Work in Ukraine
About Ukraine
Are you an international student in Ukraine and looking for a part-time job or an opportunity to gain professional experience?
Working while studying can be a great way to develop your skills, gain practical experience, meet new people and become more familiar with the Ukrainian job market.
You can search for vacancies through popular Ukrainian employment platforms, including:
• Work.ua — one of the largest job search platforms in Ukraine
• Robota.ua — a major Ukrainian employment platform with vacancies in different cities and industries.
• LinkedIn — useful for finding internships, professional positions and opportunities with international companies
Many companies in Ukraine also offer remote and hybrid positions, which can be convenient for students
Important for International Students
The rules for employment of foreign citizens in Ukraine can differ from those for Ukrainian citizens. Depending on your circumstances, your employer may need to obtain a permit to employ a foreign worker, and additional documents may be required
Before accepting a job, make sure that your employment is properly arranged and that you have the documents required for legal employment.
Your university’s international student office can also help you understand the requirements applicable to your situation
International students in Ukraine can combine their studies with work and gain valuable professional experience while studying.
Depending on their study schedule and employment conditions, students may work part-time, full-time or remotely. Opportunities may include employment, internships and freelance projects in areas such as IT, business, customer service, marketing, education and other fields.
The Most Important Rule — Work Must Not Interfere with Your Studies
For an international student, education should always remain the priority. Work should be arranged in a way that does not interfere with attending classes, meeting academic requirements or successfully completing the educational programme.
If a special work permit is required for employment, the student must obtain the necessary approval from the university.
Therefore, it is important to demonstrate from the very beginning of your studies that you are a disciplined, responsible and committed student: attend classes regularly, meet academic requirements and follow the university’s rules. A good academic and disciplinary record is important when requesting the necessary approval from the university.
Documents Required for Employment
If you are a foreign citizen, your employment in Ukraine must be officially arranged in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.
Depending on your status and the type of employment, your employer may need to obtain a permit to employ a foreign worker, as well as prepare additional documents.
In some cases, the employment permit procedure may require a properly certified copy of a higher education document.
Therefore, if you are planning to work while studying, we recommend preparing an additional legalized set of your educational documents in advance.
The university normally keeps the original educational documents submitted during admission. Having a separate legalized set allows you to use the necessary documents for the employment procedure without having to wait for your original documents to be returned.
Important for International Students
There is no general rule that limits all international students to a specific number of working hours per week. Your work schedule should comply with the conditions of your employment and be compatible with your study schedule.
Working while studying gives you an opportunity to gain professional experience, develop practical skills and become familiar with the Ukrainian job market while continuing your education.
The key is to arrange your employment properly, comply with university requirements and Ukrainian legislation, and always maintain a healthy balance between work and studies.
If you plan to stay and work in Ukraine after graduating, it is important to take care of your future immigration status in advance.
After completing your studies, you can:
• find a job with a Ukrainian company and become officially employed;
• apply for the necessary documents to continue living in Ukraine based on employment;
• use another legal basis for staying in Ukraine.
Important: Temporary Residence Permit
The temporary residence permit you received based on your studies is linked to your student status.
Even if the expiry date shown on your permit has not yet been reached, once you are officially dismissed from the university, the basis for your stay as a student ends.
A student may be dismissed:
• for failing to complete the study programme or academic requirements;
• for violating the terms of the education contract, including failure to pay tuition fees;
• upon completion of the established period of study.
If you plan to stay and work in Ukraine after graduation, make sure to inform your university’s International Student Office or your coordinator in advance. This will allow you to start the process of changing your immigration status while your temporary residence permit based on studies is still valid.
Do not wait until your studies have officially ended — it is better to start the process in advance to ensure a smooth transition to your new status.
