Support for foreign citizens and companies, ranging from reviewing corporate structure and documents to state registration and preparing the next steps for launching a business.
OLVARIS assists with the registration of companies in Ukraine when the founder is a foreign individual, a foreign legal entity, or multiple participants with a multi-tiered ownership structure. The team coordinates the founders’ documents, the RNOKP, information on ultimate beneficial owners, translations, apostille or legalization, representation, and subsequent organizational steps.
A significant portion of the preparation can be done remotely: submitting scans, agreeing on the structure, reviewing drafts, and determining which original documents and actions will be required. The final process depends on the composition of the founders, the country issuing the documents, the ownership structure, the future CEO, and the company’s line of business.
To start a consultation: please provide the founder’s country of citizenship or registration, a brief description of the future business, the planned composition of the participants, and let us know if you can travel to Ukraine. OLVARIS will identify the issues that need to be reviewed before preparing a proposal and a personalized checklist.
What exactly can a customer receive?
Following an initial analysis, OLVARIS may determine an agreed-upon scope of support, which, depending on the situation, may include:
- Personal check-in route. Who acts as the founder, what documents are required, what can be handled remotely, and what steps should be taken in what order.
- Document Matrix. Separate lists for foreign individuals, foreign companies, authorized representatives, and representatives.
- Coordination by the RNOKPP. Verifying the need for a tax ID number and arranging for its issuance in the agreed-upon format.
- Preparation of data on owners. Collection of information about participants, ultimate beneficial owners, and relationships within the ownership structure.
- Working with Foreign Documents. Verification of the apostille or legalization process, translation into Ukrainian, and proper certification.
- Remote representation. Preparing or verifying a power of attorney and coordinating the representative’s actions, provided that the specific actions in question allow for representation.
- Registration Support. Compiling a coordinated submission package, verifying data consistency, and communicating during the registration phase.
- Plan after registration. A list of the following topics regarding the director, the bank, taxes, accounting, personnel, contracts, and internal processes.
Important: This is not a one-size-fits-all package. The scope of services and required documents are determined after reviewing the specific organization. This page does not promise a timeline, price, or outcome without such an analysis.
Can a foreigner start a company in Ukraine?
As a general rule, a foreign citizen may be a founder of a Ukrainian legal entity and hold a stake in its authorized capital. A foreign legal entity may also serve as a founder. In other words, a foreign investor may register a limited liability company (LLC) in Ukraine either through personal participation or through an existing foreign company.
The main difference from a standard registration involving only Ukrainian individuals lies primarily in the preparation of foreign documents, the identification of participants and beneficial owners, the disclosure of the ownership structure, translation, and potential representation. The more levels there are in the structure, the sooner it is advisable to begin reviewing the documents.
Is a Ukrainian partner needed?
Having a Ukrainian co-founder is not a general requirement for establishing an LLC with a foreign owner. A company may have an entirely foreign membership if its specific structure and activities are not subject to special restrictions.
At the same time, the role of the founder should not be confused with that of a director, representative, or person who will perform specific actions in Ukraine. To get started, you need to determine in advance who will manage the company, who will sign documents, how bank identification will take place, and what labor or immigration issues may arise. These are organizational decisions, not an automatic requirement to have a Ukrainian partner.
Company Registration by a Foreign Individual
This procedure applies when one or more foreign nationals are the founders of an LLC. At the outset, you must identify each participant, agree on the spelling of their personal data in Ukrainian, determine their shares in the authorized capital, and collect information regarding anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.
The OLVARIS initial checklist for such a founder includes a passport, documents related to the company’s incorporation, information about the ownership share, details about the KBV, ownership structure, RNOKPP, and, where applicable, a power of attorney. For a non-resident individual beneficial owner, government information resources also specify a notarized copy of an identity document.
The practical purpose of the preliminary check is to ensure that the first name, last name, date of birth, citizenship, and other information are consistently reflected in the passport, translation, RNOKPP, ownership structure, and registration documents.
Company Registration by a Foreign Legal Entity
If a foreign company is the founder of a Ukrainian LLC, its existence and registration in its country of incorporation must be verified. The source material refers to an extract, statement, or other document from a commercial, banking, or court registry. Such a document should not be requested without first verifying the requirements regarding its content, validity, certification, and translation.
Separately, the entire chain of ownership must be disclosed down to the individuals who are the ultimate beneficial owners, and the relationships between the different levels of the structure must be shown. If the chain includes several foreign companies, there will be more documents, and the names, registration numbers, and ownership stakes must be listed consistently at every level.
Key difference: For a foreign legal entity, authorities verify not only the document regarding the founder, but also corporate powers, the group’s structure, and documents throughout the entire chain leading up to the ultimate beneficial owner.
What documents are required?
There is no universal list that applies to all foreign founders. Below is a working set of documents for a preliminary assessment. The final checklist is compiled after verifying the founder, the country of origin of the documents, the ownership structure, the chosen articles of incorporation, and the method of filing.
| Foreign individual | Foreign legal entity |
| The founder’s identification document | An extract, certificate, or other document confirming the company’s registration in the country where it is located |
| Agreed Translation of Personal Data | Translation of registration and other necessary corporate documents |
| RNOKPP, if required for the selected route | Information regarding the registration number, address, governing bodies, and authorized signatory |
| Information on the Share in the Authorized Capital | A resolution or other corporate document regarding participation in a Ukrainian company, if required |
| Information on the Company and Ownership Structure | Chain of ownership leading to individual beneficial owners and supporting documents by level |
| Power of Attorney, if a representative is acting on behalf of the principal | A power of attorney or other document authorizing a representative, if required by the itinerary |
For a Ukrainian company itself, the following must be agreed upon: at a minimum, the company name, the shareholders and their ownership stakes, the amount of authorized capital, the types of business activities, the location, the CEO, the management model, and the articles of incorporation. Which of these details are formalized in separate documents depends on the chosen model and current registration requirements.
For an initial assessment: high-quality scans and a structured description of the future company are sufficient. Do not order an apostille, legalization, or final translation until OLVARIS confirms the process for a specific document.
RNOKPP for a foreign founder
The RNOKPP is the taxpayer’s registration number. For foreign individuals, the issue of obtaining this number should be resolved before the registration stage. In the original OLVARIS document, this number is included in the founder’s basic checklist, but the exact requirement and timing of its use should be confirmed for the chosen route.
The State Tax Service states that a foreign national must use a passport or an appropriate residence permit for registration. If the individual does not have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Ukraine, a certified translation of the document into Ukrainian and a copy of the translation must also be submitted. Submission through a representative requires a properly executed power of attorney and the representative’s documents.
In practice, the RNOKPP should be submitted along with a translation of the passport and the power of attorney. This reduces the risk of the name being spelled differently in tax and registration documents.
Share Capital and Ownership Structure
The ultimate beneficial owner is not just a name on a form. The registration package must clearly show who directly or indirectly owns or controls the company and how all participants in the structure are related.
To prepare OLVARIS, it is advisable to obtain the following from the client:
- a list of all legal entities and individuals in the chain of ownership;
- country of incorporation, registration number, and address of each company;
- the extent of direct or indirect involvement and a description of the relationship between the levels;
- identifying information for individuals who may be key business persons;
- registration or corporate documents confirming the chain;
- an explanation if the nominal owner and the person who actually exercises control are not the same.
For a non-resident individual who is a Key Business Person (KBP), the source material and official registration information must include a notarized copy of an identity document. The ownership structure form and the list of supporting documents must be verified immediately prior to submission.
Apostille, Legalization, and Translation of Documents
A document issued abroad should not be sent for translation immediately. First, you need to determine whether it can be used in Ukraine without additional certification, whether an apostille is required, or whether consular legalization is necessary. The answer depends on the country, the type of document, and international treaties.
- Specify the document and the country. Please provide the exact name of the document, the issuing authority, the country, and the purpose of its use in Ukraine.
- Check the recognition mode. OLVARIS determines whether a contractual termination, an apostille, or consular legalization is valid.
- Agree on the sequence. It is important to understand what exactly is being certified when an apostille is affixed and at what stage the translation is done.
- Translate into Ukrainian. Names, company names, numbers, and percentages must match those in all other documents.
- Certify the translation in the proper form. The method of certification is determined by the requirements of the specific procedure.
Do not do the following in advance: obtain an apostille for all documents, translate an incomplete set of documents, or have documents certified without prior approval. An error in the sequence of steps may force you to reorder the document from the country where it was issued.
Is it possible to register a company remotely?
In many situations, a significant portion of the process can be handled without the founder having to travel to Ukraine. It is convenient to conduct an initial consultation remotely, submit scanned documents, agree on the structure, prepare drafts, arrange for translation, and define the representative’s authority.
However, remote processing does not mean that every step can be completed online or without original documents. Depending on the method of signing, the country, the power of attorney, banking requirements, and the foreign national’s role, original documents, in-person signature verification, or separate identification may be required.
| It’s usually possible to study remotely | This needs to be checked separately |
| Initial Brief and Structural Analysis | Personal signing of a specific document |
| Verifying Scans and Creating a Checklist | Form and Place of Certification of a Power of Attorney |
| Approval of Drafts and Translations | Submission of Originals and Requirements for Their Certification |
| Coordination of the Representative in Ukraine | Bank Identification and Opening an Account |
| Planning Actions After Registration | Actions of a Foreign Director and Related Labor or Immigration Issues |
Power of Attorney for a Representative
If the founder’s personal presence is not required for a specific action, it may be carried out by an authorized representative. To do so, a power of attorney is prepared that grants sufficient, but not excessive, authority.
The text of the power of attorney should include only those institutions, documents, and actions that are actually part of the process: preparatory, tax, notarial, registration, or organizational actions, provided that representation is permitted for them. It is best to draft or review the document in Ukraine before signing it abroad.
- Verify the passport information of the principal and the representative;
- Describe the specific purpose and scope of authority;
- Verify the authority to sign, submit, and receive documents;
- Address the issues of delegation and term of validity separately;
- Find out whether an apostille or legalization is required;
- Please approve the Ukrainian translation before using the power of attorney.
Steps for Registration with OLVARIS
- Initial Brief. The client provides information on the country, the composition of the founders, the future business activities, the ownership structure, the candidate for director, and the possibility of visiting.
- Legal and Document Review. OLVARIS determines the route, the list of open issues, any special restrictions, and the required documents.
- Personal Checklist. The client receives a breakdown: what they are responsible for, what the team is preparing, which documents require certification, and which tasks can be completed remotely.
- RNOKPP, Translation, and Foreign Documents. We coordinate the collection of the necessary documents, their apostille or legalization, translation, and the harmonization of the information contained therein.
- KBV and Corporate Structure. The chain of ownership is being established, and ownership stakes, KGV, and supporting documents are being verified.
- Preparation and approval of the package. Participants review key decisions, company data, authorizations, and articles of incorporation and registration documents.
- Registration phase. The approved package is submitted in the format specified by law, and the results and registration information are verified.
- Actual Launch Plan. After registration, the team agrees on the next steps and the specific scope of support, if needed.
Business logic: A client seeks not only to have an entry made in the registry, but also a managed process in which the documents, translation, representation, and subsequent steps are coordinated prior to submission.
What to Do After Registration
An entry in the Unified State Register confirms the establishment of a legal entity, but does not necessarily mean that the company is ready to begin operations. After registration, the actual launch must be planned separately.
| Field | What Needs to Be Determined |
| Leadership and Management. | Who serves as the director, what are the director’s official powers, who signs the documents, and how do the participants interact with one another? |
| Bank account. | What documents and identification are required by a specific bank. Opening an account is a separate process and is not guaranteed by state registration alone. |
| Taxes and Accounting. | Tax system, accounting, reporting, payments, and responsible parties. |
| Staff. | Employment relationships, personnel documents, and specific requirements if foreign nationals are employed. |
| Permits. | Does the planned activity require a license, permit, notification, or specific facilities? |
| Contracts and Processes. | Contract templates, document workflow, mailing address, internal policies, and communication with the foreign owner. |
OLVARIS may agree to provide a specific scope of administrative, legal, translation, or organizational support after registration. The commercial proposal should include only those services that the team actually undertakes to provide.
Common Mistakes Made by Foreign Investors
| Error | Consequences and the Right Approach |
| Start with registration, not with a business model. | After a company is established, it becomes clear that the director, bank, tax matters, staff, or permits have not been finalized. First, you need a launch plan. |
| Order foreign documents without a checklist. | The document may have incorrect content, a wrong date, or an incorrect method of certification. First, the requirements are verified; then, the original is requested. |
| Consider the apostille a universal solution. | Different procedures apply to certain countries and documents. The route is determined based on the country, the type of document, and the contract. |
| Show only the first owner. | The multi-level structure does not reveal the ultimate beneficial owner. You must trace the entire chain back to the individual and verify the relationships. |
| Allow for different spellings of the data. | Discrepancies in the passport, translation, RNO-KPP, and corporate documents raise additional questions. The data is reconciled before submission. |
| Sign a power of attorney using a generic template. | It may lack the necessary authority or grant excessive rights. The plan is approved for a specific route. |
| To equate distance learning with a fully online process. | Some procedures may require original documents, certificates, or personal identification. These are verified before the process begins. |
| Do not plan the stage after registration. | The company is legally established but is not yet ready to operate. Banking, tax, HR, and operational matters are being addressed simultaneously. |
What issues can OLVARIS handle?
The strength of this type of support lies in the coordination of several interrelated processes by a single team. Within the scope of an agreed-upon assignment, OLVARIS can work in the following areas:
- Initial assessment of the situation and route planning;
- verification of documents belonging to a foreign founder or parent company;
- coordination of the RNOKPP for a foreign individual;
- preparing information on the company’s financial condition and ownership structure;
- Translation of legal and corporate documents into Ukrainian;
- arranging notarial services, apostille, or legalization;
- preparing or verifying a power of attorney for a representative;
- coordinating the registration package and communications with the participants in the process;
- preparing an action plan following registration;
- Administrative, legal, and translation support for businesses after launch, subject to separate agreement.
Limits of the Promise: OLVARIS organizes and coordinates the agreed-upon process, but cannot guarantee in advance the decision of a government agency, bank, notary, or other institution. The timeline and cost are determined after reviewing the structure and documents.
Who can particularly benefit from this support
- a foreign national who wishes to be the sole founder or one of the founders of a Ukrainian LLC;
- a foreign company that establishes a subsidiary or operating company in Ukraine;
- a group with multiple levels of ownership and foreign controlled entities;
- a founder who is located outside Ukraine and wants to conduct as much of the training as possible remotely;
- an investor who needs assistance with coordinating documents, translations, notary services, and registration procedures;
- an owner who wants to plan not only the registration but also the actual launch and ongoing administration of the company.
FAQ
As a general rule, yes. Having a Ukrainian co-founder is not a universal requirement. Before registration, you need to check for any specific restrictions, which may depend on the individual, the ownership structure, and the type of business activity.
This is not a general requirement for the composition of the participants. The director, the representative in Ukraine, and the individuals who will handle banking, tax, and operational matters must be designated separately. These roles should not be equated with equity ownership.
Yes. To do this, you need to confirm its registration in the country where it is located and prepare corporate documents, information on authority, KYC, and the entire ownership chain. The exact set of documents depends on the jurisdiction and the group’s structure.
In the practical checklist for foreign individuals, this issue is addressed prior to submitting documents. The need for a number and the timing of its issuance must be confirmed for the specific route. OLVARIS can coordinate the passport, translation, and representation for this procedure as part of the agreed-upon service.
Not always. A significant portion of the preparation can be handled remotely, and certain steps can be carried out by a representative. The need for in-person presence depends on the method of signing, the power of attorney, the originals, the bank, and the foreign national’s role.
If specific actions may be performed by a representative, they may be carried out by an authorized person. The power of attorney must specify the exact scope of authority, be properly certified, and, if necessary, be apostilled or legalized and translated.
Not in every case. It may be possible to obtain a contractual exemption from additional certification, an apostille, or consular legalization. The decision is made after reviewing the country, the type of document, and the intended use.
You must show a sequential chain from the Ukrainian LLC through all intermediary companies to the individual beneficial owners. For each level, you must verify the name, number, country, ownership stake, and supporting documents.
This is a separate stage. The bank conducts its own review of the company, its owners, its credit history, its authority, and its planned activities. OLVARIS can clarify whether coordination of the banking stage is included in the proposed package, but should not make any promises regarding the bank’s decision.
This issue must be addressed prior to registration, taking into account the labor, immigration, and corporate requirements applicable to the specific individual. This page should not provide a one-size-fits-all answer without a legal review of the current regulations.
Please provide the founder’s country and status, the ownership structure, a description of the business activities, information about the future director, and let us know if you plan to visit in person. After an initial review, the team will be able to determine the format of the consultation, the list of questions, and a personalized checklist.
Are you planning to establish an LLC in Ukraine as a foreign citizen or through a foreign company? Send OLVARIS a brief description of the structure and the country of origin of the documents. Our team will review the initial information, outline a potential remote process, and propose the scope of our support—without making any unconfirmed promises regarding the timeline or outcome.