Background check in Ukraine

What are the benefits of background checks in Ukraine?

A thorough evaluation of a candidate’s experience, education, and character helps your organization avoid potential issues such as liability and negligent hiring claims. Even though an employee might look impressive on paper, completing a check of their past will help your business protect itself against potential compliance issues in the future.

Background checks in Ukraine can also provide additional insight into a candidate’s character traits, such as their commitment and level of responsibility. An extensive review can help identify candidates with a proven track record of reliable work performance.

Other types of background checks, like those focused on finances or health, will determine if a potential candidate is fit to perform a specific type of job.

What are the types of background checks in Ukraine?

Ukraine has strict laws regarding background checks for nationals and relocating employees. The country limits the information that can be gathered during a background check to protect its citizens from unlawful hiring practices.

The only way for employers to perform a background check on an employee in Ukraine is with their consent. You must first inform the employee that you would like to perform a check and then obtain their written permission to do so.

Even if you gain the permission of your prospective employee, the type of information you can gather is severely limited due to data protection and privacy laws in Ukraine. Also, if the job position requires specific capabilities that only a background check can verify, you can complete the check. For example, if you are hiring an individual to run internet cables in Ukraine, they must be physically capable of performing the job and a medical background check will be necessary.

Below is a look at the various types of background checks you can perform and the Ukranian policies involving each one.

Criminal record check in Ukraine

A criminal record in Ukraine is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and sheds light on any previous convictions or criminal cases regarding your candidate. You'll get a full look at any driving violations or traffic incidents as well as any warrants that might have been issued to your candidate. 

Employment history check

It's customary for any application to include a review of your candidate’s previous employers. This will ensure that all the details provided in their CV are accurate and up-to-date. While you will still need to get the consent of your candidate before moving forward, you can reach out to past employers on the candidate's application to determine whether the information they've claimed is correct. You'll also be able to ask about their previous job performance and how they interacted with other staff members.

Medical screening

A medical screening will help you determine if the employee is capable of physically performing the job they are hired for. This type of background check in Ukraine typically includes a physical exam along with general blood tests. Anytime you are hiring an employee for a physical labor job or one that requires exposure to extreme weather conditions, a medical screening check is a precautionary measure.

Credit history check

If your organization manages client finances or requires its employees to handle large sums of money, it's prudent to know their credit history. This will give you an insight into how responsible the candidate is with money and any potential financial issues that could arise. It's important to get the consent of your candidate before performing a credit check as this is considered confidential information in Ukraine.

Education history

Another common addition to an application is a candidate's previous education accomplishments. Degrees, certifications, or any other training courses can tell you a great deal about the work ethic, skills, and knowledge of your applicant. An education background check will help you to verify if the candidate has exaggerated their accomplishments or if it is as impressive as it looks.

Social media check

Like all other background checks performed in Ukraine, you must get clearance from the candidate before performing any kind of social media check. Digging into their social profiles, feeds, pictures, and other media is a violation of the candidate's rights according to Ukrainian law. Employers will be tempted to dig into a candidate's social media profile since there are few barriers to finding the information. You need to refrain from doing so even if you believe your candidate won't find out.

Requirements for background check in Ukraine

Performing a background check in Ukraine will help you understand if a candidate is telling the truth and if they will be able to handle their job responsibilities. But, your business won't be able to conduct a background check without the candidate's expressed consent. This is the most important requirement of any other involved in the background check process.

Other requirements for performing a background may include but are not limited to

• Proof of citizenship in Ukraine
• Proof of residence in Ukraine
• Copies of degrees, certifications, mark sheets, or other educational qualifications
• Date of birth
• Full legal name
• Financial documents like bank account disclosing debts, loans, mortgages, etc.
• References from previous employers

Steps in conducting a background check in Ukraine

To perform a background check in Ukraine, you need to follow all the local laws and regulations. Below are the steps required for conducting a background check.

• Conduct the interview with the candidate
• Explicitly ask permission from the candidate to perform a background check (make sure to state the specific types of background checks you will perform and the type of data you are looking to gather)
• Gather all documents required for the background check
• Criminal background checks will be filed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. All other background checks will be delegated to appropriate sources. i.e. employment history checks will be sourced from previous employers

Are employee background checks legal in Ukraine?

Yes, you may perform a background check in Ukraine for any national candidate or Ukrainian citizen now residing elsewhere, provided they give express permission to perform the background check. The type of information you can gather is restricted based on privacy and data protection laws. If the candidate declines a background check, you are not allowed to perform any further research on the candidate including social media checks.

Planning to hire in Ukraine? Here’s how Skuad can help

Digging through the past history of a candidate as well as gathering and filing the proper forms takes a significant amount of time and effort. The protective laws of Ukraine make the process even more difficult and put unnecessary liability and risk on your company. So we do background checks when you partner with Skuad for EOR to ensure 100% compliance with all Ukrainian laws.

We can help you through the entire background check process as your Employer of Record and provide a comprehensive background check solution that covers all aspects of pre-employment screening In Ukraine.

‍Hiring talent in Ukraine requires the employer to check the potential employee’s criminal, financial, and past employment records. With Skuad, you can properly vet employees and build globally-distributed teams easily. To know more, talk to our experts today!

FAQs

1. How do I get a criminal record check in Ukraine?

You will first have to get permission from the candidate to perform the criminal record check and then gather all appropriate documents and file them with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

2. How do I do a background check on someone outside the U.S.?

Because there is no central database that gathers global information for all citizens, the process is complex. You'll need to research the restrictions from the country your candidate resides in and find the correct organizations to reach out to for information.

3. What is an international criminal background check?

An international criminal background check will expose previous criminal offenses, arrests, warrants, and other illegal activities that the candidate has been involved in. The type of information is available will depend on the country.