President signs changes to immigration legislation
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the amendments adopted by the Verkhovna Rada to the Law “On Immigration” on improving the conditions and procedure for immigration of foreigners and stateless persons to Ukraine” No. 6516, which was initiated by the State Migration Service.
In particular, this decision improves the procedures for granting an immigration permit to Ukraine, and also updates the list of grounds for its cancellation.
In general, the following amendments to immigration legislation have been adopted:
• reduced the period for consideration of applications for granting an immigration permit from 1 year to 6 months;
• a new basis for granting an immigration permit for persons who have continuously resided on the territory of Ukraine for more than 5 years on a temporary residence permit (except for foreign students) is introduced;
• simplified procedures for granting immigration permission to family members of foreign highly qualified specialists and workers, the urgent need for which is palpable for the Ukrainian economy;
• the quota principle of granting immigration permits is improved, namely: the quota will not be introduced annually, but only in case of worsening of the migration situation in Ukraine;
• a list of circumstances in which the fact of being married to a citizen of Ukraine or an immigrant is not recognized as a basis for granting an immigration permit is defined;
• Strengthening measures to combat illegal migration in relation to persons who have been refused an immigration permit or revoked, taking into account the requirements and challenges of the present.
The changes provided for by legislative act No. 6516 will enter into force three months from the date of its official publication.
State Migration Service of Ukraine
