A Ukrainian work permit runs for the term of the employment contract: up to 2 years for hired workers, and up to 3 years only for seconded workers and intra-corporate transferees (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-3). 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.
- 20 to 50 calendar days before expiry: Employer submits the extension application to DSZ — the window set by Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-6. Filing outside it is a refusal ground (Art. 42-9).
- By law the DSZ decides on an extension within up to 3 working days of registering the application (Art. 42-6).
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. The employer files the application form, a photo, any documents whose information has changed, and the fee receipt (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-2, part 2). Employer workload is minimal.
New job title or position with the same employer
A new job title or a transfer to another position with the same employer is handled by a free amendment to the permit, filed within 30 days; DSZ decides within up to 3 working days (Law No. 5067-VI, Arts. 42-5, 42-6).
Employer renamed or reorganised
A change of the employer's name or a reorganisation is handled by an amendment to the permit; DSZ takes the confirmation from the Unified State Register itself (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-5).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Extension application | Employer | Cabinet of Ministers form (Art. 42-2, part 2) |
| Photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm | Worker | Colour photo |
| Any document from the original list whose information has changed | Employer / Worker | For example a new draft contract or new passport pages with translation |
| Proof of fee payment | Employer | Art. 42-2, part 3 |
DSZ pulls the employer's register data itself, and officials may not ask for other documents (Art. 42-2, parts 5 and 7). A change of the employer's name, a reorganisation, a new passport or a new job title is handled by an amendment to the permit (Art. 42-5).
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. By law, documents to exchange an expiring TRP can be filed up to the last day of its validity; with fewer than 15 working days left, only at a DMSU territorial office (Resolution No. 322, para. 19). Plan the dates so the extended work permit is in hand before you file the TRP exchange.
What Happens If a Gap Occurs
The law sets no rule allowing work on an expired permit. The employer files the extension no later than 20 and no earlier than 50 calendar days before expiry, and DSZ decides within up to 3 working days (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-6), so a permit extended on time has no gap. Filing outside that window is a refusal ground (Art. 42-9).
Employing a foreigner without a valid permit costs the employer a fine of 20 minimum wages per worker (Art. 53, part 5).
The safest approach: start preparing three months before expiry, so the employer can file the extension inside the 20–50 calendar day window (Art. 42-6).
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. By law the DSZ decides on the new employer's application within up to 7 working days of registering it (Art. 42-6); 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 deadline for an extension is up to 3 working days (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-6), and the extension must be filed 20 to 50 calendar days before expiry; office disruptions during heightened security activity can still cost time. Start preparing the documents at least three months ahead. 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?
The law sets no rule allowing work on an expired permit. The employer files the extension 20 to 50 calendar days before expiry, and DSZ decides within up to 3 working days (Art. 42-6), so a permit extended on time has no gap. Filing outside that window is a refusal ground (Art. 42-9).
When does the DSZ deadline start running?
The deadline runs from the day the DSZ registers the application: up to 3 working days for an extension and up to 7 for a new permit (Law No. 5067-VI, Art. 42-6). If the application is incomplete, review is suspended and the employer has 3 working days (extension) or 7 working days (new permit) to correct it (Art. 42-8). 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?
If you get a new passport, the employer applies to amend the work permit within 30 days; the amendment is free and DSZ decides within up to 3 working days (Law No. 5067-VI, Arts. 42-5, 42-6). For the passport itself, contact the Embassy of Bangladesh in Warsaw, accredited to Ukraine, well before the renewal window opens.
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.