Leaving Ukraine: what things are prohibited to carry across the border

When crossing the border, customs officers check the personal belongings and luggage of Ukrainians travelling abroad. Find out more about what you cannot carry if you are planning to leave Ukraine

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside Ukraine

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The war has forced many Ukrainians to cross the border with neighbouring countries more often.

Sometimes, the desire to bring your favourite food or medicine from Ukraine abroad leads to unpleasant situations with border guards. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the list of items that are prohibited or restricted for transportation across the border.

What can be imported and exported from Ukraine: customs rules for crossing the border.

What can be imported and exported from Ukraine: customs rules for crossing the border

Prohibited products, medicines and other items when crossing the border

The State Customs Service of Ukraine reminds you that prohibited products include meat, medicines, weapons and some other categories.

It is strictly forbidden to transport certain food products across the border, namely:

- lard and sausages;

- cheese, milk and dairy products;

- fresh meat;

- more than 20 kg of fish and 125 g of sturgeon caviar (for larger quantities, a special permit is required).

Some medicines are also prohibited. The following categories of drugs cannot be transported:

- medicines with narcotic or psychotropic substances that are not intended for medical use;

- powerful medicines, unless they have a prescription from a doctor;

- medicines with a volume of more than 500 ml.

For more information on what medicines cannot be imported into the EU and the list of prohibited medicines, please follow the link.

In addition to these items, it is prohibited to transport weapons, cultural memorabilia, and poisons:

- сold steel, airguns and firearms and their accessories;

- explosives and gas canisters;

- toxic and poisonous substances;

- household appliances (more than 1 item);

- minerals that are in the public domain;

- endangered plants and animals;

- cultural monuments (without the appropriate permission);

- equipment with pornographic materials or unlicensed software;

- materials calling for racism or violence.

According to the Customs Service of Ukraine, it is also prohibited to export the following items:

- weapons and ammunition;

- narcotic and psychotropic substances;

- potent toxic, radioactive, explosive substances;

- works of art, cultural and historical values;

- cancelled securities;

- items exported in violation of intellectual property.

Read here to find out where Ukrainians most often travel abroad by train.

Restrictions on the transportation of tobacco and alcohol across the border

Alcohol and tobacco can be transported by land in limited quantities:

- spirits (maximum 1 litre per person);

- beverages with an alcohol content of less than 22.3% (maximum 2 litres per person);

- beer (up to 16 litres);

- wine (except for sparkling wine - up to 4 litres);

- two open packs of cigarettes;

- cigars (maximum 10 pieces);

- e-liquids for smoking electronic cigarettes (up to 10 ml).

It should be added that these goods are allowed to be carried by persons over 21 years of age.

Medical insurance for travelling abroad from Visit Ukraine is not just a formality, but an important tool for protection in unforeseen situations. Illness, injury or emergency care abroad can be a serious financial challenge if you do not have proper coverage. The policy covers the costs of treatment, medicines and even transportation home.

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What should I keep in mind when crossing the border?

When crossing the border, border guards have the right to check the personal belongings of citizens. It is also worth knowing that all items that are imported abroad receive the status of ‘temporarily imported’, meaning that the owner must take them with him or her when returning.

Personal belongings are subject to customs duties, but they will not be imposed if their value is less than:

- €150 for persons under 15 years of age

- €300 for persons over 15 years of age;

- €430 for air travel.

Important! Obtaining a Green Card is a mandatory step for anyone planning to travel abroad in their own car. This policy is the international analogue of a motor third party liability insurance policy and guarantees financial protection in the event of an accident in other countries. Without it, it is impossible to cross the border, and fines for its absence can significantly spoil your trip.

Take care of your peace of mind in advance - apply for a Green Card online and set off with confidence.

Additional important nuances and restrictions

Money limit and currency declaration

The amount of up to 10,000 euros (or equivalent) is imported and exported without a written declaration. If you are carrying more than €10,000, a declaration is required. Moreover, you may be required to provide supporting documents on the origin of the funds (for example, a bank statement). Exceeding the limit without proper declaration may result in fines and even confiscation of funds.

Transporting animals and plants

Pets (dogs, cats, ferrets, etc.) require an internationally recognised veterinary passport, mandatory vaccination (including rabies) and chipping. Additional requirements may apply to cross the borders of some EU countries (e.g., a health certificate with an official translation).

Fruits, vegetables and other plants in large quantities may require a phytosanitary certificate. It all depends on the requirements of the country of entry: sometimes it is forbidden to bring fresh fruit or live plants at all, so check the rules in advance.

Intellectual property infringement and ‘non-obvious’ goods

In addition to the obvious prohibitions, you cannot export/import counterfeit goods (fakes of well-known brands, ‘replica’ bags, shoes, etc.), unlicensed software, films, music (on discs, flash drives or other media) and pirated audio and video products (DVDs, CDs).

If the border guards suspect that the goods are counterfeit or infringe intellectual property rights, they may be subject to inspections, seizure of the goods and fines.

Electronics and other equipment

One piece of equipment that you use (laptop, phone, camera) is considered a personal item and is usually not subject to taxation or prohibition.

However, if you are transporting several identical new pieces of equipment (for example, 2-3 new phones, unpacked), customs officials may consider it a commercial import, requiring a declaration and payment of customs duties.

Carriage of medicines

If you are transporting potent medicines (containing codeine, tramadol, etc.), you should have the original prescription with a doctor's signature and stamp, preferably with a translation into English or the language of the destination country.

For foreigners planning a trip to Ukraine, especially in times of instability, it is important to have health insurance covering military risks. Such a policy provides medical assistance in case of emergencies related to military operations and guarantees financial protection in critical cases.

Choose reliable protection that will make you feel confident during your stay in Ukraine!

Just a reminder! If you are travelling with pets, you should take into account the rules for transporting animals in Ukraine and abroad. You can read more about how to travel with pets here.

Photo: Unsplash

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