On 28 January 2015, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution on Deregulation of Business Activity No. 42, effective as of 11 February 2015, which simplifies the procedure for issuance of work permits for foreign nationals and stateless individuals (“foreigners”). Such simplification is a part of implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and is aimed at removing bureaucratic barriers for doing business in Ukraine.
(i) time for making decisions on issuance, refusal in issuance, extension or cancellation of work permits by the State Employment Agency was shortened from 15 calendar days to seven business days;
(ii) deadline for applying to the State Employment Agency for extension of a work permit was prolonged from 30 to 20 calendar days before work permit expiration;
(iii) State Employment Agency is now required to notify the applicant about the agency’s decision by email along with sending the hardcopy of the decision by mail;
(iv) fees for extension of work permits were cancelled;
(v) the list of situations when engaging foreign employees to Ukrainian companies does not require specific substantiation was extended with the following:
- if the foreigner’s main tasks are creating the objects of copyright and/or related intellectual property rights;
- if a foreigner is an IT-specialist to be employed with a Ukrainian IT company;
- if a foreigner obtained a degree from one of Top 100 higher education institutions listed in the Times Higher Education, Academic Ranking of World Universities by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, QS World University Rankings by Faculty, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.