Humanitarian Visa (D-10) to Ukraine

What Is the D-10 Humanitarian Visa?

The Humanitarian Visa (D-10) allows foreigners to stay in Ukraine long-term to take part in humanitarian or volunteer activities. After the full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, Ukraine welcomed thousands of foreign volunteers. Many of them needed a legal way to stay in Ukraine longer than 90 days. That’s the main reason the D-10 visa was established.

It’s often referred to as a humanitarian visa or volunteer visa for Ukraine. It is the first step toward getting a humanitarian residence permit that allows you to live in Ukraine for up to one year.

Who Needs a Humanitarian Visa D-10?

Before applying, it’s important to understand if the D-10 visa is right for your situation, because we encounter in practice that many foreigners do not understand what type of visa this is and why some volunteers cannot obtain it.

Who can apply for a Humanitarian Visa?

The D-10 visa is for:

• Foreign volunteers working with a Ukrainian charity or NGO;
• Founders or employees of international NGOs in Ukraine;
• Foreigners who plan to support humanitarian projects (education, medical, social, cultural, etc.);
• People coming to Ukraine with a long-term volunteering commitment;

You cannot apply as an individual. You must have a partnership or invitation from a registered charitable organization or non-profit in Ukraine.

How long can you stay in Ukraine on a Humanitarian D-10 Visa?

The D-10 visa is usually issued for 90 days, but it is meant as a basis to apply for a residence permit. Once you arrive in Ukraine, you will have time to apply for the humanitarian residence permit, which allows you to stay legally for up to one year.

How to Apply for Humanitarian D-10 Visa?

You need to apply at a Ukrainian consulate abroad, usually in your country of citizenship or permanent residency. It is not issued inside Ukraine.

Only Ukrainian NGOs and Charities Can Issue Invitations for the D-10 Visa

Since 2022, our team has provided legal assistance to over 500 international volunteers. One of the most common mistakes we’ve seen is that applicants try to get a D-10 visa using a letter from an international organization that isn’t registered in Ukraine — but this doesn’t meet the official requirements. However, this is not correct.

To apply for a D-10 humanitarian visa, the inviting organization must be registered in Ukraine as either a:

• Ukrainian non-profit organization (NGO);
• Ukrainian charitable foundation;

This means that:

• The organization must have a valid Ukrainian registration certificate;
• The invitation must be issued officially on their behalf;

International organizations without local Ukrainian registration are not eligible to sponsor a D-10 visa.

Also, it is not enough to simply be officially registered in Ukraine, each such organization must have an assigned volunteer status, which allows them to officially issue invitations for foreign volunteers.

Do not confuse the D-10 visa with the D-07 visa, which actually concerns foreign representations in Ukraine and not Ukrainian ones, and other categories. The D-10 is strictly for humanitarian or charitable work based in Ukraine.

If your organization is not yet registered in Ukraine, or if you’re unsure whether your host organization qualifies, our legal team at Vertex Immigration can help you set up a local NGO and issue proper D-10 invitations. We provide full legal support to ensure your organization meets all the requirements for humanitarian visa sponsorship.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the D-10 Volunteer Visa

The whole process is the same as any other situation regarding the issuance of a D visa of any type: preparation of all necessary documents, booking an online appointment for an appointment at the Embassy (Consulate) of Ukraine abroad. You can make an appointment for such an appointment on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The process is not complicated, but attention to detail is very important. Here’s how it works:

1. 1
   Get an official invitation from a Ukrainian charity or NGO.
2. 2
   Prepare your visa documents: passport (valid for 3+ months); completed visa application form; passport-size photo; medical insurance; proof of funds; invitation letter from the NGO; registration documents of the NGO;
3. 3
   Submit the application to the Ukrainian consulate.
4. 4
   Wait for processing (usually 5–10 business days).

Receive the D-10 visa in your passport.

Although the time frame established by law is from 10 to 30 business days, from our personal experience, a humanitarian visa is issued quite quickly (approximately 5 business days), and in some consulates of Ukraine, if a double fee is paid, a visa can be issued in just a few hours.

When you arrive in Ukraine on a D-10 visa, the next step is to apply for a residence permit at the local Migration Office.

What Are the Benefits of the D-10 Volunteer Visa?

In fact, obtaining a humanitarian visa (D-10) is not the end of the process, because the D-10 visa allows a 90-day stay, those who intend to continue volunteering beyond this period must apply for a temporary residence permit in Ukraine. And in turn, such a residence permit already gives you a considerable number of advantages in Ukraine.

The D-10 visa is not just a tourist visa. It gives you access to legal stay and more:

• Stay in Ukraine for more than 90 days;
• Apply for a 1-year residence permit;
• Join humanitarian work legally;
• Possibility to extend your stay annually;

Most importantly, the D-10 visa is the only legal way for volunteers to stay in Ukraine long-term.

This is perfect for people who plan to live and work in Ukraine as part of international aid missions, charitable projects, or long-term volunteering.

Conclusion: Ready to Start Your Humanitarian Journey in Ukraine?

If you are a foreigner who wants to support Ukraine during this difficult time, the humanitarian visa (D-10) is the first step. Whether you’re a volunteer, NGO founder, or aid worker — we can help you stay in Ukraine legally.

The process of obtaining a humanitarian visa to Ukraine for foreigners who are doing it for the first time is quite difficult. We highly recommend contacting our lawyers, who will help you go through this process without stress.