(KYIV, UKRAINE) – The National Bank of Ukraine introduced a large package of currency restriction relaxations from 11 August 2026, with the main focus on supporting households alongside important changes for businesses and the financial sector. The regulator said the measures do not create risks for exchange rate stability, given that preconditions are in place and each step has been carefully analysed.
The currency liberalisation package is already factored into the central bank’s updated macroeconomic forecast, which projects international reserves growing to nearly 70 billion US dollars in 2026. At current exchange rates, 70 billion dollars is equivalent to approximately 54.8 billion British pounds and 63.6 billion euros.
For individuals, the monthly limit on purchasing non cash foreign currency rises to 200,000 Ukrainian hryvnia per calendar month, up from 50,000 hryvnia. The 200,000 hryvnia limit is equal to roughly 4,460 US dollars, 3,490 British pounds and 3,860 euros. The range of permitted operations within this limit also expands to include non cash bank metals and securities issued by foreign entities. The central bank said the changes aim to develop an investment culture and increase opportunities for households to place funds in investment assets, while noting that it will continue efforts to maintain the appeal of hryvnia assets such as deposits and domestic government bonds.
The daily limit on cash withdrawals from foreign currency accounts in Ukraine and abroad doubles to 200,000 hryvnia, up from 100,000 hryvnia. The 200,000 hryvnia equates to about 4,460 dollars, 3,490 pounds and 3,860 euros. The central bank said the gradual easing of this restriction will support Ukrainian migrants and confidence in the banking system.
The National Bank is also expanding the ability of citizens to pay for goods, works and services abroad from hryvnia accounts. The monthly limit increases to the equivalent of 200,000 hryvnia (4,460 dollars, 3,490 pounds, 3,860 euros) from 100,000 hryvnia. Within this limit, individuals may also pay for rent abroad. Payments can be made not only by card but also via transfers from account to account, including through the SWIFT system, with the bank purchasing foreign currency on the client’s instruction.
A new facility allows individuals to pay for goods, works and services abroad by transferring funds from foreign currency accounts to recipient accounts, for example via SWIFT, in addition to the existing option of unlimited payments using foreign currency cards, subject to certain exceptions. A separate monthly limit of 200,000 hryvnia (4,460 dollars, 3,490 pounds, 3,860 euros) applies to such operations.
The monthly limit of 500,000 hryvnia for paying for accommodation services abroad with a foreign currency card is extended to cover rental payments abroad. This sum equals roughly 11,150 dollars, 8,730 pounds and 9,640 euros. Within this limit, payments may also be made via transfers from foreign currency accounts to recipient accounts, including through SWIFT.
For legal entities, the daily limit on cash withdrawals from hryvnia accounts within Ukraine rises to 200,000 hryvnia (4,460 dollars, 3,490 pounds, 3,860 euros) from 100,000 hryvnia. The monthly limit on cash withdrawals using hryvnia corporate cards abroad increases to 140,000 hryvnia (3,120 dollars, 2,440 pounds, 2,700 euros), replacing a previous weekly limit of 17,500 hryvnia. The daily limit on cash withdrawals from foreign currency accounts in Ukraine and abroad also rises to 200,000 hryvnia from 100,000 hryvnia.
The monthly limit on payments for goods, works and services abroad using hryvnia corporate cards is raised to 400,000 hryvnia (8,920 dollars, 6,980 pounds, 7,720 euros) from 150,000 hryvnia. Businesses may continue to make such payments without limits using foreign currency corporate cards.
To encourage capital inflows and strengthen defence capacity, the central bank is introducing an additional limit alongside the existing donation limit. While the donation limit equals the sum transferred by a Ukrainian company to the National Bank’s special account for the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 7 August 2025, the new additional limit will be formed from direct charitable contributions made from 10 August 2026 to military units of the Armed Forces and the National Guard. Contributions must be confirmed by an audit report from one of the big four firms and relevant documents. Companies will also be able to transfer their investment limit and additional limit, or part of them, to other legal entities within the same business group. The investment limit equals the volume of funds raised from abroad in foreign currency as charter capital since 12 May 2025.
Ukrainian exporters will be permitted to pay fines, penalties, bonuses and compensation for costs and losses to non resident counterparties under goods export contracts. The annual sum of such transfers may not exceed 10 percent of the total value of goods supplied to the non resident under the relevant contracts after 23 February 2021. The change is intended to boost trust in Ukrainian exporters.
For the financial sector, the Motor Transport Insurance Bureau of Ukraine will be allowed to purchase foreign currency to place funds from the centralised insurance reserve fund for meeting obligations under international Green Card motor insurance agreements. Banks will also be permitted to gradually include, when calculating their foreign exchange position, the portion of reserves formed for active operations that is currently excluded. This is the only change that takes effect from 1 September 2026 rather than 11 August, due to the need for preparatory work by both the central bank and commercial banks.
The National Bank previously introduced a set of currency relaxations on 25 April 2026, including simplified foreign currency purchasing procedures for defence enterprises.