Leaving Ukraine in 2026: which border is best to cross?

Through which checkpoints did Ukrainians most often travel abroad in 2025?

Poland

The Polish direction is the undisputed leader in terms of the number of departures of Ukrainians. Traditionally, the largest passenger flow is recorded precisely on the border with Poland. In particular, in the first half of 2025, more than 8.5 million people crossed the state border through Polish checkpoints.

The most popular points were:

- Shegyny - over 2.1 million crossings,

- Kraków - 1.49 million,

- Rawa-Ruska - over 1.09 million,

- Yagodyn (road and rail) - more than 1 million together,

- Ustylug - over 630 thousand.

The main reason for such popularity is convenient transport connections, a large number of labor migrants, tourists and transit travelers heading to Poland.

Slovakia

Exit through the Slovak direction remains stable, but less intense. In total, about 974 thousand crossings were recorded on the border with Slovakia. The most active were

- Uzhhorod checkpoint - over 648,000 exits,

- Maly Berezny - 160,000 travelers.

The pedestrian checkpoint Maly Selmentsi also remains popular, in particular among local residents - over 66 thousand crossings.

Hungary

The Hungarian direction is traditionally considered the most popular among tourists and transit passengers. In total, over 1.8 million crossings were recorded here in the first half of 2025. The busiest checkpoints were:

- Chop (Tisa) – over 500 thousand,

- Luzhanka – 441 thousand,

- Vylok – 441 thousand,

- Kosino – 172 thousand

These checkpoints are often used by Ukrainians going on vacation or further along the route to Italy, Spain, Austria, etc.

Romania

The Romanian direction in the 1st half of 2025 was marked by an increase in passenger traffic due to the opening of new routes. In total, more than 2.4 million travelers crossed the border with Romania.

The most popular destinations were:

- Porubne – over 1 million,

- Solotvino – 438 thousand,

- Orlivka (river port) – 391 thousand.

Moldova

Moldova was noted for the active movement of residents of the southern regions - these directions are actively used by residents of Odessa and Vinnytsia regions, as well as transit carriers. In total, more than 2.5 million border crossings took place on the border with Moldova, among the leaders:

- Palanka (Mayaki–Udobne) – 736 thousand,

- Mogilev-Podilskyi (car) – 652 thousand,

- Starokozache - 450 thousand.

What documents are needed to cross the border and leave Ukraine?

To successfully cross the border in 2025, you must have a number of documents with you. The main list includes:

1. Biometric passport or regular passport + visa (if the destination country requires a visa).

You can check the rules for entering a specific country on the main page of Visit Ukraine in the “From Ukraine” section, by selecting the desired direction in the search.

2. Documents confirming the right to travel (for men of military age).

During martial law in Ukraine, the travel abroad of men aged 18 to 60 is limited, but some categories still have the right to do so if they have the appropriate documents and grounds.

For more information on how to leave Ukraine for men who are entitled to a deferral, see our full guide.

3. Confirmation of the purpose of the trip (may be requested upon entry into another country). This may be an invitation, hotel reservation, tickets, etc.

4. An insurance policy that covers expenses in case of illness or accident abroad. Remember that insurance is an important aspect that can save your finances in unforeseen situations. You can apply for reliable travel insurance for a safe trip abroad on the Visit Ukraine portal in just a few minutes.

5. To travel abroad, a child must have a birth certificate. It is important to note that children over the age of 16 can travel abroad unaccompanied by adults if they have a valid international passport.

In the event that a child has the status of an internally displaced person or his/her parents are in a temporarily occupied territory, special rules may apply, which should be clarified with the State Border Service of Ukraine before the trip.

Find all the details of crossing the border of Ukraine with a child here.

6. To cross the border with an animal, you must: microchipping the animal in accordance with ISO standards, vaccination against rabies - valid no earlier than 21 days after vaccination, an international veterinary passport indicating all vaccinations and a veterinary certificate of form No. 1, issued before departure.

Read more about the requirements for crossing the border with an animal and the necessary veterinary documents in our special material.

If your situation is atypical or you have doubts about your right to leave, it is better to consult a migration lawyer. You can do this online through Visit Ukraine so as not to risk being refused at the border. A qualified specialist will help you understand your specific situation and prepare all the necessary documents for departure.

Rules for leaving Ukraine by car

If you plan to travel abroad by your own car, you must have with you:

1. International passport (valid for at least six months from the date of your planned return).

2. Driver's license (must be valid and meet international standards; the current national driver's license on a plastic card is trilingual and valid throughout Europe; if necessary, you can additionally issue an international driver's license at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center)

3. Vehicle registration certificate (issued in the name of the driver or passenger).

4. Ukrainian license plate on the car (UA sticker - not required if the symbols are indicated on the license plate).

5. International insurance policy Green Card for a car - it is valid in European countries and confirms the presence of an international civil car. Without it, you will not be able to cross the border, and in the event of an accident you will receive a fine and the need to cover all expenses yourself.

Don't leave the registration of the policy to the last moment - apply for a Green Card online in a few minutes and go on a trip without unnecessary hassle!

This article discusses whether it is possible to drive a car with tinted windows abroad.

Read how to prepare a car for traveling abroad in this material.

The choice of checkpoint and proper route planning directly affect the speed and comfort of leaving Ukraine abroad. The workload of checkpoints depends on the direction, season, day of the week and time of day, so it is worth checking the current information about queues in advance. It is equally important to prepare all the necessary documents and insurance, especially when traveling with children, animals or your own car. Early preparation will help avoid delays and make the trip calm and safe.

We remind you! During martial law, leaving Ukraine remains possible, but the rules for crossing the border differ depending on gender, age, and purpose of travel. Border guards are carefully checking documents, and new biometric procedures may affect the speed of control. We have already talked about the current requirements for leaving Ukraine in 2026.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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Visit Ukraine Insurance – health insurance with coverage of war risks;

Visit Ukraine Mini Hull Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Osago – compulsory motor third party liability insurance for cars with Ukrainian registration;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

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