Ukraine is the largest country in Europe by land area and a strategically important market with significant potential for growth and reconstruction. Despite geopolitical and economic challenges, Ukraine maintains a robust legal framework for business operations and offers attractive opportunities for companies looking to establish operations in Eastern Europe. The country has a skilled workforce, competitive labor costs, and is working toward deeper European integration, making it an attractive destination for businesses in IT services, agriculture, manufacturing, and reconstruction sectors. Ukraine is aligning its business and legal frameworks with EU standards, opening opportunities for long-term investors
Unlock growth opportunities in Ukraine with Cerity Global as your trusted partner. We offer end-to-end support for establishing your legal entity, navigating Ukraine’s often complex regulatory landscape with clarity and efficiency.
From company registration to ongoing back-office support, including HR, payroll, benefits, accounting, tax and compliance, Cerity Global simplifies the process so you can focus on growing your business.
Need to hire quickly before your entity is set up? We offer interim EOR services in Ukraine, enabling you to onboard talent fast. Once your entity is established, we ensure a smooth transition of your employees from the EOR Structure to your own legal entity, without disrupting payroll or compliance.
Our experts stay ahead of regulatory changes to keep your operations aligned with Ukraine’s employment and tax laws, helping you scale confidently and compliantly.
The most popular choice of entity setup, a Limited Liability Company (Tovarystvo z Obmezhenoyu Vidpovidalnistyu – TOV) offers limited liability to its shareholders. It is well-suited for businesses that require professional management and external investment. A TOV requires a minimum authorized capital of UAH 1 (but most banks expect higher paid-in capital for smoother account setup) and allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. It can have 1 to 100 participants (shareholders).
Similar to sole proprietorship, Individual Entrepreneur (Fizychna Osoba Pidpryyemets – FOP) is run and managed by one person who is responsible for business operations. This is a popular choice for small business owners and freelancers due to simplified taxation and reporting requirements.
A Joint Stock Company (Aktsionerne Tovarystvo – AT) is suitable for larger businesses requiring significant capital investment. There are two types: Public Joint Stock Company (Publichne AT) for companies planning to issue shares publicly, and Private Joint Stock Company (Pryvatne AT) for closed shareholding structures.
A representative office allows foreign companies to conduct market research, promotional activities, and represent the parent company’s interests without engaging in commercial activities. It cannot generate revenue in Ukraine. Registration with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is required.
A branch office is an extension of a foreign company that can conduct business activities in Ukraine. It operates under the parent company’s name and is fully liable for its obligations.
The resident director requirement is not mandatory, but foreign directors must obtain a Ukrainian tax ID. However, having a local director or authorized representative can facilitate banking and administrative processes. Directors must be natural persons and cannot be legal entities.
The entrepreneur must be a natural person and can be a foreign citizen. Registration requires obtaining a tax number and completing the registration process with the State Registrar.
The resident director requirement is not mandatory, but foreign directors must obtain a Ukrainian tax ID. However, the company must have a supervisory board if it has more than 10 shareholders or if required by the company’s charter.
Must have a chief representative who can be a foreign citizen but must be registered with Ukrainian authorities and obtain necessary work permits if applicable.
In Ukraine, bank account setup follows a structured process that can occur both before and after entity incorporation:
Bank Account Setup in Ukraine: Process and Requirements
Before Incorporation:
After Incorporation:
Note:
Ukraine’s banking sector is undergoing modernization aligned with EU standards. While account opening can be straightforward, enhanced due diligence and in-person verification remain mandatory, especially for foreign-owned companies. Foreign-owned entities should plan additional time for enhanced due diligence checks, especially under current AML requirements.
Required documents include extract from the State Register of Legal Entities, Charter (articles of association), resolution on opening bank account, identification documents of beneficial owners and authorized signatories, information about the company’s business activities, proof of registered office address.
Cerity Global supports companies in their global expansion plans and helps in legal entity setup, registration and ongoing support services. With us, you can quickly set up a legal entity, operate compliantly, and expand globally. The process typically takes a few days to a week, depending on the bank.
Employment in Ukraine is primarily governed by the Labor Code of Ukraine and related legislation:
Employment contracts must be in writing in Ukraine for contracts exceeding one month and provided to employees within two months of commencement.
Some of the standard details mentioned in the written contract include:
The different types of employment relationships are:
Permanent Employment
The most common form of employment is where employees work under an indefinite-term contract for standard working hours with full benefits, including paid leave, social insurance, and other statutory benefits.
Fixed-Term Employment
Employment contracts with a specific end date, typically used for temporary projects, seasonal work, or replacement of temporarily absent employees. The maximum duration is generally 5 years.
Part-Time Employment
Employees work fewer hours than the standard working week and receive proportionate wages and benefits. Part-time can be established as reduced daily hours or reduced working days per week.
In Ukraine, the probationary period is typically up to 3 months for most positions and can be extended to 6 months for senior management positions.
The standard working hours in Ukraine are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Some categories of employees may have reduced working hours (e.g., hazardous work conditions, employees under 18).
Overtime
Overtime in Ukraine is usually limited to four hours over two consecutive days and 120 hours annually.
The notice period in Ukraine varies depending on the reason for termination and typically ranges from 2 weeks to 2 months.
Severance pay is required in specific circumstances, such as redundancy or liquidation of the company and a statutory 1 month’s average salary applies in redundancy cases.
Foreign nationals can live and work in Ukraine by securing appropriate work authorization. With a valid job offer and employer sponsorship, individuals with the right skills may be eligible for temporary or long-term work authorization.
Work Visa & Permit Options in Ukraine
1. Type D Work Visa
For foreign nationals employed by Ukrainian companies or their subsidiaries.
2. Business Visa (Type C)
For short-term business activities and meetings.
3. IT Visa and Diia City
Special visa regime for IT specialists and companies participating in Diia City legal framework.
Key Requirements:
Immigration procedures in Ukraine are evolving as part of EU alignment efforts. Processing times and requirements may vary depending on security and regulatory conditions, so early preparation and local legal support are strongly recommended. Ukraine continues to streamline work authorization for foreign specialists, particularly in IT and reconstruction, offering pathways for both short-term assignments and long-term employment
Employees receive a minimum of 24 calendar days of paid annual leave. Additional leave may be provided based on working conditions, length of service, or collective agreements. Certain categories of workers (hazardous conditions, employees under 18) are entitled to extended annual leave.
Female employees are entitled to 126 calendar days of maternity leave (70 days before birth and 56 days after, with additional days for complications or multiple births).
Either parent can take parental leave until the child reaches 3 years of age, with partial compensation provided by the state.
An employee is entitled to up to four months of paid sick leave.
The following statutory national holidays are observed in Ukraine:
The most common pay frequency is monthly, though twice-monthly payments are also common and legally required for salary payments.
Payslips are mandatory and must include detailed breakdown of gross salary, deductions, and net pay.
Personal income tax rates in Ukraine are generally 18% for residents and 19.5% for non-residents, with additional military tax of 1.5% during wartime.
Ukraine does not have a statutory requirement for a 13th month salary. However, performance-based bonuses and collective agreement-based allowances are common.
Ukraine has a comprehensive social security system with mandatory contributions:
The mandatory social insurance system in Ukraine includes:
Contribution rates vary but are shared between employer and employee, with employers typically bearing the larger portion.
Accounting standards in Ukraine follow National Accounting Standards (NAS) which are based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Large companies may be required to use IFRS directly.
Companies in Ukraine must file annual financial statements with the State Statistics Service and tax authorities.
Statutory audit is required for companies that exceed certain thresholds:
Large companies, public interest entities, and financial institutions have mandatory audit requirements regardless of size.
Audits must be conducted by qualified auditors certified by the Audit Chamber of Ukraine.
The standard corporate income tax rate is 18% for resident companies. There are some exceptions for specific industries and company types.
Ukraine levies VAT at a standard rate of 20% on most goods and services. Certain essential goods and services may be exempt or zero-rated. VAT registration is mandatory for companies with annual turnover exceeding UAH 1 million turnover within last 12 months.
Corporate income tax returns must be filed by March 31 following the tax year. VAT returns are typically filed monthly by the 20th of the following month.
Penalties for late filing and tax non-compliance can include monetary fines and potential criminal liability for serious violations.
Ukraine has transfer pricing regulations requiring arm’s length pricing for controlled transactions:
Non-compliance can trigger penalties of up to 300 times the minimum subsistence income.
Ukraine has implemented CbC reporting requirements for multinational groups:
Ukraine has adopted transfer pricing documentation rules aligned with OECD guidelines and the EU Association Agreement commitments.
Master File
Local File
Ukraine has enacted the Law “On Personal Data Protection” which aligns with EU GDPR principles. The law governs the processing of personal data and establishes individual rights and lawful data handling requirements.
Ukraine’s AML framework is governed by the Law “On Prevention and Counteraction to Legalization (Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime, Terrorist Financing and Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”:
Obligated entities: Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, and other designated businesses.
Key requirements:
Penalties: Significant administrative and criminal penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential imprisonment for serious violations.
Reasons you should setup legal entity in Ukraine:
Cerity Global ensures your business expansion in Ukraine is fast, compliant, and future-ready, so you can focus on growth while we manage the back-office tasks.
Economic figures are subject to change based on quarterly reports and market conditions.
Cerity Global combines deep local knowledge with proven expertise to make your Ukraine business establishment effortless and compliant. Whether you’re looking for legal entity setup and registration or ongoing support, we’re your trusted partner for sustainable global expansion in Ukraine.
Disclaimer – The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Entity setup requirements, tax rates, and economic data are subject to change and may vary by location.
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