European Employment Insights: July 2026 (Ukraine)
Cancellation of the extension of temporary residence permits for foreigners during martial law
Under Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 141 dated 5 February 2026, valid from 7 May 2026, foreigners and stateless persons (excluding citizens of the Russian Federation), holding temporary residence permits which renewal period occurred after 24 February 2022, must apply to the State Migration Service of Ukraine by 4 August 2026 (inclusive) to exchange such temporary residence permits for new ones.
Foreigners and stateless persons (including citizens of the Russian Federation) who hold temporary residence permits that have not yet reached their renewal date may apply for renewal under the standard procedure no later than the last day of a temporary residence permit’s validity.
After 7 May 2026, only permanent residence permits for foreigners and stateless persons that have expired or are subject to renewal in accordance with the law after 24 February 2022, will be extended for the duration of martial law.
The list of documents confirming length of service is expanded
Prior to 10 June 2021, the principal document confirming a Ukrainian employee’s length of service, necessary, in particular, for awarding social security allowances and pensions, was the labor book. Starting from 10 June 2021, accounting of employees’ working experience is made electronically in the register of insured persons of the State Register of Mandatory State Social Security (the “Register”).
During the interim period of 5 years until 10 June 2026, employers were required to transfer information from their employees’ labor books to the Register. However, this process appeared to be complicated, including due to the absence of certain information in labor books or mistakes made by previous employers when completing thereof. The Pension Fund of Ukraine in charge of the Register’s maintenance, refuses to validate labor books’ records that are incomplete or contain mistakes, even
those of a technical nature. This means that many employees in Ukraine were at risk of losing years of service and, consequently, their right to a pension.
To remedy this situation, amendments to the Law of Ukraine on the Mandatory State Pension Insurance were adopted stating that where the Register does not contain electronic records of a person’s employment history, the labor book serves as the primary document confirming the length of service for the period prior to 10 June 2021.
In the absence of the labor book, or if it lacks necessary records or contains incorrect or inaccurate records, the following documents are accepted to confirm the length of service: data contained in the register of insured persons of the State Register of Mandatory State Social Insurance; extracts or certificates from information systems of employers, extracts from internal orders, payroll records, documents confirming bank transactions, written employment agreements; other documents issued by employers or archival institutions; testimony from at least two witnesses who were employed alongside the individual in question; a court decision establishing the period of employment and the nature of the work performed.
