In 2024, there will be no restrictions on entry into Ukraine for foreigners. However, the closed air space makes travel difficult, so the route should be planned in more detail. Learn more about how to get to Ukraine from Belgium and the current rules for crossing the border

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Under martial law, foreign tourists continue to come to Ukraine. According to official information provided by the State Border Service at the request of Visit Ukraine, over 2.4 million foreigners entered Ukraine in 2023, among which 3,620 people were Belgian citizens.

In 2024, the trend continues, foreigners continue to come to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. Also, world powers are gradually easing recommendations for their citizens regarding trips to Ukraine. In particular, Great Britain has already allowed, if necessary, to visit certain regions of the country. Governments in other countries around the world are also expected to lift restrictions.

However, taking into account the closed airspace, a trip to Ukraine has its own characteristics. It is also necessary to observe certain safety rules during the trip.

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

Flight from Belgium to the Ukrainian border + train/bus

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 land transport - by train or bus.

Ukraine borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. There are many direct flights from Belgium to these countries.

● Belgium – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Brussels. The price of the ticket starts from 35 euros. Departures are available at 07:50 and 10:15. Travel time is about 2 hours.

- Krakow is one of the closest Polish airports to the Ukrainian border. The distance from Krakow to Lviv is 328 km. You can get here by direct flight from Brussels. Departure twice a day, at 08:25 and at 12:35. The flight is performed by both low-cost companies and large European air carriers. The price of the ticket starts from 20 euros. Travel time is about 2 hours.

  - You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) only with a transfer, most often in Warsaw. Travel duration from 4 hours. The price of the ticket is from 80 euros. The airport in Rzeszów is located 172 km from Lviv (Ukraine).

Detailed route from Poland to Ukraine in this article.

● Belgium – Moldova

You can get from Belgium to Chisinau on a direct flight from Brussels. The price of the ticket starts from 160 euros. Departure twice a week, on Thursday and Sunday at 18:20. Travel time - 3 hours.

The distance to the Ukrainian border from Chisinau is 130 km - Palanka checkpoint (Odesa region). The nearest large Ukrainian city: Odesa. Tourists planning a trip to the southern regions of Ukraine should choose a flight to Chisinau airport.

There is also a direct train from Chisinau to Kyiv.

● Belgium – Slovakia

The countries are connected by a direct Brussels-Bratislava flight, which departs four times a week on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Ticket price from 20 euros.

The closest airports to the Ukrainian border are Košice and Poprad. You can get here only with a transfer. Such a trip will last from 4 hours and will cost from 120 euros.

From Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo.

● Belgium – Hungary

You can fly to Budapest from Brussels. Travel time is 2 hours. Ticket price from 20 euros. Departure three times a day - at 08:30, 13:25 and 13:40.

There is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv.

● Belgium – Romania

Only connecting flights are available to Suceava. Departure is also from Brussels. Ticket price from 150 euros, trip duration from 5 hours.

You can easily get to Chernivtsi from Suceava, there is a daily bus from the bus station, the journey to Chernivtsi takes 2-3 hours.

Pay attention! If you plan to buy tickets for the near future, the prices may be much higher.

By train from Belgium to Ukraine

There is no direct train between Brussels and Kyiv, but you can arrive with a transfer following the route:

Brussels (Belgium) – Vienna (Austria) – Kyiv (Ukraine)

1. There is a direct night train from Brussels to Vienna, departure at 19:16, arrival the next day at 10:13.

Ticket price from 70 euros.

2. Then the route continues by train: Vienna – Budapest-Keleti – Kyiv.

Departure from Vienna at 16:42, arrival at an intermediate station in Hungary at 19:40, final stop in Kyiv at 16:12.

The price of the ticket is approximately 90 euros.

Tickets for most Ukrzaliznytsia flights from Poland can be bought online on the official website of Ukrzaliznytsia, in the mobile application and through official chatbots.

By bus from Belgium to Ukraine

A fairly convenient and economical way to get from Belgium to Ukraine is by bus, the journey will take about 32 hours and will cost 80-200 euros. You can get from Brussels to Kyiv with a transfer in Dusseldorf.

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling by bus

Pros - due to the large number of bus routes, it is much easier to find a direct flight, which will allow you not to worry about a possible delay during a trip with a transfer. Also, you will not need to take out and carry heavy luggage around the stations.

However, it is impossible to predict how long border crossing checks will last. Therefore, arrival at the destination may be significantly delayed.

Where to buy bus tickets from Belgium 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.

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By own car from Belgium to Ukraine

The distance from Brussels, the capital of Belgium, to Kyiv is 2,155 km. The route will pass through Germany and Poland. Such a trip, taking into account the price of gasoline, can cost from 380 to 550 euros.

Importantly! The shortest queues are usually at Polish checkpoints: Dorogusk, Krotsenko, Budomezh. You can check the waiting time at checkpoints with Poland to enter Ukraine by following the link. More details about the work of checkpoints 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. If you plan to stay in Ukraine 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.

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling by car

Traveling in your own car is usually convenient and comfortable, because you will not depend on the schedule, you can choose the departure time yourself and not be late for the flight. Also, the ability to stop anywhere and at any time will add to the comfort of the trip.

Another advantage is luggage, when traveling by car you can take as many things as your car can hold, but do not forget about customs restrictions.

The main disadvantage is that it is impossible to predict the time it will take to cross the border. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 5-8 hours, and sometimes more.

Entry rules for Belgian citizens to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Belgian 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 your trip you need to apply for a long-term visa (type "D") at the embassy or consulate of Ukraine in Belgium. It is better to start the procedure at least 3 months before the planned trip.

● 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 ).

Importantly! Foreigners who have been banned from entering Ukraine by an authorized state body will not be able to cross the border. 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 Belgium in Ukraine:

- Address: 4B Pavla Zagrebelny Street, Kyiv, 01042.

- Phone: +38 (050) 355 23 53.

- Working hours: 08:30-16:30 (lunch - 12:30-13:30)

● 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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