Traveling to Ukraine: Do French citizens need a visa in 2023?
French citizens can enter Ukraine on the basis of a visa-free regime, but in some cases, they will still need to apply for a visa. Find out all about the current rules for entering Ukraine and useful travel tips for foreigners
The introduction of martial law in Ukraine did not affect migration legislation and rules of entry into the country. The Ukrainian border is open for both citizens and tourists. According to official information, over 1.3 million foreigners came to the country in the first 7 months of 2023, including 7,148 French citizens. Many travelers also visited Ukraine in 2022.
Foreigners are attracted by the beauty of nature, monuments of culture and history, as well as romantic and mystical places of Ukraine. Many people also join the ranks of volunteers
Tourists are required to issue a visa or prepare documents for visa-free entry, for a long-term stay in the country it is necessary to obtain a residence permit.
Do French citizens need a visa to Ukraine in 2023? Migration law and safe travel rules further.
Do the French need a visa to Ukraine?
Between Ukraine and France, as with the rest of the EU member states, a visa-free regime is established. French nationals have the right to unhindered entry to Ukraine if their trip meets the following two requirements:
● Planned stay of less than 90 days within a 180-day period.
● The purpose of the trip is tourism, visiting relatives, seminars or other short-term trips.
Importantly! It is forbidden to work or study without a visa.
List of documents for visa-free entry from France to Ukraine
Visa-free crossing of the Ukrainian border is carried out on the basis of a foreign passport. It is also necessary to have:
2. Confirmation of the purpose of the trip – depending on the planned activity, one of the following documents must be provided:
● Visiting relatives – invitations from citizens of Ukraine (family members, acquaintances, friends, etc.).
● Tourism - confirmation of the availability of a booked tour and accommodation in Ukraine: hotels, apartment rental contracts, etc.
● Attending events – invitations/tickets to seminars, exhibitions, fairs.
● Medical tourism – documents about treatment in medical facilities.
● Business visit – written confirmation of a meeting, conference, etc.; invitations from companies and organizations.
3. Sufficient financial support for the entire period of the planned stay in Ukraine and for returning to the country of origin - for a comfortable stay in Ukraine, an average of $45 per day per person is required.
Representatives of the State Border Service conduct a check of financial support on a selective basis. You can confirm the availability of a sufficient amount of funds in cash by providing a bank statement, an ATM check, etc.
4. Absence of a decision of the authorized state body of Ukraine to prohibit entry into Ukraine.
Importantly! Foreigners do not need to provide proof of vaccination and wear a protective mask in Ukraine. Since July 1, all restrictions and quarantine measures related to the Covid-19 epidemic have been canceled in the state.
When does a French citizen need a visa to travel to Ukraine?
There are exceptions when travelers from France still have to issue a visa to enter Ukraine:
1. If the planned period of stay in Ukraine exceeds 90 days.
2. When a foreigner plans to work or study in Ukraine.
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How can a French person apply for a visa to Ukraine?
It is necessary to obtain a long-term visa (type "D") before traveling, at the embassy or consulate of Ukraine located in France. It is better to apply for a visa three months before the planned trip to Ukraine.
After arriving in Ukraine on the basis of a long-term visa, it is necessary to issue a residence permit. The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine consists of several stages and requires the preparation of a certain list of documents. A migration lawyer will help you understand all the intricacies of Ukrainian legislation. Order a consultation of highly qualified specialists using the link.
Where to look for a tour to Ukraine?
In order to plan a trip to Ukraine, you need to book an interesting and safe tour. A wide database of routes from leading tourist operators is available at the link.
It is possible to create an individual itinerary for your trip that will meet your interests and requirements.
Also, Visit Ukraine announced the launch of a special project - Donat-tours to Ukraine, which is designed to attract foreign tourists to travel to the de-occupied and front-line regions of southern Ukraine and to give everyone the opportunity to become a volunteer and part of Ukraine's victory. Read about the difference between military tours and donation tours here.
How to get from France to Ukraine?
The airspace in Ukraine is closed, so in order for your trip to pass as quickly and comfortably as possible, you should plan it in advance.
The most convenient and popular option for a trip to Ukraine among foreigners is to fly to one of the European airports located near the Ukrainian border and continue the trip to the chosen Ukrainian city by bus or train. Also, many tourists prefer to travel by their own car.
We have prepared for you some of the most convenient travel routes from France to Ukraine. Look for them at the link.
Where to buy tickets to Ukraine?
An important stage of preparing a trip to Ukraine is the process of purchasing tickets. To make your trip as comfortable as possible, you should choose only proven ticket purchase services.
Thousands of travelers book tickets on the Visit Ukraine portal. Plane, train or bus - a ticket for any type of transport in one place. You can see the schedule and make a reservation by following the link.
How to rent housing in Ukraine?
There is a very wide base of accommodation facilities in Ukraine. During your vacation, you can stay in a hotel with different stars, a hostel, rent an apartment or rest in a guest house.
Also, when booking a hotel, pay attention to the availability of nearby shelters.
Insurance for travel to Ukraine
Medical insurance policy is a mandatory document for visa-free entry to Ukraine. However, when traveling to Ukraine under martial law, it is worth taking care of an insurance policy that covers the indemnification of war-related risks.
Insure your health and life in order to receive financial compensation in the event of an insured event. The insurance policy applies to foreign citizens, subjects of another state and stateless persons. There are no age restrictions. Military risk insurance is a guarantee of your protected stay on the territory of Ukraine.
Apply for reliable insurance quickly and easily using the link.
Travel to Ukraine from France by car
If you plan to travel to Ukraine in your own car, be sure to purchase a "Green Card" insurance policy. We talked in detail about the rules for traveling to Ukraine by car with foreign registration in this article.
You can check the current state of queues for entry into Ukraine from Europe by following the link.
Tourists who will come to Ukraine without their own transport are advised to rent a car in order to feel more mobile.
When traveling in Ukraine under martial law, be sure to follow safety rules and do not violate the curfew. Also, familiarize yourself with the most typical mistakes that foreign tourists make when planning a trip to Ukraine, so as not to repeat them.
Do you have any questions? Contact the managers of Visit Ukraine for help at any stage of preparation for a trip to Ukraine, as well as during your stay in the country.
We wish you a good trip!
Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.
You may be interested in:
Visit Ukraine Donation - make a good deed and an important contribution to the Victory of Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Legal advice - comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Tours - the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;
Visit Ukraine Merch - choose patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery;
Visit Ukraine News - get the latest news and updates in our Telegram channel;
Cooperation - cooperation and advertising integrations with Visit Ukraine and Visit World projects.
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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.