Nexia DK & British Business Club in Ukraine invitate you for special English-speaking event for foreigners.

Legal Guide for Foreigners in Ukraine

KRISTINA ONYSHCHENKO

Partner. Legal Services. Nexia DK

Welcoming speech and Presentation of Nexia DK

GLYN THOMAS

General Director. British Business Club in Ukraine

Welcoming speech and Presentation of British Business Club in Ukraine

OUR SPEAKERS WILL TALK ABOUT

ULIANA STETS

Head of the Immigration Law practice in DK-PRAVO, Nexia DK

§  The new rules of foreigners’ stay in Ukraine: how to calculate the allowed term of stay.

Residence permit and family reunion. Grounds of obtaining.

NATALIA FEDYK         

Senior lawyer of the Tax and Labor Law practice in DK-PRAVO, Nexia DK

§  Real estate for foreigners in Ukraine: purchase, rent, taxes.

§  Cars for foreigners in Ukraine.

OLENA VOZNYUK

Partner. Tax and Legal Services, Nexia DK (Kiev office)

§  Tax issues for foreigners. When foreigner acquires the status of tax resident of Ukraine. How to pay taxes correctly.

KATERINA KARTASHOVA

Family doctor of American medical centre

§  Medical assistance program for foreigners from AMC.

DATE:     APRIL 14, 2016 AT 16:00 (registration starts at 15:30) Expected duration: 1,5-2 hours           

PLACE:  Kiev, 8 Illinska str., Business Centre "ILLINSKY"

After the reports and panel discussion, all participants will be able to begin informal communication during the coffee break and wine tasting.

Please confirm your participation with your name, position and state of citizenship no later than April 12, 2016 via sending an email to OlgaDyma@dk.ua or call to: +38 067 310 52 55

Pre-registration is required.

*Arrangement fee is 500 UAH

How to survive in Ukraine without knowing Ukrainian or Russian

Language is the first mystery for those traveling in Ukraine. Without preparation you will not understand a word. Not a lot of signs are in English, not a lot of locals know English. But somehow expats still manage to survive without knowing Ukrainian/Russian at all!

1. Stick to the center

You’re more likely to see street signs and menus in English in the center than in suburbs. There are more English-speaking people in centers of cities too. Also, there’s usually nothing to see in the outskirts, anyway.

2. Phrasebook

Get a good phrasebook with you or download one on your phone. It comes in handy when dealing with older people or people who do not know any English. Usually people really want to help even if they don't understand you.

3. Make friends with English-speaking locals

Get someone speaking English to show you around. With Ukrainian on your side you can get a taste of the city and be safe from scams.

4. Learn to read Cyrillic

Cyrillic can be challenging, but if you’re going to spend some time in Ukraine, it’s worth to learn the alphabet. This way, you’ll understand that PECTOPAH actually means restaurant, and CTOП means STOP.

The Guide to Ukrainian Gift Giving

Ukrainians sure love to give and receive! Even if they don’t have much money, they’ll always bring some chocolates and champagne to a party.

There are some occasions where gifts are expected: if you’re invited to someone’s house, some holidays and when courting a woman.

If you’re invited to someone’s house, it’s polite to bring some wine or liquor, chocolate candy, flowers (depending on the tone of the party). If hosts have kids in the house, bring small toys or candy for them.

There are some occasions when you’re expected to give gifts:

1. New Years Eve. It’s a main gift giving holiday in Ukraine. Ukrainians try to give gifts to all their friends and family. Family receives more expensive gifts, friends can go with cheaper symbolic things.
2. December 19: St Nicholas’ Day. On this day, kids expect candy and small gifts under their pillows. If you’re going to meet a friend’s kid today, bring small gifts for him/her.
3. 8 of March: Women’s Day. Women receive gifts from men and other women from their family. Traditionally, women at work and school are greeted by male coworkers.
4. October 14. Men receive gifts from women in the family and at the workplace.
5. Birthday. It’s simple – give gifts if you’re invited to the birthday party.
6. February 14. Significant others give cards and gifts to each other.

How to Survive in Ukrainian Marshrutka

Marshrutkas are the mini buses that roam the streets of Kyiv. Marshrutkas can be small or on a bigger side, but the principle is the same – it follows the designated route and stops on demand.

How to enter

Marshrutkas stop only on designated bus stops. These buses can skip the stop, so if you see the necessary marshrutka, just flag it down.

Sometimes there are long queues at the starting point. Usually, the queue is for the seats. After all seats are taken, you can enter to stand.

Standing in marshrutka is the art on its own, because the driver is talking on the phone, accepting money and driving at the same time. Better hold tight!

How to pay

Marshrutkas are not expensive at all. This unique commuting experience costs just 2 to 6 hryvnas (0.08 to 0.25$). Everybody pays to the driver. Rarely there is a conductor in the bus. If you’re located far from the driver, ask people to pass the fee ("peredayte pozhaluista"). It’s better to pass the exact sum, because getting a change is a hassle too.

If you sit near the driver, prepare to pass money in both directions all the time.

How to escape

To stop the bus, you need to tell driver the magic words "ostanovite pozhalusta" (stop please). Don’t be afraid to shout! When the bus stops, make your way to the door. Congrats, you just took your first marshrutka ride!

Top 5 Weird Ukrainian Foods

Every country has its own weird food. Find out what Ukrainian dishes are shocking to expats!

1. Salo is a quintessential Ukrainian food but it can be questionable for foreigners. Basically, salo is bacon without any meat – just raw pork fat. It can be pickled, fried, freezed or just eaten raw. It has a weird texture but it’s perfect with vodka or in sandwiches with black bread and some onions.

2. Herring under a Fur Coat. This traditional Soviet dish includes pickled herring, beets, potatoes, carrots and a lot of mayonnaise. Ingredients are placed in layers, and every layer is coated with mayo. Sounds disgusting? Well, it won’t hurt to try it!

3. Kholodets. It’s a meaty jello with garlic and pieces of said meat inside. Kholodets is made by boiling meat stock for a whole day and then leaving it in a cold place. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s really interesting.

4. Krovyanka. Literally translated as a “bloody sausage”. When Ukrainians slaughter a pig, they drain its blood and mix it with cooked buckwheat. Then it’s stuffed in a large intestine of a pig and cooked in an oven for a 30 min — 1 hour. Enjoy your bloody feast!

5. Vinegret. Cooked beans, beets, carrots and other vegetables with sunflower oil and mustard dressing. A staple vegetarian salad for any Ukrainian during the winter, when there are no fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Looks not really good, but tastes ok.

Baby names for a multicultural / expat family in Ukraine

Choosing a name for a baby is a hard task itself. Basically, you’re naming a human who haven’t been born yet! In a multicultural and/or expat family it could be even harder. 

Expat parents often feel the need to include multiple cultures in the name and make it sound good to the people of the country where they actually live. Sometimes a chosen name can represent something funny or even offensive in another language, so, if you’re planning for a baby abroad, it’s better to be careful!

There are no naming laws in Ukraine. It means you can choose almost any name in the world! But, here are some tips to do it right:

1.  Try to choose an international-sounding name. Some names are recognized in most of the world. Names like Maria, Anna, and Sofia may not be very original but it’s hard to vandalize their pronunciation. Parents just need to deal with the fact that every language has their version of the name (for example: Mary, Mariya, Masha etc.)
2. There are no second names in Ukraine. If you want a second name for your child, it has to be hyphenated, like Anna-Maria.
3. Ukrainian people usually have paternal names (like Mykhaylovych, Ivanovna). If you don’t want your child to have a paternal name, you can refuse it during the baby’s registration.
4. Try not to use sounds that Slavic people cannot pronounce. For example, too many vowels or the sound “th”. Names like Heather, Ethan, Hugh, Vaughn are really hard to pronounce for Ukrainians and they might be confused about it.
5. Try not to use names that sound like something from Ukrainian or Russian language. For example, the name Portia means “food ration” in Ukrainian. Misha is a popular girl name in the US, but in Ukrainian and Russian it’s strictly men’s diminutive name.

And, the last but not the least, remember: it’s impossible to please everybody. In the end, just forget all the rules, pick the name you like and be happy!

How to blend in with Ukrainians

Most of the time, people are able to tell if you're a tourist or an expat in Ukraine. But there are some ways to blend in. 

1. First of all: Do. Not. Smile. If you’re walking down the street, or if you’re sitting in a café, or if you’re riding metro train… Ukrainians are known not to smile in public places. Especially if they’re alone. There is a saying in Ukrainian: “The smart one is crying, the dumb one is laughing”. So, if you want to blend with the crowd, just put on your angry face and walk down the street looking as if you’re burdened with all of the world’s problems. That will do.

2. Do not engage in a conversation on the street. In big cities, people start conversations on the street only in two cases: either asking for directions or wanting to scam you/preach some religion. If you need to ask for directions, it’s fine, people will sincerely try to help, even if they do not speak English. But any other conversation is taken with great suspicion.

3. If you chose to drive, just forget all the rules. Lanes are nonexistent, as well as traffic lights. Treat speed limits as a suggestion. Give pedestrians an angry honk if they cross the road too slowly. In other words, have fun!

4. Get used to the greeting culture. If a man enters the group of men and women, he will shake hands with all the guys in the room, and nod to girls (or kiss them on the cheek). Women do not shake hands, typically they kiss on the cheek. You might find it sexist, but that’s how it goes.

5. Follow the dress code. For men: clean-cut haircuts. Wear dark clothes and a leather jacket. Never wear shorts. Look either as a pimp or wear a tracksuit.

6. For women: treat the street like a catwalk, both in dress and an attitude. Look your best every day, wear eyeliner and tight clothes. Get on your angry face, look straight through the people and walk really fast on your heels (or expensive sneakers!). Hair dye is preferred – blonde, bright red or raven black.

7. The last but not the least, the ultimate blending in tip: wear something patriotic. A tiny Ukrainian flag ribbon, a T-shirt with Ukrainian trident, anything with blue and yellow colours. You’ll be instantly recognised as an inside man (or woman).