian consulate abroad and prepare the necessary set of documents and provide instructions on further actions.
3. Obtaining a temporary residence permit
The next step after obtaining the visa is submitting documents for obtaining a residence permit for family reunification in Ukraine. It is important to remember that you must submit your application for the permit no later than 15 working days before the expiration of your visa or stay period (this applies to citizens from the 6 fully visa-free countries mentioned earlier). If, for any reason, you do not manage to submit the documents on time, you will have to reapply for the visa.
We will help you prepare the required set of documents and accompany you when submitting them to the territorial unit of the State Migration Service of Ukraine. Unfortunately, situations arise when employees of the SMS try to refuse to accept documents for various reasons. In such cases, the presence of a lawyer is essential.
After 15 working days, the temporary residence permit will be ready. You can only collect the document in person.
4. Registration of residence
Registration of residence is the final and mandatory step in obtaining a residence permit. This procedure must be completed within 30 calendar days from the date of issuance of the permit.
Be attentive, as this period is usually counted from the date stated on the permit itself, not the actual date of receipt. If you received the permit later, it would be helpful to request an additional document confirming the fact of receiving the permit much later. This will allow you to count the 30-day period from the actual receipt date.
We also assist with residence registration in Ukraine. You can read more about this service here.
Conclusion
A residence permit for family reunification in Ukraine allows family members to obtain residence documents in Ukraine, which greatly simplifies entry and stay in Ukraine. It also provides an opportunity to apply for permanent residency or even citizenship in the future.
In the article, we discussed the process briefly, and each case is individual. To complete the documents quickly, without mistakes, and unnecessary stress, contact us.
If you are interested in obtaining a residence permit for family reunification in Ukraine, leave a request on our website or contact us by any convenient means. We are happy to help you obtain residence documents in Ukraine and join Ukrainian society.
