WHAT IS A LONG-TERM TYPE D VISA?
A long-term visa type D is a national visa that allows foreigners to stay in Ukraine for more than 90 days for the purpose of obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit. It is a mandatory step for those who plan to find work, study, volunteer, reunite with family, or pursue other long-term goals in Ukraine.
This visa is usually issued for 90 days, during which the person must apply for a temporary residence permit in Ukraine. A type D visa does not give the right to remain in the country after its expiration without a permit, but opens up the opportunity to legalize stay on legal grounds. Applying for a D visa is the first stage for foreigners who want to live and work in Ukraine for long-term purposes.
IN WHICH CASES IS A D VISA REQUIRED?
A type D visa is required in several cases when a foreigner plans to stay in Ukraine on a long-term basis (more than 90 days) to achieve a specific purpose. The main cases when a type D visa is required are:
- Studying in Ukraine — Foreigners planning to study at Ukrainian higher education institutions must obtain a type D visa to obtain student status and a temporary residence permit.
- Employment — for foreigners who have received permission to use the park in Ukraine, a type D visa is required to obtain a residence permit for the period of performance of labor duties.
- Volunteering — if a person plans to engage in volunteer activities in Ukraine, he or she also needs to obtain a type D visa, which gives the right to stay in the country for this purpose.
- Family reunion — for family members of foreigners already residing in Ukraine (for example, for a wife/husband or children).
- Other long-term goals — for persons who want to stay in Ukraine for other long-term purposes, for example, on the basis of an immigration permit, etc.
A type D visa is a necessary condition for obtaining a temporary residence permit, which gives a foreigner the right to stay in Ukraine for a specified period of time in accordance with the chosen purpose.
DOCUMENTS FOR OBTAINING A D VISA
To apply for a long-term visa type D, a foreigner must prepare: standard package of documents, consisting of:
- A valid international passport, which must have at least two blank pages and be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from Ukraine.
- Completed visa application form, which must be signed personally.
- One color photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm), made no later than 6 months before submission.
- Medical insurance policy, valid for the entire period of stay, with coverage of at least 30,000 euros.
- A document confirming the purpose of the trip — for example, an invitation from a university or volunteer organization, a work permit, documents about family ties, etc.
- Document confirming financial security, which guarantees the ability to cover living expenses in Ukraine (this can be a bank statement, sponsorship letter, income certificate, etc.).
- Certificates of no criminal record from the country of citizenship or long-term residence (depending on the purpose of the visit).
- Receipts for payment of consular fee, if provided.
This list may be adjusted depending on the country of application and the specific reason for obtaining a visa, so it is important to always check the current requirements on the website of the Ukrainian consulate or the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
HOW AND WHERE TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTS
Apply for a D visa by to the consular office of Ukraine in the applicant's country of citizenship or legal residence. Depending on the country, submission of documents may be personally, through visa center or directly through the Consulate/Embassy of Ukraine.
Before serving, you must:
- make an appointment through the consular website or visa center (where such an option is provided),
- prepare a full package of documents according to the selected visa category,
- fill out the electronic visa application form,
- pay the consular fee, confirmed by the relevant receipt, at the visa center or Consultsvi.
On the day of submission, you must arrive at the appointed time with all originals and copies of documents. After submission, the documents are reviewed by the consul, and the visa is usually issued within up to 10 working days, or sooner in the case of an urgent procedure. In some cases, the period may be extended to 30 days.
WHAT TO DO AFTER ENTERING UKRAINE
After entering Ukraine with a type D visa, a foreigner must 15 working days before the visa expires contact the territorial unit of the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS) at your place of residence to apply for registration temporary residence permitsThis document gives the right to legally stay in the territory of Ukraine for a specified period (usually up to 1 year with the possibility of extension).
Untimely contacting the SMS may lead to a violation of migration legislation, so it is important do not delay in obtaining a permit and comply with all procedural deadlines.
Turning to a migration lawyer — in particular, to specialists from JSC "Inferno DLK" — significantly increases the chances of successful application for a D-type visa, because a lawyer:
- will help collect complete and correct package of documents, avoiding the most common mistakes;
- will advise on the optimal basis for obtaining a visa depending on your situation;
- will support the process of submitting documents online and to the migration service in Ukraine;
- will be able to respond promptly to refusal or complication, if any arise.
JSC "Inferno DLK" has extensive experience working with foreigners in Ukraine, which gives clients confidence in the reliability and legality of each stage of the procedure.
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