Exchange of a Permanent Residence Permit in Ukraine

A permanent residence permit allows a foreigner to stay in our country for at least 10 years while having almost the same rights as Ukrainian citizens. But the most important thing is that only after obtaining such a permit can a foreigner count on Ukrainian citizenship in the future.

Grounds for Issuing a Permanent Residence Permit

In most cases, the request for a document is made by foreigners who intend to continue living in Ukraine after obtaining an immigration permit. But it can be those persons who renounced Ukrainian citizenship for one reason or another, although they plan to live in our country.

An important reason for obtaining a permit is marriage to a citizen of Ukraine, in which case the certificate is issued in two years. And if the marriage is with a foreigner who already has a certificate, his wife (or husband) is immediately granted an immigration and residence permit.

Exchange of Permanent Residence Permit: Reasons and Deadlines 

The residence permit is valid for 10 years, and when it expires, it is possible to extend it – exchange the old document for a new one. But the exchange is possible only if you follow certain rules and actions. Thus, in case of expiration of the certificate, the foreigner must prepare a new case in advance, 15 days before the deadline, and submit it in time to the territorial body of the LCA. Along with the documents, a still valid certificate is provided, but only for presentation – you need to hand it in only when you receive a new one.

There may be other reasons for applying for an exchange certificate :

• the decision of a foreigner to change his name or surname;
• detection by a foreigner or relevant services of discrepancies in documented information;
• unfit for use – damage to the document;
• identity card without contactless electronic media (old model) reached the age of 25 or 45 years;
• loss of a valid license, etc.

If such circumstances arise, the case documents should be collected within a month and applied to the LCA for exchange.

IMPORTANT! If a foreigner has changed their last name or first name, they must exchange a passport or ID card before proceeding with the certificate exchange procedure.

Case Required to Exchange ID Papers

• Passport or identity card.
• Ukrainian translation of the page of the passport (certificate) of the person applying for a new certificate.
• Evidence confirming the legal facts or circumstances that led to the need for exchange. (Evidence is not required for the exchange of expired certificates).
• Confirmation that the administrative fee has been paid.

IMPORTANTLY! If the required papers are lost or can be issued only in the temporarily occupied territory, the person must provide additional evidence of the grounds for exchange.

Design and Features of the Process

The request to exchange a permanent residence permit is made at least 15 days before the deadline. A valid certificate must be presented with the documents, but only presented – it will be necessary to hand it in only after receiving a new one.

• If the exchange takes place not because of the expiration date but for other reasons, the documents must be submitted to the LCA within a month after such circumstances or events.
• Persons who have changed their last name or first name, or found discrepancies in the records, must first exchange their passport and then, within a month, apply to the LCA for a new certificate.
• If he reaches the age of 25 or 45, a foreigner with a certificate that does not contain a contactless electronic medium must exchange it within a month. Otherwise, an administrative report will be drawn up against him.

IMPORTANTLY! A new document for permanent residence can be obtained within 6 months from registration. If the person has not applied to the LCA during this time, it is destroyed.

In Which Cases, They May Refuse to Exchange the Certificate.

If all conditions are met, the exchange must be successful. But refusals are still possible if:

• the person has already violated the term of stay in our country, or a decision on an expulsion with a ban on entry has already been made in respect of him;
• register data do not confirm the information provided by the foreigner;
• the person has already obtained the citizenship of Ukraine during the issuance of the certificate;
• the case does not contain all the documents, or they have errors;
• the SBU provided information on criminal actions of a foreigner or signs of danger of his stay on the territory of our state;
• the foreigner’s passport is damaged or has signs of forgery;
• The non-execution of court decisions by a foreigner, etc., is established.

IMPORTANTLY! The exchange will be refused if the submitted case does not contain enough materials to confirm the legal facts or circumstances that necessitate the procedure.

Professional Support from Status Ko. 

Exchange and registration of residence documents require knowledge of the procedure, certain legal skills, and compliance with clearly defined laws and conditions. Even the direct submission of an exchange certificate to an inexperienced person can be difficult. For a guaranteed successful result, you should seek professional help. Status Ko Law Firm offers:

• consultations on immigration, receipt, recovery and exchange of documents – in full
• assistance in drafting applications and other papers;
• representation of the client’s interests in the LCA and courts, in particular in cases of appeals against illegal actions and decisions of public authorities;
• a range of immigration services for clients outside Ukraine.

Just one call, and you will get answers to your questions and the help you need.

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