Ukraine's land borders are open, so we have prepared updated rules and convenient routes for entering Ukraine from France in 2024. Find out more about the requirements and useful tips

Apply for an insurance policy covering military risks for entry and stay in Ukraine

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Despite the imposed martial law, foreigners continue to come to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. 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, including 13,987 French citizens.

However, such a journey has its own peculiarities, in particular, the airspace is closed in Ukraine, and certain safety rules must also be observed.

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

How to get from France to Ukraine in 2024?

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 train or bus.

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

1. Flight from France to the Ukrainian border

● France – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Paris, Grenoble, Nice and Strasbourg. The price of the ticket is from 90 to 150 euros. Travel time is about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

- Krakow is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, with direct flights from most major French cities. Available departures from Marseille, Toulouse, Paris, Bordeaux, Nice and Lille. Ticket price from 25 euros. Travel time is about 2 hours. In total, more than 20 airlines fly here, including the popular low-cost carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair.

  - There are no direct flights to Rzeszów (Ryaszów), you can get here only with a transfer in Warsaw. Available departure cities are Lyon, Paris, Nice, Nantes, Rennes and Strasbourg. Ticket price from 180 euros. Travel time is about 4 hours. The airport in Rzeszów is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, it is located 172 km from Lviv (Ukraine).

You can also fly directly from France to Katowice and Lublin.

A detailed route from Poland to Ukraine can be found in this article.

● France – Moldova

There is a direct flight from Paris to Chisinau airport from France. Travel time is 2 hours 35 minutes. Ticket price from 120 euros.

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.

● France – Slovakia

There are no direct flights to Slovak cities from France. You can fly to Kosice, Bratislava or Poprad only with a transfer. Such a trip will last about 5 hours and will cost from 60 euros.

● France – Hungary

You can fly to Debrecen, the Hungarian airport closest to the Ukrainian border, from Nice, Marseille or Paris on a direct flight. The price of the ticket is from 190 euros.

There are direct flights to Budapest from Marseille, Paris and Nice. Travel time – 2 hours 10 minutes, ticket price from 60 euros.

● France – Romania

Direct flights from Paris to Suceava are operated by WizzAir and Ryanair. The price of the ticket is from 30 euros.

2. Travel to Ukraine by land transport

At the second stage, it is necessary to continue your trip from the European city to Ukraine by ground transport.

● Train

Most of the tourists prefer the railway because of its speed and comfort. Ukraine is connected to European cities by the following trains:

- Poland - from Warsaw you can reach Kyiv, from Przemyśl - to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, from Chelm - to Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv.

- Hungary - there is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv.

- Austria - a direct train goes from Vienna to Kyiv.

- Moldova - a direct train goes from Chisinau to Kyiv.

- Slovakia - from Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo.

Find a detailed schedule of trains running between Ukraine and European countries by following the link.

● Bus

The average duration of a bus trip from France to Ukraine is more than 30 hours.

Buses depart from French cities: Paris, Metz, Nancy, Reims and Strasbourg and arrive in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv. Ticket price starts at 3,600 hryvnias.

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. Plane, train or bus - a ticket for any type of transport in one place.

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Rules of entry for French citizens to Ukraine 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of France 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 length of stay exceeds 90 days or you plan to work or study in Ukraine, then before traveling you need to apply for a long-term visa (type "D") at the Ukrainian embassy or consulate in France. 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 France in Ukraine:

- Address: 01901, Kyiv, str. Reitarska, 39

- Telephone: +38 044 590-36-00

- Fax: +38 044 590-36-24

- Email: [email protected]

● 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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