Shifting Origins of Foreign Workers
Head of the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMSU) Naumenko has reported a notable shift in the geographic origins of labor migrants, releasing employment permit statistics for 2025 and asylum data from January to April 2026. The share of citizens from South and Southeast Asia, Latin America—especially Colombia and Brazil—as well as the Caucasus region is on the rise.
Employment Permits by the Numbers
In 2025, the highest number of work permits were issued to nationals of:
- Turkey (1,408)
- India (946)
- Uzbekistan (936)
- Azerbaijan (605)
- Bangladesh (600)
- China (516)
- Pakistan (374)
- Colombia (335)
- United Kingdom (311)
- United States (248)
These ten countries accounted for 64% of all permits issued in 2025. Specifically, Bangladeshi nationals received 600 work permits, along with 32 D visas and 7 residence permits. For Pakistanis, there were 374 permits, 29 visas, and 7 residence permits. Indians obtained 946 permits, 344 visas, and 220 residence permits.
According to Naumenko, workers from European nations like the UK, as well as the US, Germany, and Poland, are predominantly business professionals, while Asian nationals are mainly employed in construction, manufacturing, and the service industry.
Refugee Status Trends
On the refugee front, from January to April 2026, only 16 applications were submitted by 19 individuals seeking refugee status or complementary protection. As of the end of 2025, the total number of refugees and people with complementary protection stood at 2,378. Naumenko noted:
“In the first four months of 2026, just 16 applications from 19 people were filed for refugee status or additional protection—that’s fewer than five people per month. The total count of refugees and those under complementary protection (2,378 at the end of 2025) has remained virtually unchanged in recent years.” - Naumenko
The SMSU head also expressed caution regarding Bangladeshi nationals, stating that 'Bangladesh is an overpopulated, poor country whose state policy is to push its citizens abroad.' Naumenko emphasized that the cost of returning these individuals to their home country would fall on Ukrainian taxpayers, a cause for concern.
Ukraine has drafted a State Migration Policy Strategy through 2035, aimed at streamlining labor migration processes and enhancing oversight of foreign nationals. Naumenko noted that 'the first check of foreigners happens at the consular level—a review of the documents submitted by the foreign citizen. The Security Service of Ukraine also plays an active role from a national security standpoint.'
The evolving geography of labor migrants highlights the diversity of sources seeking opportunities in Ukraine, reflecting global migration trends where people from various countries aim to improve their economic prospects. Meanwhile, the low number of new asylum applications suggests a stabilization of the situation, though challenges around repatriating migrants remain pressing. The development of a new migration policy strategy could be a critical step in addressing these issues, particularly regarding national security and Ukraine’s economic growth.
As the landscape of labor migration in Ukraine evolves, it's essential to address common misconceptions surrounding the influx of workers from Asia. Recent insights from the State Migration Service have clarified the realities of this trend, revealing that the anticipated mass migration narrative may not hold true. For a deeper understanding of these dynamics, explore the detailed analysis in our article about the debunking of myths regarding labor migration.