Ukrainians, foreign citizens and stateless persons can freely enter the territory of Ukraine during the war, but subject to certain restrictions. Find out all about the current rules for crossing the Ukrainian border and the documents required for this purpose

Order a legal consultation on entering Ukraine during the war

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According to official data obtained from the Administration of the Border Guard Service of Ukraine at the request of Visit Ukraine, more than 1.3 million foreigners from around the world entered Ukraine from January to August 2023. This means that even despite the threats associated with the full-scale invasion of russia, foreign citizens continue to visit Ukraine, both for business and tourism purposes.

We tell you all about the current rules for crossing the Ukrainian border and other important aspects that will help a foreigner prepare for a trip to Ukraine.

How to get to Ukraine: convenient routes

Currently, the airspace over Ukraine remains closed to civilian aircraft, and therefore the route may be somewhat complicated. In order to get to Ukraine as quickly as possible, we recommend that you first fly to one of the airports located near the Ukrainian border and then continue your trip by land.

We would like to remind you that on our website you can find the most convenient routes to Ukraine from many countries. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get to Ukraine, choose the country you need and follow the link.

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

You can buy train, bus, and plane tickets to Ukraine and between cities around the world through the convenient Visit Ukraine booking service. After selecting the desired mode of transport and the cities of departure and destination, you can view the available options and schedules, compare prices and purchase the appropriate tickets. Our website has a bonus points system that will allow you to travel much cheaper.

Documents required to enter Ukraine

Ukraine's land borders remain open, and the rules for crossing them remain unchanged. There are no restrictions on foreigners in connection with the introduction of martial law in the country, except for citizens of the aggressor country. 

To enter Ukraine, a foreigner must have:

– A valid foreign passport. It must be valid for the entire period of stay in Ukraine. Citizens of Turkey and Georgia can enter Ukraine on the basis of an ID card;

– A visa (unless otherwise provided by law or a visa-free regime is established with the country).

– Confirmation of the purpose of the trip (a document confirming family ties, an invitation from a citizen of Ukraine, an invitation to participate in conferences or other events, a booked tour, hotel reservation, etc.)

– Proof of sufficient funds for the entire period of stay in Ukraine and for returning to the country of origin;

– An insurance policy issued by an insurance company registered in Ukraine or a foreign insurance company that has a representative office in Ukraine or a contractual relationship (assistance). 

Please note! We strongly recommend that you choose a reliable health insurance policy that covers military risks. You can purchase an insurance policy covering war-related risks on the Visit Ukraine website. We cooperate only with reliable insurance agents, and it takes just a few minutes to apply for an insurance policy on our website. Read more about the benefits of this type of insurance here.

You can also use a special form on our website that will help you understand in more detail what documents you need to prepare to enter Ukraine. To check the rules for crossing the Ukrainian border for you, follow the link and select your citizenship in the drop-down list. 

Visa to Ukraine

Visa requirements for entering Ukraine depend on the nationality of the foreigner: Ukraine has a visa-free regime with certain countries, while citizens of other countries must obtain a visa. You can check whether you need a visa to enter Ukraine on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Read more about the types of visas to Ukraine and how to obtain them here.

Please note! Currently, foreigners can apply for an e-visa to enter Ukraine under a simplified procedure. Read here to find out who can use the service and how to obtain an e-visa.

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Rules for crossing the Ukrainian border: customs restrictions

When crossing the Ukrainian border, foreign citizens and stateless persons must comply with the established customs rules. Read more about what can be imported into Ukraine from abroad here.

If you are planning to enter Ukraine by your own car with foreign registration, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rules for operating such cars in Ukraine in order to avoid getting a fine and other troubles.

Also, when entering Ukraine, foreigners must adhere to certain rules of conduct due to the martial law in Ukraine. We have described how to behave and what not to do when dealing with the military at checkpoints here.

Staying in Ukraine during the war: rules, restrictions, security measures

Foreigners who arrive in Ukraine must comply with the migration regulations. In other words, the period of stay in Ukraine for foreign citizens and stateless persons is determined by the validity of the visa or the rules provided for by the visa-free regime (no more than 90 days within 180 days). In order to extend the period of stay in Ukraine, it is necessary to apply in advance to the state authorities (territorial bodies or subdivisions of the State Migration Service of Ukraine) and submit documents for:

– extension of the period of stay;

– obtaining a residence permit.

It should be noted that it is now possible to apply for a permanent residence permit in Ukraine abroad. Read more about how to do this here.

Current restrictions in Ukraine

Due to martial law, a curfew has been imposed on the territory of Ukraine, during which you cannot be outside and in public places. Therefore, in order not to violate the law, upon arrival in Ukraine, foreigners need to find out the duration of the curfew in the required region of the country.

Safety rules during your stay in Ukraine

Despite the fact that active hostilities are concentrated in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, there are no completely safe cities in Ukraine due to the threat of rocket attacks from the russian federation.

Therefore, upon arrival in Ukraine, a foreigner must strictly follow the safety rules and in no case ignore the air raid alert!

Ukraine has a threat notification system, including a siren that is activated in case of danger. However, we recommend that you additionally install 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.

If you still have any questions about entering Ukraine, please contact our managers on the hotline (from 08:00 to 02:00 Kyiv time).

Thank you for choosing us. Best regards, Visit Ukraine!

We reminder you! Since 2021, Visit Ukraine has helped more than 23 million people from 196 countries to get the information they need. Read more about the statistics and geography of applications and visitors to the VU website in our previous article.

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