Hiring Foreign Workers Simplified

On February 11, 2015 a new regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine(¹⁾ (the “Regulation”) came into effect, easing rules on hiring foreign workers and also deregulating energy, agriculture and food & beverage sectors.

New exemptions from the 15-day vacancy notification requirement for work permit applications

New exemptions have been adopted releasing employers from the requirement to notify the State Employment Service (the “SES”) of the job opening at least 15 days before applying for an employment permit. New exceptions have been made for:

• shareholders (previously, only founders) employed as managers at shareholding companies;
• graduates of the top 100 world universities according to any of the three most recent yearly editions of Times Higher Education, Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, QS World University Rankings by Faculty, or Webometrics Ranking of World Universities; and
• applicants for positions of managers, software developers and technical programmers in IT companies.

Other changes

The Regulation further eliminated red tape:

• 10 more days to apply for renewal: not later than 20 days before the expiry date;
• employment permits are now issued within 3 business days from the confirmed wire transfer of the employment permit fee, instead of within 10 business days;
• decision on employment permit application will now also be communicated by e-mail;
• the employment permit fee must now be paid faster: within 10 business days from the receipt of the letter confirming that the permit has been granted, instead of within 30 calendar days;
• decision on employment permit application must now be made within 7 business days, instead of within 15 calendar days;
• more time to file a copy of the employment contract: within 7 business days after signing;
• a new clear rule has been added specifically stating that an employment permit may be renewed for an unlimited number of times; and
• no fee for employment permit renewal.