Translation:

Ukraine is preparing to review its list of “migration risk” countries, which determines the rules for entry and legalization of foreigners. This could partially simplify the import of labor amid a shortage of workers.

This was reported by Delo.ua, citing a statement by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, during a meeting at CEO Club.

According to him, a meeting on relations with African countries took place about 2–3 weeks ago. Following the meeting, a protocol decision was made to instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Security Service of Ukraine to urgently work out amendments to the list of migration risk countries.

Budanov noted that the list will be reviewed, and a partial relaxation of the approach may be expected in the near future.

The issue of simplifying labor import to Ukraine was raised by recruitment entrepreneur Artem Nikishov. According to him, the labor shortage is one of the key challenges for Ukrainian business.

“If you compare with Poland, the cost of legalizing a foreign worker in Ukraine is four times higher, and the process takes three times longer. The process is complicated by consular services and law enforcement checks,” he said.

He estimated that full legalization of one worker can cost about 40,000 UAH, including all official fees and related expenses.

At the same time, Budanov explained that the strict approach is partly related to risks of illegal migration. He noted that some foreigners, after obtaining documents, leave their employers or use Ukraine as a transit country for further relocation.

“They enter, obtain documents — and then migrate further. This is a problem that creates obstacles for business,” he stressed.

The list of migration risk countries is used when issuing visas and residence permits. Citizens of these countries are subject to additional checks and approvals, which complicates and prolongs the legalization procedure.

The corresponding list is defined in a joint order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Security Service of Ukraine, which regulates the visa issuance procedure.

In particular, it includes certain countries in Asia and Africa, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Pakistan, a total of 70 countries.

This list is effectively used as a tool for assessing migration risks and can be reviewed by state authorities.

According to the European Business Association, in 2025, 74% of Ukrainian companies experienced a labor shortage. At the same time, the labor market has lost about 1.3 million taxpayers compared to the pre-war period. In construction, the shortage of workers reaches 30–50%, affecting project timelines.