An unexpected ranking: foreigners from which farthest countries came to Ukraine in 2023?
Even under martial law, Ukraine continues to welcome foreign visitors and tourists from all over the world. Find out which of the most unexpected places foreigners came to Ukraine from this year
Despite the fact that the skies over Ukraine remain closed due to russia's armed aggression, the country's land borders are open to anyone who wants to get to know Ukraine, its culture, history and hospitality. Thus, according to official statistics from the State Border Guard Service, provided at the request of Visit Ukraine, more than 1.3 million foreigners visited Ukraine in the first half of 2023 alone, with more than half a million of them coming from Moldova.
Earlier, we talked about the top 30 countries whose citizens came to Ukraine most often in 2023, but who were the most unexpected guests and why did foreigners from very distant countries come to Ukraine?
Rating of the most unexpected countries from which people came to Ukraine in 2023
It's hard to imagine, but even despite the full-scale invasion of russia, a considerable number of foreigners from the most remote corners of the planet cross half the globe to visit Ukraine.
Thus, according to statistics obtained from the administration of the State Border Guard Service, the top 25 most unexpected countries from which foreigners came to Ukraine from January to August 2023 included:
1. Vietnam - 1,095 foreigners (including: 897 people visited Ukraine for private purposes, 35 - entered as vehicle service personnel; 163 - people transiting Ukraine)
2. Iraq - 601 (540 - private purpose; 0 - OPTZ; 61 - transit)
3. Brazil - 583 (578 - PM; 0 - OPTZ; 5 - T)
4. Colombia - 517 (509; 0; 8)
5. Macedonia - 496 (485; 0; 11)
6. Morocco - 478 (443; 7; 28)
7. Jordan - 456 (402; 36; 18)
8. Madagascar - 384 (0; 0; 384)
9. Bosnia and Herzegovina - 375 (367; 4; 4)
10. Iran - 367 (347; 3; 17)
11. Albania - 337 (234; 71; 32)
12. Argentina - 227 (222; 0; 5)
13. New Zealand - 217 (217; 0; 0)
14. Jamaica - 211 (211; 0; 0)
15. Ecuador - 208 (205; 0; 3)
16. Palestine - 182 (170; 4; 8)
17. Mexico - 129 (120; 0; 9)
18. Ethiopia - 122 (98; 24; 0)
19. Iceland - 119 (119; 0; 0)
20. Kenya - 113 (109; 3; 1)
21. Luxembourg - 105 (98; 0; 7)
22. Bangladesh - 95 (74; 20; 1)
23. North Korea (DPRK) - 49 (49; 0; 0)
24. Venezuela - 48 (43; 4; 1)
25. Hong Kong - 48 (48; 0; 0)
In addition, in the first half of 2023, Ukraine was visited by: 40 foreigners from Zimbabwe, 38 from Cuba and the UAE, 34 from Yemen and Zambia, 29 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 26 from Singapore, 24 from Honduras, 20 from Uruguay, 16 from Tanzania, 13 from the Dominican Republic, 11 from Guatemala, 10 from Costa Rica, 8 from Eritrea, 7 from Haiti, 6 from Liechtenstein and Guinea, 5 from Somalia, and 1 from Cambodia.
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Entering Ukraine during the war: convenient routes and compulsory insurance
In order to make border crossing as convenient and fast as possible, we recommend checking the workload of checkpoints in advance and choosing the checkpoint with the shortest queues. Read more about how to do this here.
You can check timetables, compare prices, and buy train, bus, or plane tickets to Ukraine and between cities around the world here. Visit Ukraine has a bonus points system that allows you to travel much cheaper. Read more about the benefits of our ticket booking service here.
Please note! The Visit Ukraine portal offers the most convenient routes to Ukraine from many countries around the world. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get to Ukraine, choose the country you need and follow the link.
How to get to Ukraine from:
USA ● Canada ● Poland ● Germany ● Slovakia ● Hungary ● Italy ● France ● Netherlands ● Czech Republic ● Lithuania ● Switzerland ● Sweden ● Turkey ● Austria ● Denmark ● Portugal ● Georgia ● Bulgaria ● India ● Greece ● Croatia ● Estonia ● Finland ● Latvia ● Belgium ● Slovenia ● Moldova ● Ireland ● Norway ● Spain ● russia ● United Kingdom ● Romania
Read more about who needs a visa to Ukraine and how to apply for it here.
Important! Foreigners must have appropriate health insurance to cross the Ukrainian border. We recommend purchasing an insurance policy that covers not only basic medical care but also war-related risks. This will allow you to feel confident even in unforeseen situations. You can buy insurance covering military risks here. Read more about the benefits of such insurance policies here.
Travel with confidence with Visit Ukraine!
We remind you! The European Union has launched an initiative under the Erasmus+ program, according to which travelers have the opportunity to get free train tickets. Read how to get tickets and where to apply in our previous article.
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The simultaneous stay of visitors in the hotel lobby not more than one person per 10 square meters of serviceable area is allowed.
Persons can visit hotels and stay there (outside hotel room) only if they wear respirator or face mask (including homemade mask), so that the nose and mouth are covered.
Hotel guests are obliged to keep the 1.5 meters distance.
Online check-in making in advance is recommended to avoid queues at check-in to hotel.
Meals in hotels are provided through meals delivery service to rooms upon prior order or at hotel restaurants situated inside or in open areas, provided the distance of at least 1.5 meters between seats at adjacent tables.
Not more than 4 clients are allowed to stay at the table (excluding children under 14 years old). Unless these tables are separated by a special partition;
Self-serve is not allowed.