Contents
How to settle in Ukraine. Will you fit in?
I could only speak for myself, but I think that Ukraine is a good place to live. However, everyone’s experiences are different.
You must realize off the bat that settling in Ukraine will require you to learn about, but most importantly accept the differences in lifestyles from the one you’ve been accustomed to.
These can include differences in accommodation types (most Americans for example, grow up living in houses, whereas most Ukrainians grow up living in apartments). Centralized heating and hot water.
Additional differences in the ways you’re used to doing everyday things like shopping, being able to read the language, going to a restaurant. Perhaps you’re used to having a car and driving, but now will find taking a taxi or other forms of transport, etc. to be more of the norm.
You must also factor in your ethnicity and color. Although Ukrainians can be quite open and friendly, Ukrainians for the most part are a very homogeneous group, at least 95% of the country is white.
So if you’re a person of color or have a different ethnicity, you may face situations of racism. These usually come from the uneducated and youth.
I don’t mean to put anybody off from visiting or living in Ukraine if you are an ethnicity or color other than white but it is something that you need to factor in.
Even as a white, western foreigner, I can’t say that I’ve experienced racism in the traditional sense, but without opening my mouth and saying a word, I got what I called “Nee Nasha” look, meaning “not one of us”.
I never understood it since I’m white, blue eyed etc, but Slavs have a certain look, cheekbones, eyes, etc. that set them a little bit apart.
When you factor in 80 years of being a closed communist country, it’s easy to see how ukrainians can automatically tell whether a person is Ukrainian, Russian or other Slav versus a Western white foreigner for example.
But in general, the benefits far outway any of the potential drawbacks, making Ukraine in my opinion, not only a good place to live but a great place to live. But you do need to ask yourself, how sensitive are you to things like race, gender and politics in general?
The more tolerant you are the easier it will be to settle.
Is it expensive to live in Ukraine?
Ukraine could be as expensive or as cheap to live in as most other places. Even the word “expensive” can be very relative.
If you choose to live in the center, have a beautiful apartment in a new building overlooking one of the main squares of Kyiv. Eat out every evening at only the finest of restaurants, have a personal driver, etc. Then it could be as expensive as New York, Moscow, Tokyo, you name the capital.
However, if you choose to live outside the center in a renovated apartment, perhaps not in a new building but in an older building.
If you take the metro or other public transportation like a “Marshrutka” (Semi-Private minivans which follow traditional bus routes but are a little faster (and more expensive) and shop at supermarkets, etc. your costs can be surprisingly cheap.
In fact, it could be cheaper than living in many Western countries.
Let’s not forget that most Americans especially don’t calculate the amount of monthly costs they shell out every month. Things like cell phone contracts for example.
Although Ukraine has cell phone services and monthly contracts, they also have pay as you go. Meaning that you only buy the minutes or the data that you use and not pay a set price on a monthly basis.
You can do that in places like the United States as well as most cell phone companies will sell you “Pay-as-you-go” packages too. The difference is those minutes expire within one to two weeks.
However, in many countries like Ukraine, any minutes or data that you buy, don’t expire for one year.
So whatever unused time or data you have, will just roll over to the next month.
I can go on but that’s just an example of how easy it is to budget yourself in a country like Ukraine, where you don’t accumulate subscriptions, fees and payments etc. on a monthly basis.
Also most apartments come furnished. So you don’t even have to buy furniture, unless you want to. The exception is if you buy a flat or house, then of course you’re going to have to furnish it yourself.
However, unlike the United States most apartment rentals in Ukraine will come furnished.
In fact, that’s probably one of the criteria you will need to factor in, when choosing an apartment.
How much money do you need to live in Ukraine?
This is very difficult to assess. How much money you need or anyone needs to live in Ukraine is also relative.
As I have mentioned above, if you have expensive tastes, you’re going to need more money.
However, if you’re very minimalist and bare bones, you can live quite comfortably for under $1,000 a month. Again it’s all relative.
Can I get permanent residence in Ukraine through marriage?
You can get permanent residence in Ukraine through marriage. I know quite a few Expats who have married Ukrainian women and eventually got permanent residency.
Of course, you would need to go through the whole visa process, get an attorney and collect all kinds of documents.
Unfortunately, even with one new government after another, each professing to be more progressive and modern than the previous, Ukraine still has enormous amounts of bureaucracy with departments, offices and stamps that you will need to collect in order to go through the permanent residency process.
In this case you will be well advised to get a good lawyer who specializes in immigration and Expat issues.
The best way to find a good lawyer to help you with getting permanent residency in Ukraine through marriage would be to ask for recommendations from other Expats.
I’m sure you’ll find at least one or two who have gone through the process or know someone who has, that can recommend a good lawyer for you.
How to settle in Ukraine conclusions.
There are a variety of ways in order to settle in Ukraine. First, you need to decide how long you want to settle in your Ukraine for. Is it for the rest of your life? Perhaps you want to settle in Ukraine for just one or two years.
Also you need to decide why you want to settle in Ukraine? Have you met your one true love and want to get married and have a family?
Perhaps you want to buy a flat or a dacha in the countryside? Maybe you’re part of the Ukrainian Diaspora and wish to return to the land of your familial roots, try out your Ukrainian language skills and see if all those Saturdays your parents made you go to Ukrainian school, learning the language was worth it.
Whatever your reason is, will determine which path you take. My advice would be to first answer the above questions.
Second, check the local Ukrainian Embassy in your home country and read everything you can on immigration, settling in Ukraine, retiring in Ukraine, etc. Find which route may be best for you.
Third, I would consult a local Ukrainian attorney in Ukraine who not only can speak English, but who is also an expert in immigration laws, residency etc. and dealing with other Expat issues.
If you can’t find a lawyer or are not confident that you could find a capable lawyer to your liking, then either inquire on Expat forums or take a trip to Ukraine.
While you’re in Ukraine checking out all the sights, hit up a few Expat Pubs, go to some professional mixers like for AmCham or an EBA meeting as a guest and ask around.
You will definitely find a few recommendations as well as some insider tips from those who may have gone through the same process.
Whichever route you take, it is definitely possible to settle in Ukraine.