Travel to Ukraine from the USA in 2024: how to get there and entry rules

Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine is still ongoing and the airspace remains unsuitable for passenger flights, so it is important to carefully consider the available routes to plan your trip. Learn more about how to get from the US to Ukraine in 2024 and what to consider when planning your trip

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Ukraine is open to foreign travelers. Only in the first 8 months of 2023, 1.3 million foreigners arrived in the country, including 26,267 US citizens. However, in the conditions of martial law and closed airspace, a trip to Ukraine has certain features.

How to get to Ukraine from the USA? What rules for entering Ukraine are relevant in 2024? Useful information for those planning a trip to Ukraine is collected in our material.

How to get to Ukraine from the USA in 2024?

The most convenient and fastest way to get to Ukraine is to fly to one of the airports in Europe, which is located near the Ukrainian border, and from there continue the journey by train or bus.

Ukraine borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.

1. Flight from the USA to the Ukrainian border

● USA – Poland

- Warsaw (the capital of Poland) can be reached by direct flight from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. The price of a ticket is from $450 to $650. Travel time is 9-10 hours.

- Krakow is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, with direct flights from the USA. Available departure from Chicago. Ticket price starts at $800. Travel time is 8 hours.

  - You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) with a transfer in Warsaw. Available from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. Ticket price starts at $500. Travel time is about 11 hours.

You can also arrive from the USA in Katowice, Lublin and Wroclaw with a transfer at one of the European airports.

● USA – Moldova

There are flights from the USA to Chisinau airport with a stopover in Istanbul or Warsaw. Departure is available from New York, Chicago and Boston. Travel time is 13-18 hours. Ticket price starts at $750.

● USA – Slovakia

There are also no direct flights to Slovak cities from the USA. You can fly to Kosice, Bratislava or Poprad with only 1-2 transfers. Such a trip will take about 18-22 hours and will cost from $650.

● USA – Hungary

You can fly to Debrecen, the Hungarian airport closest to the Ukrainian border, from New York and Miami. However, you will have to make a transfer in London. The advantage of this route is the low price - a ticket can be purchased for $250, but you will have to spend 20-25 hours on the road.

● USA – Romania

Flights to Suceava are available from New York, Atlanta, Boston or Portland. However, there are no direct routes either. The trip will also include a layover in London. The price of the ticket is from $350, the duration of the trip is from 22 hours.

2. Travel to Ukraine by land transport

At the second stage, it is necessary to continue your trip from the European city to Ukraine by ground transport.

● Train

Most of the tourists prefer the railway because of its speed and comfort. Ukraine is connected to European cities by the following trains:

- Poland - from Warsaw you can get to Kyiv, from Przemyśl - to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, from Chelm - to Kyiv and Kharkiv.

- Hungary - there is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv.

- Austria - a direct train goes from Vienna to Kyiv.

- Moldova - a direct train goes from Chisinau to Kyiv.

- Slovakia - from Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo.

Find a detailed schedule of trains running between Ukraine and European countries by following the link.

● Bus

A fairly convenient and economical way to get to Ukraine is by bus. Routes depart from many European cities and go to most Ukrainian regions. The ticket price starts at 500 hryvnias ($15). The duration of the trip is up to 20 hours.

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Entry rules for US citizens to Ukraine 2024

● Visa requirements

A visa is not required. US citizens have the right to stay in Ukraine without a visa for up to 90 days, if the purpose of the trip is tourism, visiting relatives, treatment, etc.

If the duration of your stay exceeds 90 days or you plan to work or study in Ukraine, then before traveling you need to issue a long-term visa (type "D"). To do this, contact the embassy or consulate of Ukraine in the USA at least 3 months before the planned trip.

● List of documents for travel to Ukraine from the USA

Entry into Ukraine is based on a valid foreign passport, which must have at least one blank page for the entry stamp.

Also, to cross the Ukrainian border, you must provide:

1. Health insurance policy.

2. Confirmation of the purpose of the trip: a notarized invitation from citizens of Ukraine (relatives, acquaintances, friends), travel vouchers, confirmation of accommodation reservations, invitations from companies or organizations, tickets to seminars, exhibitions, fairs, documents about treatment in medical facilities, etc.

3. Confirmation of financial support (cash, bank statement, check from an ATM, etc.) - proof that you have sufficient funds for the entire period of your planned stay in Ukraine or transit to a third country ($45 per person for each day of your stay in Ukraine ).

4. Absence of a ban from the authorized body on entry into Ukraine.

Read about who can be refused entry to Ukraine in our article.

Useful links for those planning a trip to Ukraine

● You can buy tickets to Ukraine by plane, train or bus on the Visit Ukraine portal. See the schedule and book using the link.

● If the purpose of the trip is tourism, be sure to search for a tour in advance. The largest database of routes from proven tourist operators is collected at the link. Depending on your interests, you can also plan an individual trip.

● Book hotels here. Rules for renting an apartment in Ukraine for foreigners in this article.

● To feel more mobile while traveling in Ukraine, we recommend renting a car. Detailed instructions at the link.

● Safety rules must be strictly followed when traveling through Ukraine under martial law. In addition, make sure you have military risk insurance. About the benefits of the policy here.

● In the conditions of martial law, certain rights of citizens may be limited, therefore, if you need the help of a lawyer while traveling in Ukraine, you can contact the specialists at the link.

● Contacts of the US Embassy in Ukraine:

- Address: str. Sikorskogo, 4 (former Tankova St.), Kyiv 04112, Ukraine;

- Phone: +38 044-521-5000.

● Stylish clothes and accessories in memory of Ukraine here.

We wish you a good trip!


Photo: president.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 – safe travel in Ukraine (insurance covering military risks);

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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