Reservation of employees via Diia City

Reservation of IT specialists through Diia City: obtaining the status of a critically important enterprise, setting up military registration, and legal protection of the team.

Under martial law, residency in Diia City has become one of the most effective tools for protecting an IT team from mobilization. However, it is important to understand: the status of a Diia City resident does not grant an automatic right to reservation. It is only a legal springboard for obtaining the status of a critically important enterprise for the economy of Ukraine.

The Prikhodko & Partners law firm offers a systematic approach. We do not just form lists, but build a security architecture: from auditing the personnel structure (transferring key persons to employment contracts) to setting up military registration and successfully coordinating the deferment in the relevant ministries.

Mykola Sirenko

Lawyer

Phone numbers:

+38 (073) 007-44-10

What does comprehensive legal support include and what is its cost?

We do not limit ourselves only to submitting an application for residency. Our goal is to build a stable business model that will allow you to receive tax benefits and proceed to reserving the team. The process is divided into three key stages:

STAGE 1: Analysis and preparation

10,000 UAH

Before submitting documents, we must ensure that the company is ready for new requirements. We assess real readiness and identify risks.

✓corporate structure audit;

✓verification of HR and tax models;

✓compliance assessment;

✓identification and mitigation of risks.

STAGE 2: Diia.City status

20,000 UAH

We take over all bureaucratic and legal interaction with government agencies to officially obtain residency.

✓preparation of the document package;

✓submission of the application to the Ministry of Digital Transformation;

✓support in obtaining the status;

✓recommendations for maintaining the status.

STAGE 3: Criticality status

90,000 UAH

A step to protect key specialists and ensure the stable operation of your business.

✓formation of compliance with criteria;

✓preparation of the document package;

✓interaction with relevant authorities;

✓support for reserving employees.

Note: The final cost depends on the chosen path and business structure. State fees are paid separately.

How to enter Diia City: Standard vs. Startup model

The legislation provides two ways to acquire residency. Depending on the age of your company and current financial turnover, we select the optimal entry model that minimizes regulatory pressure at the start.

Path A: Standard model

For an established and stable business

✓Full compliance with criteria: the need to have at least 9 specialists with an average remuneration of €1200+ from day one;

✓Operating expenses: higher at the start due to the need to maintain the payroll fund at a given level;

✓Regulatory pressure: minimal, since the company already meets all legal requirements.

Path B: Startup model

For new or scaling companies

✓Simplified entry: absence of strict requirements for the number of team members at the start;

✓Limitations: available only for companies registered no earlier than 24 months before submitting the application, with an annual income limit;

✓Regulatory pressure: additional control by the state regarding the fulfillment of indicators in the future.

“The main mistake of many IT companies is trying to enter Diia City just for the ‘badge’, without adapting internal processes. We analyze the business before submitting the application: we check NACE codes, income structure (so that 90%+ is specifically from IT activities), and calculate the financial model. If you enter unprepared, the company will simply lose its status on the very first report.”

Stages of cooperation: from the first audit to the reserved team

1

Audit and preparation of the personnel base

We analyze the staff, set up military registration, and help transfer key specialists to employment contracts (Labor Code).

2

Obtaining Diia City resident status

We form a legally flawless package of documents and fully support the process of submitting the application to the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

3

Obtaining criticality status

We prepare the economic justification and support the application in the ministries for official recognition of the enterprise as critically important.

4

Reservation of IT specialists

We submit lists of employees liable for military service and provide full legal support until a deferment is obtained.

Build reliable protection for your team and business

Learn how to properly adapt the company's structure to the requirements of Diia City and legally protect key specialists.

Mykola Sirenko

Lawyer

A leading specialist in military-legal business support. Specializes in business structuring, obtaining the status of a critically important enterprise, implementing turnkey military registration, and reserving IT teams.

Why companies are denied reservations (Risks)

The practice of supporting Diia City residents shows that problems arise due to fragmented preparation. Key risks:

Violation of military registration: The absence of orders, outdated employee data in the TRC, or failure to keep relevant logs leads to a 100% refusal.
A formal approach to justification: The company must economically and legally prove that the mobilization of a specific person will lead to a halt in activities or failure to fulfill obligations to the state/Western counterparties.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): The employee must not have a scarce MOS that is not subject to reservation.
Urgency of the deferment: Reservation is granted for a specific period (usually up to 6 months). Missed the deadline to apply for an extension — the employee loses protection.

Frequently asked questions

Does Diia City resident status guarantee 100% reservation of all employees?

No. The status of a Diia City resident does not provide automatic reservation. It is just one of the key criteria that significantly simplifies the company’s receipt of the “Critically important enterprise” status. Besides residency, the company must set up military registration and comply with limits on the number of reserved people.

Is it possible to reserve specialists who work under gig contracts or as Sole Proprietors (FOP)?

No. According to the current legislation of Ukraine, only persons officially employed under a classic employment contract (according to the Labor Code) are subject to reservation. A gig contract is a form of civil law relations.

What percentage of the IT team can realistically be reserved?

As a general rule, a company can reserve up to 50% of the total number of employees liable for military service who are on its staff at the time the lists are submitted. In exceptional cases, subject to proper justification, this percentage may be increased, but in practice, the Ministry of Digital Transformation strictly adheres to the 50% limit.

Our clients

Our awards

TOP-100 "European Quality"

Among business representatives from Eastern Europe and the Black Sea-Caspian region

TOP-20 law firms in Kyiv according to the Ukrainian Business Award rating

Law firm "Prykhodko & Partners" received recognition and an honorable place in the ranking

Forbes NEXT 250

In 2024, the Law Firm "Prykhodko and Partners" was included in the list of 250 most promising small and medium-sized companies in Ukraine according to Forbes

EBA Member

We are member of the European Business Association

Leave a request. Our lawyer will analyze your current personnel structure, the state of military registration, and develop a step-by-step plan for obtaining a reservation.

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