It was created in the process of Catherine's reforms initiated by edict of November 7, 1775.

On September 16, 1781, an edict was issued to transform the governorate into a viceroyalty,[1][2][3][4] with the effective date of January 9, 1782.

[2] The viceroyalty was subdivided into the following counties (uyezds):[2] Note that some sources state that the towns of Khorol and Gorodishche were included without their districts.

In 1791, the Kiev Viceroyalty was subdivided into ten okrugs,[2] and in early 1790s additional districts (uyezds) of Bohuslav, Gadyach, Kaniv, Zinkiv, Korsun, and Lokhvytsia were added.

According to the description, Archangel Michael was to be dressed in silver holding up an aglow sword, depicted on an azure shield.