Who can join you
You can be reunited with a Ukrainian citizen or with a foreigner holding a permit on certain grounds. The law treats a husband or wife and children as family members, and in some cases parents.
The biggest problems are with documents from abroad. A marriage or birth certificate must be apostilled or legalised and translated. If a document was issued long ago, with errors in names or a different transliteration, that has to be sorted out in advance.
What's included
- Checking whether family members can join you.
- A list of documents for each family member.
- Apostille, legalisation and translations.
- Filing with the migration service.
- Support until the permits are received.
Who can be reunited
| You | Who can join |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian citizen | Husband or wife, children |
| Foreigner with an employment-based permit | Husband or wife, minor children |
| Foreigner with a business-based permit | Husband or wife, minor children |
| Foreigner with a permanent permit | Depends on the ground, checked separately |
Marriage to a Ukrainian citizen
A foreigner married to a Ukrainian citizen gets a temporary permit. If the marriage has lasted over two years, they can apply for an immigration permit and a permanent residence permit.
How it works
Your part: marriage and birth certificates. The rest of the arrows are mine.
Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons” (Art. 4, family reunification); Law of Ukraine “On Immigration” (permanent residence for spouses of Ukrainian citizens); 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (apostille).
Frequently asked questions about family reunification
How much does a family reunification permit cost?
From €150 per person. For several family members we price a package. State fees and translations are separate.
Do I need a D visa?
It depends on citizenship. More on the type D visa page.
Can the children attend a Ukrainian school?
Yes, with a residence permit.
What happens to the permit in a divorce?
The ground disappears, so the permit will have to be switched to another ground or cancelled.
Don't have your own permit yet? Start with a temporary residence permit. Buying a home for your family? See support with buying a flat.