Thanks to the introduction in 2017 of a visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union, Ukrainians were able to freely visit more than three dozen countries:

● 27 member states of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden and Estonia;

● 4 Schengen countries outside the EU (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein).

The period of stay in the EU should not exceed three months (90 days) in total within six months. It is very important to know that the first day is considered the date of entry, and the last day of stay there is the date of departure. Absence in the EU zone within 90 days from the date of the last departure gives the right to a new 90-day visa-free stay in the EU countries. And the 180-day control period is not fixed and depends on the date of entry and exit from the EU.

The visa-free regime does not give the right to study, work and live in Europe. For these purposes, as before, you need to issue the necessary visa: student, work, business (business) or residence permit.

Required documents when visiting EU countries

A mandatory document for visa-free visits to EU countries is a biometric passport with an electronic chip, in which the citizen's digitized fingerprints are entered.

However, additional documents are required for the trip, which may be required by European border guards:

- documents confirming the purpose of the trip;

- return ticket (to confirm plans to return to Ukraine);

- cash in cash (approximately $ 45-50 per day), credit cards or traveler's checks, bank statement to prove solvency;

- a health insurance policy valid throughout the EU;

- in case of traveling by car, a civil liability insurance policy.

But since the purpose of the trip may be different, then the documents that you may be asked for when going through border control are different. So, to confirm the purpose of tourism or private travel, you will need:

● if you plan to stay with relatives or friends - an invitation from the landlord;

● confirmation of hotel or apartment booking;

● trip plan;

● return ticket to Ukraine.

Rules of travel with children

Traveling without visas with children to EU countries is possible only if the child has a biometric foreign passport, regardless of his age, since with a visa-free regime, children are not allowed to enter the EU countries with their parents' passports. Children over the age of 16 can travel across Europe without visas and on their own. Until the age of 16, a child travels abroad only when accompanied by parents or a trusted person.

And one more, no less important point – in most foreign countries, according to the border crossing rules, Ukrainians must have a passport valid for at least three months at the time of the end of the trip, and in some cases – six months. There must be at least one blank page in the document.

Having all the necessary documents and observing the rules of the visa-free regime, you can easily travel to the countries of the European Union. And the rules for entering a particular country during a pandemic, see VisitUkraine.Today portal.