From May 15, 2012, there will be a new streamlined procedure for issuing temporary and permanent residency permits to foreigners and their children.

The new procedure specifies the documents that need to be submitted by foreigners and stateless persons to receive residency permits. One of the most welcome changes for many foreigners will be that for a temporary residency permit they will no longer have to provide documents on state registration at an address. In addition, the permit will become a proof of identity, as it will contain the same personal information as a passport. Finally, the number of times a temporary residency permit may be renewed is now unlimited.

The permits are issued only to persons over 16 years old, but now a permanent residency permit may in exceptional circumstances be granted to a person under the age of 16 with the notarized consent of both parents.

Otherwise, children under 16 years old are included in the permanent residency permits of their parents (guardians).

Applications for permanent residency permits will now be considered within seven days, and for temporary residency permits within no more than 15 days, after submission of all the documents specified in the procedure.

The new procedure is set out in the document "Design, manufacture and issuance of permanent and temporary residency permits and technical description of their forms" introduced by Order № 251 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 28, 2012, effective April 6, 2012.

Additional notes

This LEGAL ALERT is issued to inform Baker & McKenzie clients and other interested parties of legal developments that may affect or otherwise be of interest to them. The comments above do not constitute legal or other advice and should not be regarded as a substitute for specific advice in individual cases.