Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada approved legislation Tuesday, Oct. 27, giving foreign and stateless military personnel more time to arrange temporary residence permits and clarify their legal status after leaving service.
Lawmakers adopted bill No. 16094 both at first reading and as a whole, Suspilne reported, citing its correspondent in the Ukrainian legislature.
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The measure extends an existing transitional application period from six months to one year for personnel serving under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and the State Special Transport Service.
It also provides a separate three-month period after signing a contract and establishes arrangements for regularizing immigration status after discharge.
The Verkhovna Rada’s bill tracker listed the legislation as adopted and being prepared for signing. The legislature’s press service said it would enter into force the day after publication.
Extension addresses approaching November deadline
The legislation responds to a deadline that could leave some foreign service members without a clear legal basis to remain in Ukraine.
Under the existing transitional rules, personnel covered by the requirement must apply for temporary residence permits by Nov. 10, 2026.
The Verkhovna Rada’s human rights committee said that military duties and tasks connected with defending Ukraine had prevented some eligible personnel from submitting their applications on time.
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The committee warned that failing to extend the deadline could create legal uncertainty and expose service members to negative consequences associated with losing lawful residence status.
The additional time concerns applications for residence documentation. It does not mean that temporary residence permits themselves will be valid for only one year.
The existing six-month transition originated in legislation that entered into force May 10, 2026. It applied to foreigners and stateless people who had signed military contracts before that date. During the application window, their military registration document or service identification confirms their lawful temporary residence.
Separate 3-month window follows contract signing
The bill also addresses the period between signing a military contract and obtaining a residence permit.
Its provisions recognize lawful stay while the permit is being obtained, for up to three months from the contract’s signing. This is separate from the extended transitional period for personnel already covered by the earlier legislation.
The measure also establishes a period for former service members to regularize their status following discharge, rather than leaving their immigration position unresolved when military service ends.
The legislation concerns residence documentation and lawful stay. It does not itself grant Ukrainian citizenship.
Military units told to help with applications
The Defense Ministry had already issued guidance in September to help military units organize residence applications for foreign personnel.
The recommendations assign units responsibility for checking contract dates and existing documents, preparing paperwork and coordinating submissions with the State Migration Service.
Service members still attend procedures requiring their personal presence, including photography, biometric collection and signing documents.
“This will reduce the administrative burden on individuals and the time they have to spend away from service,” Deputy Defense Minister Liubov Halan said.
The guidance also allows units to arrange visits by mobile migration-service teams when personnel are receiving inpatient treatment and cannot travel. Where combat duties or security conditions prevent attendance, units are instructed to contact the migration authorities about extending lawful stay and arranging a safer opportunity to submit documents.
Foreign volunteers have served in Ukrainian units throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion. The International Legion, established in 2022, provides one route into the Armed Forces.
The new legislation covers contract personnel across all three named service branches, extending beyond volunteers serving through the Legion. Its immediate purpose is to give those already defending Ukraine sufficient time and clearer procedures to document their right to remain.
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