The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) announced what it called a large package of eased currency restrictions on Sunday, with the changes set to take effect from August 11. The central bank said the package is primarily aimed at supporting individuals, though it also includes what it described as important changes for businesses and the financial sector.
The NBU said the easing would not create risks to the stability of the currency market, citing favorable conditions and careful analysis of each measure. The bank said the liberalization package has already been factored into its updated macroeconomic forecast, which projects international reserves growing to nearly $70 billion in 2026.
Changes for individuals
The monthly limit on non-cash purchases of foreign currency will rise fourfold, from 50,000 to 200,000 hryvnias per calendar month. The list of eligible transactions within that limit is also expanding to include non-cash bank metals and securities issued by foreign issuers, not just currency itself. The NBU said the change is meant to develop investment culture in the country, while it continues efforts to keep hryvnia-denominated assets such as deposits and domestic government bonds attractive.
The daily limit on cash withdrawals from currency accounts, both in Ukraine and abroad, will rise from 100,000 to 200,000 hryvnias. The NBU said the gradual easing would support Ukrainian migrants as well as trust in the banking system.
Ukrainians will also get more room to pay for goods, works and services abroad from hryvnia accounts, with that monthly limit rising from 100,000 to 200,000 hryvnias in equivalent. The limit will also cover rent payments for housing abroad, and payments can now be made through account-to-account transfers, such as SWIFT, in addition to cards, with the bank purchasing currency on the client's instruction beforehand.
A separate monthly limit of 200,000 hryvnias will apply to payments for goods and services abroad made via transfers from a currency account to a recipient's account, adding to the existing option of unlimited payments abroad using currency cards. And the existing 500,000-hryvnia monthly limit for paying accommodation costs abroad from a currency card will now also cover rental housing payments, and can be made via account transfers as well as cards.
Changes for businesses
To boost business activity, the NBU is raising cash withdrawal limits for legal entities. The limit on withdrawals from hryvnia accounts in Ukraine rises from 100,000 to 200,000 hryvnias. For hryvnia corporate cards used abroad, the limit changes from 17,500 hryvnias per week to 140,000 hryvnias per calendar month, while the limit for currency accounts in Ukraine and abroad rises from 100,000 to 200,000 hryvnias.
The limit for paying for goods, works and services abroad using hryvnia corporate cards will rise from 150,000 to 400,000 hryvnias. Businesses will continue to be allowed unlimited payments of this kind from currency corporate cards.
The NBU is also introducing an additional limit alongside the existing donation limit for companies supporting Ukraine's military. The donation limit equals the amount a company has transferred since August 7, 2025 to the NBU's special account supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new additional limit will be based on direct charitable contributions made since August 10, 2026 to military units of the Armed Forces and the National Guard. Businesses will be able to carry out extra currency operations, including transfers abroad, beyond standard limits, based on the amount they have contributed to the military, provided the contributions are confirmed by an audit report from one of the Big Four firms, Deloitte, PwC, EY or KPMG, along with supporting documents.
Companies will also be allowed to transfer their investment and additional limits, or part of them, to other legal entities within the same business group. The NBU noted that the investment limit equals the volume of foreign currency funds raised from abroad into a company's statutory capital since May 12, 2025.
Separately, the NBU will let Ukrainian exporters pay fines, penalties, bonuses and compensation for costs and damages to non-resident counterparties under goods export contracts. Such transfers must not exceed 10% per calendar year of the total value of goods delivered to the non-resident under contracts signed after February 23, 2021. The NBU said the change would help boost trust in Ukrainian exporters.
Changes for the financial sector
The NBU will allow the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau to buy foreign currency to place funds from its centralized insurance reserve fund, so it can meet obligations under international Green Card motor insurance agreements. The NBU said this would minimize currency risks for the bureau and insurers and support the availability of international motor insurance in Ukraine.
Banks will gradually be allowed to include, in their currency position calculations, a portion of reserves set aside for active operations that is currently excluded. This is the only measure that will not take effect on August 11, coming into force instead on September 1, 2026, to give the NBU and banks time to prepare. The central bank said the change would support financial stability by restoring banks' ability to fully manage currency risk and would support lending and other active foreign-currency operations.
Banks will also be allowed to return funds to a non-resident that were raised as capital instruments, if the NBU refuses to count those funds toward the bank's capital. The NBU said this easing would help boost foreign investors' trust and encourage further inflows of funds into Ukraine.
