Ukraine temporarily raises civil servants’ age limit to 70

The Verkhovna Rada has temporarily raised the age limit for civil servants and local government officials by five years, to 70, for the duration of martial law and for two years after its termination. The amendment was adopted as part of draft law No. 13574, receiving 243 votes in favor from MPs.

"Given that, under martial law, young people serving in the Armed Forces are not always available for civil service, there is a category of individuals who can effectively perform their duties even at the age of 70," said Fyodor Venislavsky, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence.

Part four of Article 83 of Ukraine’s Law "On Civil Service" now allows a civil servant to remain in service beyond the age of 65, with the consent of the appointing authority, if it is required by service needs.

The appointing authority makes the decision to extend a civil servant’s term annually, but in no case beyond the age of 70.

• Almost 80% of civil servants believe their pay is too low. At the same time, in 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law reforming civil servants’ remuneration based on job classification. The reform divides pay into fixed components (base salary, seniority allowance, and rank allowance) and variable components (bonuses).