A Ukrainian work permit (дозвіл на застосування праці іноземців та осіб без громадянства) is an administrative permit issued by the State Employment Service of Ukraine to a specific Ukrainian employer, authorising that employer to employ a specific named foreign national in a specific position.
Key Characteristics
| Issued by | State Employment Service of Ukraine (Державна служба зайнятості). No other body can issue a valid Ukrainian work permit. |
|---|---|
| Issued to | The Ukrainian employer — not to the foreign worker. The permit names the worker but is a document the employer holds. |
| Covers | One specific foreign national, one specific employer, one specific position. Not transferable. |
| Duration | Typically 1 year, renewable. Some categories allow longer initial periods. |
| Legal basis | Law of Ukraine "On Employment of the Population" and related Cabinet of Ministers regulations. |
What a Work Permit Does NOT Do
- It does not authorise entry into Ukraine — you still need a visa.
- It does not authorise residence — you still need a TRP.
- It does not permit you to work for any other employer without a new permit.
- It does not guarantee that your visa will be approved.
- It does not protect you from deportation if you violate other immigration rules.
Why Bangladeshi Applicants Confuse Work Permits with Visas
Many Bangladeshi workers are told by BAIRA brokers that they have been "given a work permit" when in fact they have been shown a forged document, or a document from a non-Ukrainian source, or nothing at all. The genuine document is issued in Ukrainian, bears the State Employment Service seal and number, and can be verified in the State Employment Service database.
If you cannot verify the work permit number independently, do not pay for travel or BMET clearance. A lawful process will always produce a verifiable document.