The relocation bonus, its amounts, and payment conditions

A relocation bonus is a monetary compensation for expenses incurred by service members who are serving under contract, as well as those serving as conscripts or undergoing professional military service in the officer ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service.  It is paid when relocating to another locality for assignment to a military position, admission to higher military educational institutions, higher education institutions with military training departments, and military colleges or training centers (training units) where the training period is six months or more.

Relocation bonuses are paid under the following basic conditions:

• When relocating to a new military duty station in another locality as a result of appointment to a military position or enrollment in training;
• In connection with the relocation of a military unit (subunit), institution, or organization to a different locality.

Amount of the relocation bonus

The relocation bonus is paid in the amount of the service member's monthly service remuneration and 50 percent of the monthly service remuneration for each family member who relocated with them to a new military duty station.

Along with the relocation bonus, the per diem established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for employees on a business trip is paid for each day of travel (hereinafter referred to as the “per diem”) to the service member and each family member who relocated with them.

The payment is made at the new military duty station (place of study) in accordance with the order of the commander (head) of the military unit (military educational institution), specifying the accrued amount of payments.

Categories of service members eligible to receive relocation bonus and per diem:

• Service members enlisted (or called up) for military service on a contractual basis (by conscription of officers) and appointed to positions in military units stationed outside their permanent residence before enlistment (or call-up) for military service.

At the same time, individuals who have been recruited for military service from the reserve and graduated from military colleges or training centers (training units) are entitled to a relocation bonus if, after graduating from these institutions, they are assigned to military units stationed outside their permanent residence before being recruited for military service;

• Service members who graduated from military educational institutions with the conferment of officer ranks and were assigned to positions in other localities (outside their place of study);
• Service members assigned to positions in military units after completing military educational institutions (training centers or units) with a study period of less than six months, either at the locality of the military educational institution (training center or unit) or in other localities (excluding those where they had performed military service before being sent for training);
• Service members who, after being seconded to state bodies, enterprises, institutions, organizations, or general secondary education institutions of any type or form of ownership while remaining in military service, returned to continue their military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and were assigned to positions in military units stationed in localities different from those where they had held positions during the secondment.
• Service members transferred from the permanent station of a military unit to an independent detachment or from one independent detachment to another within the same military unit, provided they are stationed in different localities;
• Service members who have relocated from one locality to another due to their appointment to positions in military units without a designated permanent station are granted a one-time relocation bonus, regardless of any subsequent changes in the unit’s temporary station (including upon military unit arrival to the permanent station).
• Service members who are appointed to positions in another military unit and arrive there while the unit is stationed outside its permanent station are granted a one-time relocation bonus, regardless of any subsequent changes in the unit’s temporary station (including military unit return to the permanent station);
• Service members (including their family members) assigned to crew positions on ships and vessels under construction, relocating as part of these crews from construction sites to permanent stations, or relocating due to ship or vessel repairs, receive payments in accordance with orders issued by the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy;
• Service members from other military formations who have been accepted for further military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including those who have graduated from educational institutions of other military formations, and have been appointed to positions in military units stationed in localities different from those where they previously served or studied;
• Service members who arrived after completing military service or training abroad and were appointed to positions in military units stationed in localities different from the place of military service from which they were sent for service or training abroad.

The right to receive a relocation bonus arises:

• On the date the service member assumes their position and responsibilities – for service members who have relocated to a new military duty station from one locality to another due to appointment to a position;
• On the date of enrollment for training – for service members enrolled in military educational institutions for a period of more than 6 months;
• On the date of arrival at the location designated by the order of the military unit commander – for service members who have relocated to a new military duty station as part of a military unit (subunit) to another locality;
• For family members – on the date the report is submitted for the relocation bonus payment.