Retail license under new rules

In 2024, Law No. 3817 came into effect, regulating not only the production and sale of licensed goods but also establishing a new procedure for obtaining licenses, their cost, and grounds for termination.

Who Can Obtain a License from January 1, 2025?

From January 2025, only entrepreneurs who meet certain criteria will be eligible for a permit for retail trade or the production of tobacco products or alcoholic beverages.

The following requirements remain unchanged:

• Mandatory registration as a sole proprietor or legal entity;

• Tax registration;

• Submission of a declaration of taxable objects;

• Availability of an ECR/software ECR at the point of sale.

A new condition introduced is mandatory electronic identification of the entrepreneur. This simplifies interactions with partners, including European businesses. To conduct business through an electronic service, registration of a personal account and a qualified electronic signature is required.

Through the personal account, an application can be submitted to obtain a business license.

How to Obtain a License Automatically?

Starting this year, licenses for retail trade of tobacco, alcohol, or fuel storage can be obtained automatically.

To qualify, an entrepreneur must meet the following conditions:

• Mandatory registration and tax registration;

• Selection of the appropriate taxation form;

• No sanctions under the National Security and Defense Council’s decisions;

• No business ties with the aggressor country;

• No valid license for the same type of business activity;

• All tax debts must be settled;

• Have an electronic account in the entrepreneur identification system.

To obtain a license, an application must be submitted to the tax office. This can be done in person at the place of business registration or via the electronic services portal.

The tax office will review the application and verify the provided information. Depending on whether the entrepreneur meets the necessary conditions, the tax service will issue one of the following decisions:

• Denial of the license due to non-compliance with the requirements;

• Issuance of the license automatically;

• Denial of automatic approval and initiation of the standard licensing process.

If the tax office issues a license, all data will be entered into the Unified License Registry. The entrepreneur can obtain an extract from this registry.

License Cost

The annual fee for licensing documents depends on the minimum wage set as of January 1, 2025, which is UAH 8,000. Based on this, the following licensing fees for retail trade are set:

Licenses are issued indefinitely.

Payments can be made quarterly, split into equal installments. The first payment must be made before obtaining the license. The payment receipt must be provided to the licensing authority.

This can also be done through the personal electronic account on the government services portal. Additionally, the licensing authority will send electronic notifications regarding the next payment deadline a few days before the due date.

How to Obtain a Construction License During Wartime?

To obtain a construction activity license, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Economy. This can be done through:

• Administrative Service Centers (CNAP) — in paper form;

• The Diia portal — in electronic form.

There is no need to wait for the application review result. Since 2025, a new declarative licensing principle has been in effect, allowing entrepreneurs to start operations immediately after submitting the declaration.

However, the declaration must be correctly completed, particularly regarding the correct classification of business activities.

It is important to note that this licensing process is temporary and was introduced for the duration of martial law. Once martial law is lifted, businesses will need to apply for a permanent license.

Declarative Licensing Principle

Law No. 3869 allows for a temporary business license under the declarative principle. This means that an entrepreneur can submit a declaration indicating their type of business, industry code (KVED), etc. This document will serve as an official permit or license.

Previously obtained licenses remain valid under this law.

These changes are implemented only for the duration of martial law to simplify business operations.

Additionally, planned inspections for licensing and permits will be suspended until the end of martial law.