Veterinary practice licensing: what’s changing from 2026 and what businesses need to do

The veterinary services market in Ukraine is gradually moving toward clearer regulatory rules. The government has adopted changes that directly affect everyone who provides medical care to animals — from private veterinarians to large clinics.

By Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 98, amendments were made to Appendix 2 of Resolution No. 314. As a result, veterinary practice has officially been included in the list of licensed types of economic activity.

This means that from January 31, 2026, it will no longer be possible to operate solely on the basis of a declaration. All business entities that provide veterinary services must obtain a full license to conduct veterinary practice.

For businesses, this is an important change: now legal operation in the market is possible only after completing the licensing procedure and confirming compliance with established requirements.

What exactly has changed for the veterinary business

Before these changes were introduced, some veterinary specialists could start their activities under a simplified procedure — by submitting a declaration. This approach was a temporary solution introduced to support businesses in difficult conditions.

Now the state is returning to the standard control system, where any veterinary practice is subject to mandatory licensing.

Transition period for those working under a declaration

For entrepreneurs who are already providing veterinary services based on a declaration, the government has provided a transition period.

Such business entities must submit an application for a license by April 30, 2026. By this date, all documents must be prepared and submitted to the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

If this is not done within the specified time frame, further veterinary activity will be considered illegal.

Why a veterinary practice license is important for business

For owners of veterinary clinics and entrepreneur veterinarians, a license is not a formality. It is a permit confirming that the activity complies with legal requirements and professional standards.

Having a license means that:

• specialists have the appropriate education and qualifications;
• the facility complies with established sanitary and technical requirements;
• the activity is carried out under state supervision;
• clients can be confident in the professionalism of veterinary care.

In modern conditions, pet owners pay significant attention to the quality of medical services for their animals. Therefore, legal activity and the availability of a license often become an important competitive advantage for a business.

What to pay attention to before submitting documents

Before submitting an application for a license, it is advisable to conduct an internal review of the business activity.

First of all, it is necessary to check whether the material and technical base complies with licensing requirements. This includes equipment, premises, and working conditions of the veterinary facility. The premises must comply with sanitary standards and be properly equipped to provide veterinary care.

The facility must also have appropriate functional areas organized — examination rooms, treatment rooms, or procedure rooms, depending on the format of the activity.

It is also necessary to ensure that all specialists have documents confirming their education and qualifications in the specialty “Veterinary Medicine”.

Only after this can you proceed to preparing the package of documents for submission to the licensing authority.

How long it takes to obtain a license

After submitting the full package of documents, the licensing authority has up to 10 working days to make a decision on issuing the license or refusing it.

Typical mistakes when applying for a license

Most often, problems arise due to an incomplete package of documents or incorrect completion of applications and information forms.

Another common reason for refusal is the non-compliance of the premises with established requirements or the absence of documents confirming the qualifications of the staff.

Even minor inaccuracies may result in the licensing authority leaving the application without consideration and requiring corrections to the documents or even refusing to issue the license.

Legal support for obtaining a veterinary practice license

For entrepreneurs who do not want to spend time studying legislative requirements and bureaucratic procedures, professional legal support is the optimal solution.

The law firm “Prikhodko & Partners” has significant experience in licensing medical and veterinary businesses. We support clients at all stages — from the initial analysis of documents to obtaining the license.

Our specialists will help prepare the necessary package of documents, properly submit them to the licensing authority, check compliance with licensing conditions, and ensure proper interaction with the licensing authority.

If you need to obtain a veterinary practice license or bring your activities into compliance with the new requirements, contact our lawyers — we will help you complete the procedure quickly and without unnecessary risks.