Ukraine Travel

There are currently no cities in Ukraine that are completely safe. And although the main fighting is concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, the entire country is constantly under rocket fire. 

❗️ If you do decide to visit Ukraine, remember the basic safety rules:

• Always carry an identity document with you.

• Strictly observe the curfew. During the curfew, it is forbidden to be in public places, to move around on foot or by transport. 

• Air raid alert - we recommend installing the application of the same name on your smartphone and immediately go to the nearest shelter when you receive the signal. You should also do the same if you hear the corresponding signal on the street.

• Take out an insurance policy that covers war risks. In order to feel as safe as possible in Ukraine during military operations, you need to take care of purchasing the proper insurance. You can do this by following the link.

• Keep a record of your blood type and any possible health problems in your clothing pocket.

• Always keep your cell phone and power bank charged.

• There are checkpoints on the roads of all cities in Ukraine. Be prepared to be stopped and have your documents checked.

• Do not wear army uniforms, camouflaged clothing, or clothing with chevrons.

• Do not take photos or videos of people in uniform, checkpoints, or any military vehicles or military equipment.

• For accommodation in Ukraine, choose hotels, hostels, private houses, etc. with a basement. In case of danger, it can serve as a shelter. 

Transit passage of foreigners through the territory of Ukraine is allowed if they have a Type B transit visa, a visa of the country of destination, travel tickets, or other documents confirming the transit nature of the trip.

All categories of visas provided for by legislation are issued by foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine. 

Foreigners entering Ukraine from countries with which the visa-free regime has not been concluded must apply for a visa.

To be imported into Ukraine, all animals must have:

1. Microchip for pets. Your pet must be chipped with a 15-digit unencrypted microchip that complies with the ISO 11784/11785 standard.

2. Vaccinations. Your dog or cat must have a valid rabies vaccination after chipping.

3. Health certificate. A licensed veterinarian must complete an EU medical certificate for Ukraine 10 days before travel. If your pet is traveling from the United States, the veterinarian must be accredited by the USDA and the health certificate must be certified by the state Department of Agriculture office. If you are traveling to Ukraine from another country, the forms must be certified by the state body responsible for the import and export of animals.

To learn more about the rules for importing your pets, follow the link.

112 - Single call number for all emergency services

101 - Firefighting services

103 - Ambulance service 

104 - Emergency service of the gas network

102 - Police

What can be imported from abroad

Green customs corridor

Items that are not subject to customs taxation and declaration can be transported through the green corridor.

Persons passing through the green corridor are exempt from filing a written customs declaration. Exemption from submitting a written customs declaration does not mean exemption from mandatory compliance with the procedure for moving goods across the customs border of Ukraine.

Thus, you can import:

- Personal belongings;

- goods that cost no more than 500 euros and weigh up to 50 kg;

- edible products not for sale, which cost up to 200 euros;

- cash (both hryvnia and foreign currency) in the total amount of up to 10 thousand euros. If the amount is larger, you must present a bank certificate stating that this amount was withdrawn from your personal account;

- medicines (except for narcotic and psychotropic substances) in the amount specified by law: no more than 5 packages of each medicine per person.

Red customs corridor

Using the "red" customs corridor, it is allowed to transport items that must be declared in writing, namely

- goods that require permits;

- currency and cultural values;

- securities and payment documents;

- drugs containing narcotic, psychotropic substances or precursors;

- goods more expensive than 500 euros and heavier than 50 kg.

Please note! 

Taxes are calculated on the basis of the value of the goods, for which you should present the customs officer with sales receipts, labels, and other available documents. If you do not have such documents, customs officers will have to determine the customs value of the goods based on the prices of identical or similar goods.

What is prohibited to import to Ukraine

• Drugs, narcotic and psychotropic substances;
• explosive and poisonous substances;
• food products without a certificate;
• printed and video materials promoting violence, racism and war, pornography;
• unidentified animals;
• cultural property declared wanted;
• cold, firearms, gas (spray) weapons without the permission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Goods you can export from Ukraine 

You are allowed to export goods with a total value of less than EUR 10,000 across the customs border of Ukraine without a written declaration and payment of customs duties. If you plan to export goods that are restricted by Ukrainian legislation (e.g., cattle or oilseeds) or goods subject to customs control with a total value of less than EUR 10,000, you must declare such goods and pay customs duties.

If you are exporting goods with a total value of more than EUR 10,000 across the customs border of Ukraine, you must declare them and pay customs duties. Certain goods exported by citizens across the customs border of Ukraine with a total value exceeding EUR 10,000 are declared in writing without paying taxes, for example

- goods exported in connection with leaving Ukraine for permanent residence in another country;

- goods inherited by a non-resident citizen in Ukraine, provided that the composition of the inheritance is confirmed by a notary;

- goods temporarily exported by resident citizens across the customs border of Ukraine in the presence of a written obligation to return them.

What cannot be exported from Ukraine

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 amounts, a special permit is required).

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

1. Medicines with narcotic or psychotropic substances that are not intended for medical use;
2. Potent medicines, unless they have a prescription from a doctor;
3. medicines with a volume of more than 500 ml.

In addition to these items, it is forbidden to transport weapons, cultural monuments and poisons:

• Cold, pneumatic and firearms and 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 appropriate permission);
• equipment with pornographic materials or unlicensed software;
• materials calling for racism or violence.

According to the Customs Service of Ukraine, the following items are prohibited for export from Ukraine:

• Weapons and ammunition;
• narcotic and psychotropic substances;
• potent poisonous, radioactive, explosive substances;
• works of art, cultural and historical values;
• canceled securities;
• items exported in violation of intellectual property.

Under Ukrainian law, foreign nationals temporarily residing in Ukraine have the right to drive vehicles.

There are 3 categories of foreigners:

1. Foreigners temporarily staying on the territory of Ukraine on a visa (or from a visa-free country) for tourist purposes

2. Foreigners who temporarily reside in the territory for other purposes than tourism (if they have a temporary residence permit)

3. Foreigners who are residents of Ukraine and have received a permanent residence permit

The first 2 categories of foreigners must have a driver's license to drive a car:

- A driver's license of a foreign country with personal data in Latin alphabet (as per the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, 1968);

- International driving license with personal data in Latin alphabet; may drive a car under their national license.

The 3rd category of foreign citizens who have received a permanent residence permit in Ukraine must obtain a Ukrainian driver's license. After all, a foreign driver's license is canceled after 60 days (from the date of receipt of the license).

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Rules for foreigners to enter Ukraine by car with foreign license plates

Citizens of other countries can import cars with foreign license plates into the territory of Ukraine exclusively for their own use.

Please note: Foreign citizens can drive cars with foreign license plates in Ukraine for up to one year. However, if you plan to stay in Ukraine for more than two months, you need to contact a service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for temporary registration of the car. After the one-year period expires, the car with foreign license plates must leave Ukraine.

Rules of entry for foreigners with a temporary residence permit for cars with foreign license plates

Foreign nationals with a residence permit in Ukraine may import a car with foreign license plates for their own use after a written declaration and payment of customs duties.

In Ukraine, cars are driven on the right-hand side of the road, and there are no fees for using the roads.

You are allowed to drive at the following speed on highways:

• In the pedestrian (residential) zone - 20 km/h.
  
• In settlements (cities), the maximum speed is 50 km/h.
  
• On roads outside of settlements, you are allowed to drive at a speed of 90 km/h.
  
• If the road outside the city is equipped with a dividing strip, the speed limit is 110 km/h.
  
• On highways, the speed limit is 130 km/h.

Road users must know and strictly follow the rules of the road. Drivers must have a driver's license and vehicle registration documents. Both the driver and the passenger in the front seat must wear seat belts.

Rules for transporting children in a car

The law prohibits the transportation of children under the age of 12 without seat belts and child seats. It is prohibited to transport children in the front seat without a child seat. Children over the age of 12 must wear seat belts.

What you need to know about driving in Ukraine during martial law

Drivers should be prepared for some unexpected situations that, unfortunately, often occur on Ukrainian roads today.

1. Be as focused as possible on the road and keep a close eye on all road users, while following the traffic rules. This is important because you must be prepared for danger at all times.

2. Be prepared to give way, even where, according to the rules, you have the right of way. After all, on the roads of Ukraine, mainly in cities, there are now many patrol cars (police, military, ambulances and other first responders) that can respond to a call or potential danger at any time.

3. Do not approach military vehicles or record their movements. Firstly, it is prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine, and secondly, as a rule, military equipment has poor visibility, and therefore you may not be noticed on the road.

4. Do not exceed the speed limit and carefully monitor the road conditions, even if there are no other road users on the road besides your car. There may be defensive structures on the road, or incompletely dismantled checkpoints. These obstacles can cause an accident, especially if you hit them at high speed.

5. Follow the rules of behavior at checkpoints.

Rules for driving through a checkpoint

There are checkpoints in Ukrainian cities and between regions where the military may resort to checking civilians.

1. When approaching an equipped checkpoint, drivers should slow down and prepare their documents for possible inspection. Please note that the dashcam must be turned off and removed from the windshield, as well as the phone.

2. When approaching the checkpoint, you will notice a “STOP” sign - you need to stop near it, then turn off your headlights and turn on your hazard lights.

3. Wait for the military to signal you with their hands or a flashlight. Drive up to them slowly, but do not get out of the car unless asked to do so. To communicate with the military, lower the side window.

4. At the request of an authorized person, allow the trunk and interior of the vehicle to be inspected. After passing the inspection, you can start driving only after the permission of the inspector. Driving should be slow, as a sharp increase in speed may arouse suspicion.

What is checked at checkpoints?

- Documents of persons

- belongings (inspection)

- vehicles;

- luggage and cargo.

What do the signals given by other drivers in Ukraine mean?

- Signaling with hazard lights while the vehicle is moving means “thank you” or “excuse me” depending on the context of the situation. For example, if you let someone pass you on the road, you will most likely be thanked with a hazard light.

- short headlight signals (flashing) from a passing car - you are asked to give way.

- signals (flashing) from the headlights of the oncoming car warn of danger ahead. However, please note that in the dark, this may mean that you have not switched your high beams and may have blinded another driver on the road, so make sure you have your low beams on.

- A left turn signal (in some cases with brake lights) from a truck in front of you warns you that you are not allowed to overtake because there are cars in the opposite lane. Conversely, a right turn signal (in some cases with brake lights) means that the oncoming lane is clear and you can overtake.

Queues at the checkpoints to enter Ukraine

Useful resources for tracking traffic

Security

• Map of air alerts in Ukraine: https://alerts.in.ua/en 
• Handbook - https://dovidka.info/en/handbook/. This handbook contains practical advice on how to prepare for life under martial law and how to act in emergency situations.

Where to go for psychological support:

• The line of the international humanitarian organization "Person in Need" - 0 800 210 160

(round the clock, calls are free)

• IOM emotional support line - 0 800 211 444

(from 10:00 to 20:00 daily, calls are free)

Contacts of the Embassy of Ukraine in other countries can be found here.