A Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) — посвідка на тимчасове проживання — is a biometric card issued by Ukraine's State Migration Service (DMSU, Державна міграційна служба України) that grants a foreign national the right to reside in Ukraine for a defined period. It is distinct from a visa: a visa authorises entry; a TRP authorises ongoing residence. Without a valid TRP, a foreign national in Ukraine beyond the 90-day visa-free or D-visa limit is in violation of Ukrainian immigration law.
For Bangladeshi nationals — who enter Ukraine on a D-category long-stay visa — the TRP is the legal instrument that converts a temporary entry permission into a structured, renewable right to be in the country. It also serves as the legal basis for accessing Ukrainian public services, opening a bank account, and registering a place of residence (propiska).
The Four Legal Grounds for a TRP
Ukrainian immigration law does not permit TRP applications on the basis of general interest in residing in Ukraine. Every application must be anchored to one of the permitted legal grounds. For Bangladeshi nationals, four grounds are relevant.
| 1. Employment (Кaзання на роботу) | The most common ground for Bangladeshi nationals. The TRP is tied to an active Ukrainian work permit (дозвіл на застосування праці іноземця). If the work permit expires or the employer changes, the TRP basis changes and a new application may be required. Validity mirrors the work permit duration — typically 1 year, renewable. |
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| 2. Study (Навчання) | Available to Bangladeshis enrolled full-time at an accredited Ukrainian higher education institution. The TRP is issued for the duration of the academic programme, up to a maximum of 1 year per issuance, with annual renewal tied to continued enrolment. Withdrawal or dismissal from the institution voids the TRP basis immediately. |
| 3. Family reunification (Возз'єднання сім'ї) | Available if the applicant is the spouse, minor child, or dependent parent of a Ukrainian citizen or a foreign national holding a Ukrainian permanent residence permit. Marriage to a Ukrainian citizen must be registered — ceremonial-only or unregistered partnerships do not qualify. Validity is typically 1–3 years depending on circumstances. |
| 4. Business (Здійснення підприємницької діяльності) | Available to founders and directors of registered Ukrainian legal entities (TOV — Товариство з обмеженою відповідальністю) who are actively managing the company. The company must be registered with the EDRPOU, filed with the tax authorities, and demonstrably active. A dormant or newly registered company with no activity may not satisfy DMSU requirements. Validity is typically 1 year, renewable annually. |
How TRP Differs from a Visa
The distinction matters practically. A D-category visa (long-stay) allows entry into Ukraine and initial residence for a period defined on the visa — typically 90 days from entry, or for the duration stated on the visa face. Once in Ukraine on a D visa, the holder must convert that temporary permission into a TRP to remain legally beyond the visa's authorisation period.
A TRP is issued inside Ukraine by DMSU. A visa is issued abroad by the Ukrainian embassy or consulate. You cannot renew a visa from inside Ukraine in normal circumstances — you must depart and reapply. A TRP can be renewed from inside Ukraine, which is why obtaining it correctly from the outset matters.
Validity Periods
Work-based TRP
1 year, renewable annually for the duration of the work permit. Each renewal requires the employer's confirmation that the work relationship continues and the work permit remains valid.
Study-based TRP
1 year per issuance, renewable each academic year. Renewal requires current enrolment confirmation from the institution and evidence of academic progress.
Family-based TRP
1–3 years depending on the nature of the family connection and the sponsor's own immigration status. Typically 2 years for spouses of Ukrainian citizens.
Business-based TRP
1 year per issuance. Renewal requires current EDRPOU extract, evidence of tax filings, and evidence the applicant remains an active founder or director.
Required Documents by Ground
All TRP applications share a core document set, with ground-specific additions.
Core documents (all grounds)
- Valid Bangladeshi passport (with at least 6 months' remaining validity beyond the requested TRP period)
- Completed DMSU application form (Form 1, printed and signed in Ukrainian)
- Biometric photographs meeting DMSU specifications (35×45mm, colour, recent)
- Evidence of registered place of residence in Ukraine (propiska — see below)
- State fee payment receipt
- Copy of D-visa and entry stamp
Work-based additions
- Original Ukrainian work permit (дозвіл на застосування праці іноземця)
- Signed employment contract (Ukrainian-language version)
- Employer's EDRPOU extract (not older than 3 months)
Study-based additions
- Letter of enrolment from the Ukrainian higher education institution
- Proof of tuition payment or scholarship letter
- Accommodation confirmation from the institution or registered private address
Business-based additions
- EDRPOU extract for the registered Ukrainian company (not older than 3 months)
- Founders' registry extract confirming the applicant's role
- Evidence of tax registration and filing (if the company has been active for one year or more)
- Company charter (статут)
DMSU Submission Process
TRP applications are submitted in person at the regional DMSU office in the oblast where the applicant is registered. In Kyiv, the main DMSU office handles most foreign national applications. Processing time is 15 working days from submission, assuming the file is complete at intake.
DMSU does not accept incomplete applications. An officer inspects the file at submission. Missing documents — even a single supporting exhibit — will result in the file being returned rather than accepted. The application countdown does not start until the file is formally accepted.
Documents in languages other than Ukrainian must be accompanied by a certified Ukrainian translation. For Bangladeshi nationals, this typically means birth certificates, educational credentials, and marriage certificates where required. Translations must be performed by a certified translator and notarised.
Registration (Propiska) Requirement After Arrival
Before a TRP application can be filed, the applicant must be registered at a Ukrainian residential address. This registration — informally called propiska — is performed at the local migration authority and must reflect where the applicant is actually living. The owner of the property must consent to the registration, and the consent must be in writing. Rented accommodation qualifies if the lease is registered and the landlord consents.
Registration must be completed within 30 days of entry into Ukraine. Failure to register within this period is a separate immigration violation from TRP status. Many Bangladeshi nationals arriving in Ukraine are not informed of this requirement by their employer or agent, and fall into technical violation before their TRP application is even filed.
Extension Process
TRP renewal must be initiated at least 30 days before the permit's expiry date. If a renewal application is filed before expiry and the TRP expires during processing, the applicant is generally considered to be in lawful status during the processing period — provided the application was timely and complete.
A TRP that expires without a filed renewal application renders the holder unlawfully present in Ukraine from the day after expiry. An unlawful presence period triggers escalating consequences: a fine for periods under 6 months, and a potential entry ban for longer overstays. Renewal applications filed after expiry may be declined, requiring departure and a fresh D-visa application.
Common Refusal Grounds
Incomplete or inconsistent documents
The most frequent ground for refusal. DMSU officers compare documents at submission; inconsistencies — such as a work permit employer name that does not match the employment contract — result in refusal. Ukrainian-language translations must exactly match the source document. Do not abbreviate, paraphrase, or omit sections.
No valid propiska at time of filing
A TRP application cannot proceed without valid residential registration. If the applicant's registered address is at an address they do not occupy, or if the landlord has withdrawn consent, the application will be refused. Temporary hotel registration does not typically satisfy the requirement for TRP applications based on employment or business grounds.
Lapsed or revoked work permit
If the work permit underpinning a work-based TRP application has expired, been withdrawn by the employer, or was issued for a different employer than the one named in the employment contract, the TRP ground fails. Work permit validity must cover the entire requested TRP period.
Prior immigration violations
A prior overstay, undeclared border crossing, or previous TRP violation on record with DMSU will weigh against a new TRP application. DMSU maintains a database of foreign national immigration history. Violations from a prior visit to Ukraine — even years earlier — are visible to the reviewing officer.
Inactive or inactive-appearing company (business ground)
DMSU officers reviewing business-based TRP applications look for evidence the company is actually operating. A company registered within the past few weeks with no tax filings, no transactions, and no employees will often not satisfy the activity requirement. Business-ground TRP applications are stronger when filed after the company has at least one completed tax period with a filed return.
What Happens if Your TRP Expires or Is Refused
If a TRP application is refused, DMSU issues a written decision stating the grounds. The applicant has the right to appeal the decision to the administrative court within 10 days, or to depart Ukraine and re-apply for a D-visa from Dhaka before attempting a fresh TRP application from a corrected position.
If a TRP expires without renewal, the holder should not simply remain in Ukraine. The longer the overstay, the more serious the consequence. An immediate voluntary departure — before authorities initiate enforcement action — typically results in a lesser penalty than a removal order. Kyiv Pathway advises clients not to treat an expired TRP as a minor administrative matter.