A Ukrainian work permit is typically valid for one year, with a maximum of three years. When it expires, the employment authorisation lapses. The Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) tied to that employment ground also becomes precarious — you cannot have a valid employment-based TRP without a valid work permit underlying it. Missing the renewal window puts you in a grey area that can attract complications with the State Migration Service of Ukraine (DMSU) and, in the worst cases, affect future entry and TRP applications.
The risk is not theoretical. Workers who have relied on agents in Bangladesh to "handle renewal" have discovered, on expiry, that no renewal was processed — because Bangladeshi agents are not party to the Ukrainian administrative process and cannot file anything with DSZ.
Who Files for Renewal
The renewal application is filed by the employer with the State Employment Service (DSZ — Державна служба зайнятості). This mirrors the original work permit application. The worker does not file independently. The worker cannot file independently. If your employer will not act, the permit does not renew.
This structure means your relationship with your employer is the operational core of your immigration position in Ukraine. An employer who is going silent, closing operations, or in dispute with you is an employment situation that requires legal advice immediately — not after the permit expires.
When to Start
DSZ recommends beginning the renewal process before expiry. In practice, the timeline that works is:
- 3 months before expiry: Worker notifies employer of upcoming expiry date and requests renewal action.
- 8 weeks before expiry: Employer begins preparing the DSZ application and assembles documents.
- 6 weeks before expiry: Employer submits the renewal application to DSZ.
- DSZ has 30 working days to process. A six-week lead time provides a buffer — but 30 working days in Ukraine under wartime conditions can extend.
The practical floor is: begin discussions with your employer at the three-month mark. Any later and you are gambling on processing timelines you cannot control.
What Changes Versus the Original Application
Renewal complexity depends on what has changed in your employment situation.
Same role, same employer, same conditions
This is the simplest renewal path. No need to repeat the full labour market test. DSZ processes the renewal on the basis of the existing permit record and updated documents. Employer workload is minimal.
Role or conditions materially changed
If the employment contract terms have changed significantly — different role, different salary band, materially different duties — the employer may need to submit documentation explaining the change. DSZ evaluates whether the conditions still meet the original permit criteria.
Employer has changed operations
If the employing legal entity has undergone restructuring, EDRPOU changes, or significant operational changes, DSZ will require updated employer compliance documentation. The employer's legal representative should assess whether the permit carries over or requires re-application.
Change of employer
A new employer cannot renew an existing permit. They apply from scratch, as if you were a new hire. The old employer's permit is specific to that employer-worker relationship. There is no transfer mechanism.
Documents for Renewal
| Document | Who provides | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal application | Employer | DSZ prescribed form |
| Current valid work permit (copy) | Worker | Shows what is being renewed |
| Updated employment contract | Employer | Required if any terms have changed; otherwise existing contract may suffice |
| Passport copy | Worker | Must be valid through the renewal period plus 6 months |
| Employer tax compliance certificate | Employer | Confirms no outstanding tax violations with Ukrainian authorities |
| Employer EDRPOU status | Employer | Must be active, no sanctions, no liquidation proceedings |
TRP Renewal After Work Permit Renewal
Your Temporary Residence Permit is tied to the employment ground created by the work permit. When the work permit renews, the TRP must also be updated — you present the new work permit to the State Migration Service (DMSU) and apply for TRP renewal on the employment basis.
Do not let the TRP expire waiting for the work permit to come through first. Apply at DMSU for TRP renewal at least one month before your TRP expiry date, using the existing permit and the employer's confirmation that renewal is in progress. DMSU can issue a receipt that covers the transition period in many cases — but this requires acting before expiry, not after.
What Happens If a Gap Occurs
If there is a gap between the old permit expiring and the new permit being issued — even a gap of a few days — the worker is technically employed without authorisation during that window. DSZ is aware that gaps occur and in practice handles this administratively when the employer has filed the renewal on time and the gap is attributable to processing delay rather than employer inaction.
This administrative tolerance is not a right. It is a practical accommodation DSZ exercises when the renewal was properly initiated. It is not available when the renewal was filed late, when the employer failed to act, or when the worker continued working after being notified of an expiry without an active renewal in process.
The safest approach is: avoid gaps entirely by starting the renewal process three months before expiry.
If Your Employer Refuses to Renew
If the employer will not file for renewal — because the business is closing, the employer is unresponsive, or there is a dispute — you face a time-sensitive situation. The options are:
- Find a new employer: A new employer can apply for a work permit from scratch. This is the fastest sustainable path if you have a legitimate job offer. The new employer's application will take 30 working days; begin this search before the existing permit expires.
- Switch TRP grounds: If you are eligible for a TRP on a different ground — business, family, study — you can potentially maintain legal status in Ukraine while the employment situation resolves. This requires meeting the conditions for that alternative ground.
- Seek legal advice immediately: Do not let the TRP expire without a plan. An expired TRP is significantly more difficult to remediate than a TRP that is about to expire. The window for legal intervention is while the TRP is still valid.
DSZ Processing During the Conflict
DSZ operates throughout Ukraine but with wartime operational adjustments. Some regional DSZ offices have reduced capacity or consolidated operations. The statutory 30-working-day timeline can extend in practice, particularly during periods of heightened security activity. Buffer your renewal start by at least three months. If your employer is based in eastern or southern Ukraine, build in additional time and consider whether the employer's DSZ jurisdiction creates additional complexity.
The Agent Renewal Myth
A recurring problem: Bangladeshi agents advertise "work permit renewal services" and collect fees from workers or workers' families. These agents cannot renew a Ukrainian work permit. The renewal application is filed by the Ukrainian employer with the Ukrainian DSZ. No Bangladeshi agent is party to this process. No agent in Dhaka, Chittagong, or anywhere in Bangladesh can submit to DSZ, follow up with DSZ, or receive a decision from DSZ on your behalf.
What these agents are actually doing when they collect renewal fees: sometimes nothing — they take the money and wait to see if the employer independently files; sometimes they send documents to an informal Ukrainian contact who does nothing useful; occasionally they fabricate renewal confirmation documents. In every case, the worker bears the risk when the permit lapses and no genuine renewal was processed.
If you need assistance managing the renewal process, that assistance must come from a legal representative authorised to act in Ukraine — not from a recruitment agent in Bangladesh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I continue working while the renewal application is pending?
If the renewal application was filed by the employer before the existing permit expired, DSZ's administrative practice generally allows continued employment during the processing period. This is not a statutory right — it is an accommodation. The key condition is that the application was filed before expiry, not after. If the permit expires before the employer filed, you are in a different and more difficult position.
Does the 30 working days DSZ timeline include the submission date?
The 30-working-day clock runs from the date DSZ accepts the application as complete. If the employer submits an incomplete application, DSZ may return it for corrections — and the clock does not run until the corrected application is resubmitted and accepted. Employer-side document errors cost weeks. The employer's legal representative should review the application package before submission.
My passport expires before the work permit renewal period ends. What happens?
The work permit and TRP cannot extend beyond the validity of the underlying passport. If your passport will expire before the end of the renewal period, you must renew your passport first — or the permit and TRP will be issued only for the period your passport covers. Contact the Bangladesh Embassy in Kyiv for passport renewal. Plan this before the renewal window opens; passport renewal takes time.
Can I travel to Bangladesh and return while the renewal is pending?
If you leave Ukraine while the renewal is pending and before the new permit is issued, re-entry may be problematic if the old permit has expired. The pending renewal does not create an entry right. Do not travel internationally during a permit renewal window unless you have confirmed with your legal representative that re-entry is covered.