Why Foreign Nationals Are Being Denied Entry to Ukraine
Nataliia Naumenko, head of Ukraine’s State Migration Service, has outlined the main reasons why foreign nationals are being refused entry into the country, as well as upcoming plans to streamline work permits for foreigners. According to Naumenko, common grounds for denial include:
- forged documents,
- false information provided in application forms,
- educational qualifications that do not match stated claims.
Rejection cases are most frequently recorded among citizens of India and Bangladesh.
Plans to Simplify Employment for Foreigners
According to available data, the overall rejection rate for residence permit applications stands at 5–7%. Naumenko stated that a denial rate of 7–9% is entirely standard for a state procedure designed to filter out fraudulent or incomplete applications.
“This is not a 'barrier' but an indicator of effective control. All denials are based solely on the law and can be challenged in court,” she added.
Among the criteria checked during the entry process for foreign nationals are any prior criminal convictions and the applicant’s level of education. “If someone claims to be an IT specialist and says they are coming to work for an IT company, then during the embassy interview they are asked about their education, where they worked, and what they did over the past year or two. If the person cannot clearly explain this, it is naturally grounds for visa refusal,” Naumenko explained.
Against the backdrop of these entry denials, the State Migration Service, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has drafted a European integration bill that introduces a single work permit for foreigners. The bill also proposes creating a shared digital platform to simplify the permit application process. This draft law is currently under consideration in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament.
Despite plans to make it easier for foreigners to work in Ukraine, Naumenko stressed that document checks will remain rigorous.
“This does not mean documents will be checked any less thoroughly, because our priority remains the security of our state,” she noted.
The rising number of entry denials highlights the importance of strict oversight of foreign nationals, a matter that has become especially pressing amid ongoing security challenges. While simplifying employment rules could help attract more skilled workers, Ukraine must strike a balance between openness to foreigners and safeguarding national security. The development of new legislative initiatives aims to modernize the system, but security considerations continue to take precedence in Ukraine’s migration policy.
As the situation at the borders continues to evolve, it's important to understand the broader context of migration trends in Ukraine. Recent reports indicate that migration levels remain significantly lower than pre-war figures, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by those seeking to enter the country. This backdrop emphasizes the necessity of stringent entry protocols and the government's efforts to regulate foreign employment more effectively.