Legal Support for Foreigners Buying Property in Ukraine
For a foreign national, purchasing property in Ukraine means investing personal funds in real estate, whether buying an apartment, a house, or commercial property. The process of acquiring real estate in Ukraine as a foreign citizen has specific legal and procedural requirements, both on the primary and secondary property markets.
Stages of Buying Property in Ukraine
- Selecting a property to purchase. Realtors and real estate agencies working with foreign clients in Ukraine can provide professional property search services, assist foreign buyers in selecting suitable real estate, and support clients in foreign languages throughout the process.
- Preparing the documents required for a foreign national to purchase property. This includes translating the foreign citizen's passport into Ukrainian and having the translation notarised. The original passport must be presented to the notary when the transaction is completed. The foreign buyer must also obtain a Ukrainian taxpayer registration number and tax ID — the registration number of the taxpayer's account card in Ukraine (tax identification number).
- Opening an investment account for a foreign national with a Ukrainian bank for the purpose of purchasing real estate.
- Real Estate Due Diligence. This involves conducting a comprehensive legal review of the property before it is purchased by a foreign buyer, as well as verifying the property's owner.
- Preparing the property purchase transaction for a foreign buyer for both residential and commercial real estate. This includes negotiating with the property seller, reviewing the agreement, and negotiating and agreeing on the terms of the real estate purchase contract.
- Notarial services for completing the property purchase transaction. This includes payment of the notary's fees for formalising the real estate purchase agreement, payment of applicable official fees, payment of the real estate agent's commission, registration of the foreign buyer's ownership rights in the State Register, and formalisation of the real estate sale and purchase agreement. Utility service agreements are subsequently re-registered in the new owner's name.
Our company's lawyers have extensive experience in real estate matters involving foreign clients. Our real estate lawyers advise international clients and provide professional legal support throughout the process of purchasing property in Ukraine as a foreign national.
Our real estate lawyers can help you safely acquire property in Ukraine even without being physically present in the country, based on a notarised power of attorney. If the power of attorney is executed abroad, it must be apostilled or, where applicable, undergo consular legalisation. Our translators can provide professional written translations of the required documents from foreign languages.
Foreign nationals may also purchase residential houses in Ukraine together with the land plots associated with those properties. Foreign citizens are entitled to freely dispose of their real estate: they may use the property, rent it out, give it as a gift, sell it, contribute it to the share capital of a company, or transfer it by inheritance. When investing more than EUR 100,000 in real estate, a foreign national may be eligible to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine. Our immigration lawyers can also assist foreign clients with preparing the documents required to obtain a visa to enter Ukraine.
We provide legal assistance in matters involving real estate investment in Ukraine, including foreign investment in Ukrainian property by private foreign individuals and foreign businesses, as well as legal support for residential and commercial real estate transactions throughout Ukraine.
FAQ — Buying Property in Ukraine as a Foreigner
Can foreign nationals legally purchase real estate in Ukraine?
Yes, foreign nationals are generally allowed to purchase residential and commercial real estate in Ukraine. However, there are legal restrictions regarding the purchase of agricultural land, and each transaction requires careful legal review to ensure full compliance with Ukrainian law.
What legal services are included in investment support for foreign clients?
Comprehensive investment support includes legal due diligence of the property, verification of ownership rights, review and drafting of contracts, assistance with payments, tax and currency regulation advice, representation before notaries and state authorities, and full support until the registration of ownership is completed.
Do foreign buyers need to be present in Ukraine to complete a property transaction?
Not necessarily. A property purchase can be completed remotely through a properly issued power of attorney. Our lawyers can represent foreign clients at all stages of the transaction, ensuring a secure and legally sound purchase without the need for personal presence in Ukraine.
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