Since the long-awaited visa-free visa has become a reality, Ukraine has come even closer to Europe and, in theory, has acquired a special attraction as a country of residence - from the point of view of third world citizens or, for example, those Russian citizens who are not enthusiastic about Putin's politics and think about emigration.

The "observer" found out in what ways foreigners usually get a residence permit or citizenship in Ukraine and are they ready, for example, to conclude a fictitious marriage for the desired document.

How do foreigners get a residence permit?.

The residence permit in Ukraine can be temporary (it needs to be updated in most cases once a year, presenting the relevant grounds) or permanent. Temporary residence permits can be obtained if a person:.

A permanent residence permit gives the same rights as citizens, with the exception of the right to vote (participation in elections) and certain other rights (for example, free study at a university). The list of reasons for obtaining permanent residence permit is quite long; There, in particular, we are talking about such high matters as investments in the economy of Ukraine, contribution to its science and culture; Among other things, close relatives of citizens of Ukraine can count on this document, including husband / wife.

In recent years, the flow of emigrants from Russia has increased - primarily from those notorious "14%" who do not support the war with Ukraine and in general Putin. They try to find different ways of obtaining a residence permit.

"In the last couple of years we have seen an increase in the number of Russian citizens who apply for temporary or permanent residence in Ukraine. Some Russians are looking for kinship ties, others are transferring business to Ukraine, there are also those who obtain a residence permit "just in case" by registering a company and obtaining a work permit, "said Ekaterina Koval, head of the corporate and migration law department at the law firm" Justicon ".

According to Catherine, the easiest way to legalize in Ukraine is to get a temporary residence permit for work in your own company: a foreigner opens a company, gets a work permit for himself, for example, as a director, and on this basis prepares a residence permit. But for this procedure you can get only a temporary residence permit, which you need to update every year.

"In Ukraine, as in any country that is more or less interesting for living, this variant of legal legalization, such as marrying a Ukrainian / Ukrainian. Someone finds their love, and someone goes on the path of a fictitious marriage. Marriage with the Ukrainian city grants the opportunity to obtain not only a temporary residence permit, but also a permanent (in 2 years), and then immediately citizenship of Ukraine, "added Ekaterina Koval.

A good thing a marriage will not be called?.

Annually about 10 thousand Ukrainians connect their lives with citizens of another country. According to the statistics of "Ukrgosreestr", in 2016 almost every tenth marriage in Kiev was made with a foreign citizen, most often - with residents of Europe and Asia, as well as Russia. However, according to these data you can not see how many pairs leave then from Ukraine to another country, and even more so it is impossible to establish which part of these marriages are fictitious.

On the Internet, a lot of ads with the proposal to conclude a fictitious marriage with a citizen or citizen of Ukraine to obtain a residence permit. In these ads indicate the price: 1,5-5 thousand. Dollars. But is it possible to consider that this is a real price, which someone is really ready to pay?.

In a mini-poll conducted on Facebook, it was possible to find two people who indirectly confirmed that they had made a fictitious marriage with citizens of Ukraine for obtaining a residence permit. In the first case, it was a native of Pakistan, who has been living in Ukraine for about 10 years. He found on the Internet a firm that offered assistance in concluding a fictitious marriage, paid for services (in the amount of several thousand dollars) and found a Ukrainian wife.

In the second case, it is a Russian citizen (let's call her Natalia), who led human rights activities in her native city and began to receive threats from the authorities, so she decided to emigrate to Ukraine.

The girl said that she found her future husband through acquaintances, and completely for free - it was just a good guy who wanted to help a Russian woman with his political views. From her point of view, the Internet is full of "crazy" people who wrestle a furious price for a fictitious marriage with a citizen / citizen of Ukraine, but these people are unlikely to find "clients", at least among Russians. And there are "good people" who are ready to help free of charge.

"It can be ordinary citizens of Ukraine (I think that in other countries too there are such), which" not in the foul "to help a person. Someone does this for a notional amount in a month / year, or one-time $ 200 is the maximum price; Someone understands that the needy are not in a position to pay any sums, and help free of charge. My acquaintances acquainted me with my husband. For which I am very grateful to them. Now I have a great relationship with my husband and just wonderful with my mother-in-law, "Natalia shared..

By the way, she absolutely in vain tried to "encrypt" in an interview with the "Observer": the law of Ukraine does not provide for the responsibility for the conclusion of a fictitious marriage.

What gives a fictitious marriage?.

Two years after the wedding, a foreigner who marries a Ukrainian citizen (Ukraine) receives a permanent residence permit. Right after that he can apply for citizenship - unlike the others, who with a permanent residence permit still need to live five years before applying for citizenship.

It should be borne in mind that the European "buns" - only for citizens of Ukraine, therefore, on the basis of a temporary or even permanent residence permit, no one will be admitted into the Schengen area without a visa.

"Visa-free regime is granted only to citizens of Ukraine, this is an agreement purely between the Schengen countries and Ukraine. Any advantages in the order of crossing the border for foreigners who legally temporarily or permanently reside in Ukraine, no.

Such foreigners can enter the countries of the Schengen agreement according to the rules established for the country of their citizenship (visa or visa-free regime), "explained Ekaterina Koval.

However, two years later, having received a permanent residence permit, and then citizenship - if everything goes smoothly from a legal point of view - a new Ukrainian gets free access, including to Europe. Important nuance: permanent residence in Ukraine is not required, permanent residence permits and citizenship can be obtained even if the spouses live in another country.

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