Self-employed from the age of 16: how teenagers can legally open a business in Ukraine

In Ukraine, citizens who have reached the age of 16 can officially register as individual entrepreneurs. This right is provided for by the Civil Code of Ukraine and opens up the opportunity for minors to run their own business on legal grounds.

Legal basis: full legal capacity from the age of 16

The key norm is Article 35 of the Civil Code, which allows granting a minor full legal capacity if they intend to engage in entrepreneurial activity. This means that a teenager can conclude contracts, conduct financial activities and bear responsibility as an entrepreneur.

Mandatory condition: parental consent

To obtain the status of an individual entrepreneur, a teenager must have the written consent of their legal representatives – parents, adoptive parents or guardian. In their absence, such consent can be provided by the guardianship and trusteeship body.

It is important that this document must be notarized – without it, state registration of entrepreneurial activity is impossible.

How is registration done

After receiving consent, a teenager can submit documents for registration:

through the state registrar;
or online using Diya.

The main document is an application for state registration of an individual entrepreneur. In it, you can also immediately choose a taxation system or register as a VAT payer.