Can foreign companies relocate staff to Ukraine during the war, and how?
By Bruce Talley, Destination Ukraine · Updated
Yes. Foreign companies can post staff in Ukraine during martial law, and many do. The employer obtains a work permit from the State Employment Service, the employee enters on a long-stay visa, and then receives a temporary residence permit from the State Migration Service. The paperwork is manageable. The harder part is housing, safety, insurance and family arrangements.
The legal steps
- Work permit. The Ukrainian employer applies to the State Employment Service. The employee cannot apply alone.
- Long-stay visa. With the permit issued, the employee applies for a type D visa at a Ukrainian consulate.
- Employment contract within 90 days. The employer must sign the contract and file a certified copy with the regional employment centre within 90 calendar days of the permit. It can be filed online.
- Temporary residence permit. After arrival, the employee applies to the State Migration Service. The residence permit runs for the same period as the work permit.
Miss the 90-day deadline and the employment centre cancels the permit within seven working days. The residence permit is then annulled and the employee must leave Ukraine.
Source: State Labour Service guidance reported by Sud.ua.
Rules that changed
- Salary. The old rule that foreign staff must earn five or ten times the minimum wage is abolished. Pay must be at least the national minimum wage, UAH 8,647 a month in 2026, and match the role.
- Security screening. Citizens of aggressor states, or of countries considered a security risk, need approval from the Security Service of Ukraine.
- Health insurance. Border guards may ask foreign nationals for health insurance on entry during martial law.
- Short visits. Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. That covers meetings and site visits, not employment.
What makes a posting work
Permits get someone into the country. These decide whether they stay:
- Location. Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa are functioning commercial cities. Risk levels differ by region and change over time, so choose with current information.
- Housing. Look for a building with a shelter or underground parking, backup power, and reliable heating and internet.
- Insurance. Standard travel and health policies exclude war risks and countries under a government travel warning. Buy cover that names Ukraine and includes medical evacuation.
- Family. International schooling and medical care are available in the main cities. Many companies post staff unaccompanied or on rotation.
- Duty of care. Give each person a security briefing, the air raid alert app, an emergency contact and an exit route by land.
- Home-country rules. Check your own government's travel advice. It can affect insurance and your duties as an employer.
Your Ukrainian staff
Most of your team will be local hires. Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 generally cannot leave the country during martial law, which limits training trips abroad. Mobilisation can also take key employees, and some employers can reserve critical staff from call-up. Plan for both with Ukrainian counsel.
How Destination Ukraine helps
Destination Ukraine handles workforce relocation for foreign companies: housing, schooling, employment contracts, permits through our legal partners, banking and day-to-day settling in. Bruce Talley has run these operations across post-Soviet states, and the team is well prepared to help you. See our services or contact us.
General information, not legal advice. Wartime rules change; confirm current requirements with Ukrainian counsel before acting.