How to enter Ukraine in 2025: rules of entry, list of documents and who can be denied entry
Ukraine always welcomes foreign visitors and its borders, despite the war, remain open for tourists. Find out more about how to come to Ukraine and what you need for this purpose
Ukraine has been living under martial law for more than two years, but it still remains open to tourists and other foreign citizens.
We tell you how to get to the country, what documents you will need and what you need for a safe trip to Ukraine.
Permanent residence permit in Ukraine: the procedure and required documents.
D-14 spouse visa for entry to Ukraine: who can apply for it and how to do it?
How can a foreigner move to live in Ukraine? Find out here.
What responsibility can foreigners bear for violating the migration legislation of Ukraine? Details are available here.
How to apply for an extension of stay in Ukraine for foreigners and stateless persons: instructions here.
Transfer to Ukraine: how to get there
For obvious reasons, the airspace over Ukraine remains closed. However, you can get to the country by train, bus and other convenient land routes.
The most popular way to get to Ukraine among tourists is to fly to the nearest country to Ukraine, and from there - by any land route.
It is worth noting that on the Visit Ukraine portal you can conveniently and quickly purchase tickets for buses and trains.
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 ● Armenia ● Egypt ● Argentina ● Iceland ● Brazil ● Mexico ● Azerbaijan ● Montenegro ● Thailand ● Albania ● Kazakhstan
What documents are required to enter Ukraine?
● Citizens of Ukraine
Citizens of Ukraine can enter the Motherland by providing any document confirming their identity: passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad, diplomatic passport of Ukraine, service passport of Ukraine, seafarer's identity card, crew member's identity card, identity card for return to Ukraine (gives the right for entry into Ukraine).
● Foreigners and stateless persons
To cross the border of Ukraine, foreign tourists must have:
- A passport. The document must be valid for the entire period of stay in Ukraine. Citizens of Turkey and Georgia can enter Ukraine by providing only ID-cards.
- Visa. This document is required only if otherwise is not stipulated by law, or visa-free regime is not established with the country.
- Confirmation of the purpose of the trip (document confirming family ties, invitation from a citizen of Ukraine, invitation to participate in conferences or other events, booked tour, hotel reservation, etc.).
What documents are required for foreigners to stay in Ukraine during the war? Read here.
Entry ban to Ukraine: what are the reasons and how to appeal?
- Confirmation of sufficient funds for the whole period of stay in Ukraine and for return to the country of origin. To confirm the availability of sufficient financial security, it is sufficient to present: cash in hryvnia or other convertible foreign currency, bank cards, statements and checks from ATMs, a guarantee letter from the receiving party to undertake obligations to pay all expenses of the foreigner, related with a stay in Ukraine and travel abroad, confirmation of reservation or payment for accommodation and food, a contract for tourist services (voucher, voucher), a travel ticket for returning to the country of permanent residence or to a third country with a fixed date.
- Insurance policy issued by an insurance company registered in Ukraine or by a foreign insurance company having a representative office in Ukraine or contractual relations (assistance).
Safety is the number one priority when travelling to Ukraine. Special health insurance with war risk coverage will provide you with access to quality medical care in any situation.
Take care of your health and peace of mind by taking out insurance before your trip now!
Visa to Ukraine
Ukraine has a visa-free regime with many countries around the world, but there is no visa-free regime with certain countries. You can check whether you need a visa to enter Ukraine on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
We told you more about types of visas to Ukraine and how to get them here.
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Customs control in Ukraine
When crossing the border of Ukraine, foreign citizens and stateless persons must adhere to the established customs rules. If you plan to take anything from your home country to Ukraine, we initially advise you to familiarise yourself with the list of what goods are allowed to enter the country.
Does your plan include entering Ukraine with a foreign-registered private car? We recommend that you familiarise yourself in more detail with the rules of operation of such vehicles on Ukrainian territory. This will help you avoid fines and unforeseen problems.
At the same time, it is important to remember that travelling around the country with your own car requires a Green Card.
When travelling to Ukraine by your own car, it is important to have reliable insurance coverage. The Mini Hull insurance policy for foreigners covers the risks of car damage, including possible consequences of military operations.
Be sure of your safety on the roads - take out insurance today!
Who can be refused entry to Ukraine?
Ukraine is currently open for foreign visitors, but the border service monitors the list of persons who are not allowed to visit the country. Such a list includes:
- persons who pose a national threat;
- those who travelled to Crimea after the occupation, the territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and other occupied territories;
- persons who committed violations while at the border crossing point;
- if it is necessary to protect health, protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens of Ukraine and other persons living in Ukraine;
- if the facts of violation of the legislation of Ukraine during the previous stay in Ukraine are established;
- persons who tried to enter Ukraine using forged documents.
Entering Ukraine in 2025 requires careful preparation of documents and compliance with the rules. Experienced migration lawyers will help you understand all the intricacies of the legislation, prepare the necessary package of documents and avoid possible refusals.
Entrust your entry to professionals - book a consultation today!
Safety rules in Ukraine
Do not forget that Ukraine is under martial law, which provides for certain rules of conduct in special places, such as checkpoints. For more information about these rules, please follow the link.
Despite the fact that active hostilities are concentrated in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, there are no completely safe cities in Ukraine at the moment due to the threat of missile attacks from the russian federation.
That is why we strongly recommend that foreigners monitor their own safety and do not ignore the air raid alert.
To stay informed about threats from the air, we recommend installing the Air Alert app (from the App Store or Google Play) and be sure to check the map of the nearest shelters in the city of your stay. In case of an air raid alert, go to the nearest shelter immediately!
Read more about how to behave in the event of an air raid to avoid endangering your life and health here.
Find out what the curfews will be in different regions of Ukraine in this article.
Why do foreigners invest in Ukraine and what are the amounts involved? Find out here.
Admission to Ukrainian universities during the war: useful tips for international students.
We remind you! Ukraine's borders remain open to foreigners, but it is important to prepare properly for your visit. Read here how to plan a trip to Ukraine during the war.
Photo: dpsu.gov.ua
Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.
We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine:
Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;
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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