Dismissing a Foreign Employee in Ukraine: What the Employer Must Do

How dismissing a foreigner differs from a regular dismissal

A foreigner working legally in Ukraine has the same employment rights as a Ukrainian citizen, so the dismissal itself follows the general rules of the Labour Code. But a foreign employee also holds a document tied specifically to your company — the permit to employ a foreign national. It was issued for a specific employer and position, so once the employment contract ends, the employer has a separate obligation towards the employment centre.

Below is a practical sequence that helps you close the relationship cleanly, without violations or loose ends in the paperwork.

Step 1. Identify the ground for termination

The grounds are the same as for Ukrainian employees:

• expiry of a fixed-term contract — contracts with foreigners are often concluded for the validity period of the permit;
• mutual agreement — the calmest option, when both sides have agreed on a date;
• the employee's initiative — a resignation letter;
• the employer's initiative — only on grounds provided by law and following the procedure.

Under martial law, employment relations have specific features set by Law No. 2136-IX. Before dismissing someone at the employer's initiative, check the procedure with a lawyer: choosing the wrong ground is the most common cause of employment disputes.

Step 2. Final pay and documents on the last day

On the day of dismissal, the employer gives the employee a copy of the dismissal order (Art. 47 of the Labour Code) and pays all amounts due (Art. 116), including compensation for unused leave (Art. 83). Make sure the foreign employee understands how the final amount is calculated and which taxes were withheld — we explain the deductions in our article on taxes on a foreign worker's salary.

The dismissal is reflected in reporting in the same way as for any other employee — agree the reporting steps with your accountant.

Step 3. Apply to cancel the work permit

This is the key difference. Part 1 of Article 42-10 of the Law "On Employment of the Population" obliges the employer to apply to the territorial employment authority, in particular when the employment contract with the foreigner has been terminated. According to the service description in the Diia state services guide:

• the application is made in free form to the regional (oblast or Kyiv city) employment centre;
• it can be submitted in person, through an authorised representative or by registered mail; a copy of the dismissal order may be attached;
• the service is free of charge and is processed within 3 working days;
• the result is the cancellation of the permit to employ the foreign national.

The service description does not set a separate deadline for this application, so act without delay — ideally on the day of dismissal or right after it. Check the current requirements with your employment centre.

Step 4. The residence permit and the worker's next steps

If the foreigner lives in Ukraine on a temporary residence permit issued in connection with employment, the dismissal also affects the basis of their stay. How exactly depends on the situation: the worker moves to another employer, obtains another basis for stay, or leaves Ukraine. Advise the worker to contact the migration service rather than rely on hearsay.

If the person plans to keep working in Ukraine, the new employer will need its own permit — we cover this in our article on changing employer with a work permit.

Common employer mistakes

• Not applying to cancel the permit. The permit was issued to your company, and a "forgotten" document causes confusion during inspections.
• Delaying the final pay. Paying later than the day of dismissal breaches Art. 116 of the Labour Code.
• Dismissing at the employer's initiative without a proper ground. A foreigner can challenge a dismissal just like a Ukrainian citizen.
• Not explaining the consequences. The language barrier amplifies conflicts; a written explanation in a language the worker understands prevents most questions.
• Letting work continue after dismissal. If a former employee keeps working for you without a permit, that is a different situation with serious fines for illegal employment.

Quick checklist

1. Choose the ground and date of termination.
2. Prepare the order and the final settlement.
3. On the last day, hand over a copy of the order and pay all amounts.
4. Apply to the employment centre to cancel the permit.
5. Explain to the worker what happens to their documents and refer them to the migration service.
6. Reflect the dismissal in your reporting.

How ASHA Ukraine handles it

As part of migration and HR support, ASHA Ukraine helps employers with paperwork at every stage of working with foreigners — from obtaining a permit to cancelling it. If you work through foreign staff outsourcing, the contractor takes over HR procedures, including those at the end of the engagement. For the full picture of legal hiring, see our step-by-step guide to hiring foreign workers.

Sources: Diia state services guide — cancellation of the permit to employ foreigners; Law of Ukraine "On Employment of the Population", Art. 42-10; Labour Code of Ukraine, Arts. 47, 83, 116. Checked as of 30.10.2026; confirm details for your case with the employment centre or a lawyer.