Moving to Ukraine — Relocation Guide

Resilient Eastern European nation balancing wartime reality with ambitious digital transformation and EU integration.

Ukraine at a Glance

Ukraine is a country defined today by two parallel realities: the ongoing full-scale war with Russia that began on 24 February 2022, and a remarkable wartime acceleration of digital government, EU integration, and civic resilience. Martial law, renewed in rolling 90-day extensions since the invasion, structures daily life — a nationwide curfew (typically 00:00-05:00, stricter in frontline regions), male citizens aged 18-60 restricted from leaving the country, daily air raid alerts on the mobile app Povitryana Tryvoha, and mandatory shelter protocols that every resident learns within days of arriving. Despite this, the country continues to function with astonishing normalcy in its western cities: cafes are open, the Kyiv Metro runs (doubling as a shelter during alerts), Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) operates reliable overnight trains, and the Diia app — the government's flagship digital ID and services platform — lets residents file taxes, register businesses, and access documents entirely from their phone. Lviv, long a cultural capital in the west, has become the primary hub for internally displaced Ukrainians and for most foreign NGO, media, and humanitarian staff who relocated from Kyiv during the invasion's early months. Kyiv itself has largely recovered its rhythm, though residents live with regular drone and missile attacks and the constant background awareness of the front line. The IT sector — Ukraine's economic crown jewel — continues to operate through distributed teams, with companies like GitLab, Grammarly, Reface, and thousands of outsourcing firms employing over 300,000 developers. The country achieved EU candidate status in June 2022, opened accession negotiations in June 2024, and has restructured large parts of its administration to align with EU standards. For foreigners, entering Ukraine during wartime requires genuine purpose, realistic risk tolerance, appropriate insurance, and clear understanding of which regions are safe (western oblasts), cautious (Kyiv, central Ukraine), or off-limits (frontline and occupied territories).

Visa Options for Ukraine

• Visa-Free Short Stay — Ukraine permits visa-free entry for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for citizens of most Western countries. On arrival, border guards at land crossings (primarily from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova) will stamp your passport. Note that air travel into Ukraine is suspended under martial law — all entries are by land or rail.
• Type D Long-Term Visa — Required for stays exceeding 90 days and for applying for a temporary residence permit. Issued by Ukrainian consulates abroad based on an invitation letter, work permit, marriage certificate, or other qualifying document. Once in Ukraine, you must apply for a residence permit at the State Migration Service (DMS) within 45 days.
• Temporary Residence Permit (Posvidka na Tymchasove Prozhyvannya) — The standard residence track for foreigners living in Ukraine. Grounds include employment (with a work permit issued to the employer by the State Employment Service), marriage to a Ukrainian citizen, study at an accredited institution, religious work, or humanitarian volunteering. Applications are filed at the State Migration Service (DMS) and issued as a biometric ID card.
• IT Visa (for Diia.City Residents) — Ukraine created a special legal and tax regime, Diia.City, to anchor its large IT sector. Foreign IT professionals hired by Diia.City resident companies benefit from streamlined work permit procedures, a 5% personal income tax on gig contracts (instead of 18% plus 1.5% military levy), and simplified residence procedures. Employer must be a registered Diia.City resident to sponsor under this track.
• Temporary Protection (for specific nationalities) — Ukraine offers temporary protection status to certain categories of persons under international obligations. This is distinct from Ukrainian citizens receiving Temporary Protection in the EU; inside Ukraine, it covers specific refugee scenarios and is not the typical path for economic migrants or remote workers.

Key Requirements for Moving to Ukraine

Tax Identification Number (RNOKPP / Individual Taxpayer Number)

A ten-digit individual taxpayer number issued by the State Tax Service. Obtained by submitting a passport and residence documentation to a local tax office or, increasingly, through Diia for eligible applicants. No fee applies.

Diia App and Diia.Signature

Diia ('Action', and an acronym for 'the state and me') is Ukraine's award-winning e-government app. It hosts digital versions of your passport, driver's license, tax ID, vehicle registration, business registration, and dozens of services from tax filing to COVID certificates. Diia.Signature is the qualified electronic signature used to sign documents and contracts digitally.

Residence Registration (Propyska / Mistse Prozhyvannya)

Every resident must register their place of residence with the state registrar, either at the municipal Center for Administrative Services (CNAP / TsNAP) or through Diia. Registration requires a rental agreement or proof of property ownership and the landlord's consent.

Mandatory Health Insurance

Ukraine has a universal public healthcare system funded through general taxation and administered by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU). Residents sign a declaration with a family doctor to access primary care. Most expats supplement with private insurance from local providers (ARX, Oranta, PZU Ukraine) or international policies for access to private clinics such as Dobrobut or ISIDA.

Culture in Ukraine

Ukrainian culture is warm, direct, and deeply rooted in language, land, and an acute historical consciousness that has intensified dramatically since 2022. The war has accelerated a long-running shift toward Ukrainian-language use in public life; speaking Russian publicly, particularly in Kyiv, Lviv, and the west, is increasingly uncommon and can be socially awkward, though private bilingualism remains widespread. Ukrainians value sincerity, personal courage, self-sufficiency, and a deep sense of humor that has sharpened under pressure. Hospitality is central — guests are fed generously and toasts are sincere. Food culture centers on borscht (inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as Ukrainian in 2022), varenyky (stuffed dumplings), salo (cured pork fat), deruny (potato pancakes), and an extraordinary bread tradition. Coffee culture is strong in Lviv (famously influenced by Austro-Hungarian Galicia) and Kyiv. Orthodox Christianity — now predominantly aligned with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine rather than the Moscow Patriarchate — shapes holidays. Since 2023, Ukraine celebrates Christmas on December 25 (alongside January 7 for some), a symbolic break from the Russian calendar.

• Learn and use at least basic Ukrainian greetings. 'Slava Ukraini!' (Glory to Ukraine) is answered with 'Heroyam Slava!' (Glory to the Heroes). This is now the standard national greeting, used casually among friends and formally at events.
• When air raid alerts sound, take them seriously. Ukrainians do not panic but they do seek shelter. Follow local cues — if people around you move to a basement or corridor, move with them.
• Respect the language choice of those around you. Many Ukrainians have consciously switched from Russian to Ukrainian since 2022. Asking 'Why do you speak Russian?' is tactless; use Ukrainian or English in public.
• Flowers are gifted in odd numbers only (3, 5, 7...). Even-numbered bouquets are reserved for funerals. This rule is strictly observed.
• Accept hospitality graciously. Ukrainian hosts will feed you far more than you can eat and pour far more than you can drink. Pace yourself, but do not refuse the initial offerings — refusal can seem rude.

Related Field Guide Articles

• What People Underestimate Before Moving Abroad
• How Administrative Systems Actually Work Behind the Counter
• Why Visa Categories Rarely Mean What People Think
• The "Foreigner Premium" in Rentals
• Opening a Bank Account: The Gatekeeper
• Why Your Phone Number Is an Identity Document

Related Country Guides

• Moving to Poland
• Moving to Moldova
• Moving to Romania
• Moving to Hungary
• Moving to Slovakia

Common Mistakes When Moving to Ukraine

• Ignoring air raid alerts. Many newcomers initially dismiss alerts as background noise after seeing locals continue activities. This is risky — locals often have specific knowledge of what a given alert signifies (drone swarm vs. ballistic threat). When in doubt, shelter.
• Attempting to travel to frontline or occupied regions without accreditation. This is illegal, extraordinarily dangerous, and will get you detained or worse. Journalists, aid workers, and humanitarian staff require specific accreditation from the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Culture to operate in restricted zones.
• Assuming Russian is an acceptable lingua franca. Using Russian with strangers, especially in Lviv, Kyiv, and western regions, is socially awkward and occasionally hostile. Use English, or learn basic Ukrainian. Many who spoke Russian by default before 2022 have actively switched and can find unsolicited Russian jarring.
• Renting without verifying bomb shelter access and power backup. In winter especially, an apartment without a reliable shelter within 2-3 minutes walking distance and without generator or UPS access becomes uncomfortable quickly. Check both before signing.
• Relying on standard travel insurance. Almost all major travel insurers exclude Ukraine or exclude war-related incidents. Without explicit war risk coverage, you are functionally uninsured. This is the single most common and most serious mistake foreigners make.

Things to Know About Ukraine

• Martial Law Reality: Ukraine has been under martial law since 24 February 2022, renewed every 90 days. This affects curfews (usually 00:00-05:00, stricter in frontline regions), alcohol sales in some regions, restrictions on public gatherings, and rigorous ID checks at checkpoints. Male Ukrainian citizens aged 18-60 are generally prohibited from leaving the country. Foreigners are less restricted but must carry identification at all times.
• War Risk and Insurance: Standard travel and health insurance policies often exclude war-related incidents. Specialist providers (battleface, High Risk Voyager, Clements Worldwide, IMG Europe) offer policies with war risk coverage and medical evacuation. Premium costs EUR 150-500/month depending on coverage. Never travel to Ukraine without explicit war risk coverage.
• Energy Infrastructure: Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have caused rolling blackouts, particularly in winter (October-March). Schedules (published by the distribution network operator, DTEK) typically show 4-8 hour outages per day in affected regions. Most residents invest in power stations (EcoFlow, Jackery), UPS units for internet routers, and gas or camping stoves. Restaurants and cafes with generators have become informal community hubs.
• Regional Risk Stratification: Safety varies dramatically by region. The western oblasts (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi) are the safest. Kyiv and central Ukraine face regular missile and drone attacks but function largely normally. Southern Ukraine (Odesa, Mykolaiv) faces higher attack frequency. Eastern and frontline oblasts (Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kherson) range from elevated risk to active war zone. Check real-time advisories.
• Banking and Currency Controls: The National Bank of Ukraine imposed currency controls at the start of the invasion. Cross-border transfers of UAH are limited, large foreign currency purchases are capped, and some international banking services are constrained. Bring foreign currency for the initial period and use Wise and Monobank/Privat24 for ongoing transfers.