Traveling to Ukraine is difficult due to closed skies and overloaded border crossings. Find out how to get to Ukraine from Canada quickly and conveniently in 2024, how to organize your trip and other useful tips

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The borders of Ukraine are open even despite the martial law. In total, almost 2.5 million foreigners arrived in the country in 2023, among them were Canadian citizens, a total of 8,776 people.

The year 2024 also began with the easing of travel bans to Ukraine. For example, the government of Great Britain has already allowed its citizens to visit certain regions of the country if necessary. Therefore, it can be expected that soon the leadership of other countries will also simplify the recommendations.

Currently, when planning a trip to Ukraine, it is important to plan your route in detail, because the closed airspace significantly complicates entry, as well as to prepare the necessary package of documents.

Which travel routes from Canada to Ukraine will be the most convenient and which entry rules are relevant in 2024? Let's talk further.

How to get to Ukraine from Canada 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.

Stage 1 – air flight from Canada to the Ukrainian border

● Canada – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Toronto. Ticket price starts at $750. Departure at 22:45, travel time 8 hours. You will arrive in Warsaw the next day at 1:00 p.m.

You can also fly with two transfers (in Dublin and Copenhagen) - it will be much cheaper, only for $300-400. However, the travel time is about 14 hours.

- Krakow is the closest major Polish airport to the Ukrainian border. You can fly here with a transfer from Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. Ticket price starts at $300. Travel time is 14-20 hours.

  - You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) from Toronto and Calgary. However, you will have to make a transfer in Munich, London or Warsaw. Ticket price starts at $400. Travel time from 11 hours.

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

● Canada – Moldova

There are flights from Canada to Chisinau airport with a stopover in Vienna, London or Warsaw. Departure is available from Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. Travel time is 13-18 hours. Ticket price starts at $400.

● Canada – Slovakia

There are also no direct flights to Slovak cities from Canada. You can fly to Kosice or Bratislava with only 1-2 transfers. Such a trip will take about 18-22 hours and will cost from $390.

● Canada – Hungary

You can fly to Budapest from Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or Halifax. However, you will have to make a transfer in London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt am Main. A ticket can be purchased for $300-400, but you will have to spend 20-25 hours on the road.

● Canada – Romania

Flights are available to Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca from Toronto, Calgary, Montreal or Vancouver. However, there are no direct routes either. The trip will also include a layover in London. The price of the ticket is from $450, the duration of the trip is from 22 hours.

2nd stage – 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, Dnipro 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

The bus transportation market is represented by a large number of companies, from experienced carriers with a large fleet to industry newcomers.

Routes depart from many European cities and go to most Ukrainian regions. The ticket price starts from 500 hryvnias ($15). The duration of the trip is up to 20 hours.

When choosing a carrier, be sure to carefully study the conditions of baggage transportation, the available services offered by the carrier (toilet, phone charging facilities, WiFi, free drinks, etc.). Be sure to read the reviews of passengers, and even better - ask friends who have already used the services of the carriers.

A detailed route from Poland to Ukraine can be found in this article.

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Rules of entry for Canadian citizens to Ukraine 2024

● Visa requirements

A visa is not required. Canadian 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 Canada at least 3 months before the planned trip.

● List of documents for travel to Ukraine from the Canada

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.

● How to come to Ukraine as a volunteer, read here.

● Contacts of the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine:

- Address: Kostyolna Street, 13A, Kyiv, 01901;

- Phone: +38 044 590 3100.

● Stylish clothes and accessories in memory of Ukraine here.

We wish you a good trip!

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Visit Ukraine Insurance - safe travel in Ukraine (insurance covering military risks);

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

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

Visit Ukraine Hotels - book hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

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