Ukraine's airspace is still closed, so you need to carefully plan your route and familiarize yourself with the entry rules. Find out more about how to get from Moldova to Ukraine and what documents you need to cross the border

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Ukraine has been under martial law for almost 2 years, but the country's borders are open. According to official information provided by the State Border Service at the request of Visit Ukraine, more than 2.4 million foreigners entered Ukraine in 2023. Citizens of Moldova are the absolute leaders in this rating, last year 1,070,580 people arrived in Ukraine from the neighboring country.

Ukraine and Moldova have a common border, so the journey will not be too long and difficult. However, given the closed airspace, it is worth planning the route in advance. Also, to quickly cross the border, you need to have a complete package of documents.

Which travel routes from Moldova 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 Moldova in 2024?

You can enter Ukraine from Moldova only by land transport - by train, bus or your own car. Each of the methods has its advantages and disadvantages.

● Train

Ukraine and Moldova have a railway connection. There is currently 1 flight between the states:

- 351, Chisinau – Unehy – Kyiv, departure from Chisinau at 5:54 p.m., arrival in Kyiv at 11:48 a.m., stop at the intermediate station – Unehy at 8:51 p.m.

The journey by train will take about 18 hours. The price of tickets ranges from 40 to 70 euros.

Importantly! The train does not run every day: on even days (from Kyiv to Chisinau), on odd days (from Chisinau to Kyiv).

Traveling by train has many advantages, including the fastest way to cross the border. In general, going through Moldovan and Ukrainian customs takes about 2-2.5 hours. Also, thanks to a comfortable seat, the passenger will be able to rest during the trip.

Disadvantages include possible delays, so if your route has transfers, it is better if they are longer than 1 hour.

Where to buy train tickets from Moldova to Ukraine?

Tickets for the Chisinau-Kyiv flight can be bought online on the official website of Ukrzaliznytsia, in the mobile application and through official chatbots.

Tickets go on sale at 08:00 20 days before the flight. Tickets that have been returned appear on the website 1-2 days before departure.

● Bus

The bus transportation market is represented by a large number of companies, from experienced carriers with a large fleet to industry newcomers. Most of them offer several flights per day from the following cities: Chisinau, Orhei (Orhei), Yedinci, Bielce.

Buses go to Kyiv and Odesa, but you can also buy a ticket to one of the transit cities. In addition, the route to Chernivtsi is gaining popularity.

Ticket prices start at 40 euros. The approximate travel time is 5 hours (to Odesa), 7 hours (to Chernivtsi) and 9 hours (to Kyiv).

Where to buy bus tickets from Moldova to Ukraine?

Choosing a proven service for buying tickets is one of the most important stages in organizing a trip. That is why thousands of travelers use the ticket purchase service on the Visit Ukraine portal.

● Own car

Many foreigners prefer to travel by their own car.

The following border crossings operate on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border: Rososhany – Brichen, Mamalyga – Kryva, Kelmentsi – Larga, Sokyryany – Oknytsia, Mohyliv-Podilskyi – Otach, Bronnytsia – Ungur.

Importantly! The biggest queues are usually at the Rososhany checkpoint. You can check the waiting time at checkpoints with Moldova for entry into Ukraine by following the link. More details about the work of checkpoints on the Ukrainian border in our material.

To avoid a long wait, prefer traveling at the beginning of the week. From Monday to Wednesday, passenger traffic is lower, and accordingly there are no long queues. Starting from Thursday evening until Sunday, the number of people willing to cross the border increases, which increases the load on checkpoints.

In addition, we draw your attention to the fact that, despite the fact that checkpoints are open 24 hours a day, there is a curfew on the territory of Ukraine due to the state of war.

Rules for entering Ukraine by car for foreigners

A foreigner is allowed to enter Ukraine in his own car, but he can use it only for his own needs. Foreign citizens can drive cars with foreign license plates in Ukraine for up to one year. Also, if you plan to stay in Ukraine for longer than two months, you need to contact the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for temporary car registration. After the expiration of the one-year period, the car with foreign license plates must leave Ukraine.

To enter Ukraine by car, you must have a Green Card insurance policy.

Detailed rules for traveling in Ukraine by car with foreign registration in this article.

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Rules of entry for citizens of Moldova to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa requirements

Visa is not required. Citizens of Moldova 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 Moldova at least 3 months before the planned trip.

● List of documents for a trip to Ukraine from Moldova

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

● Booking a tour – 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.

● Housing search – book hotels here. Rules for renting an apartment in Ukraine for foreigners in this article.

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

● Safety and insurance rules – 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.

● Legal support – 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 Embassy of Moldova in Ukraine:

- Address: 2 Yagotynska St., Kyiv, Kyiv region, 01901

- Phone: +38 044 521-22-80

- Fax: +38 044 521-22-72

- E-mail: [email protected]

- Working hours: Monday – Friday from 08:00 to 17:00, lunch break: 12:00 to 13:00.

● Souvenirs – stylish clothes and accessories in memory of Ukraine here.

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.

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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