Rules of Entry and Departure from Ukraine for Foreigners

Entry of foreigners and citizens without citizenship to Ukraine

Citizens of the following countries can now visit Ukraine without a visa for periods of up to 90 days over a 180 day period with a valid passport:

Citizens of these countries can stay in Ukraine for up to 90 days within any 180 day period without a visa. For longer stays a visa will be required. For a while there was no 180 day stipulation, which meant that foreigners could simply cross the Ukrainian border every 3 months and avoid getting a visa.

Entry Requirements to Ukraine for U.S. Citizens

A passport valid for six months beyond the planned date of travel is required. According to Ukrainian Presidential Decree #1008 dated June 30, 2005 (with amendment dated August 18, 2005), U.S. citizens traveling to Ukraine on short-term tourist, business or private travel do not need a visa to enter Ukraine. Visas are still required of other categories of travelers including those who intend to study, reside, or work in Ukraine. Short-term travelers entering Ukraine under the auspices of this decree can stay in Ukraine up to 90 days

Ukraine does not recognize dual nationality; travelers entering Ukraine with a Ukrainian passport will be treated as Ukrainian citizens by authorities
Foreign visitors to Ukraine are required to carry passports at all times

For today the Ukrainian Law determines both visa and visa-free entry for the citizens of foreign countries (foreign citizens and persons without citizenship) into Ukraine.
The entry (departure) of foreigners to Ukraine is regulated by the Law of Ukraine about legislative status of foreigners from 4 February 1994, by the Rules of entry of foreigners to Ukraine, their departure from Ukraine and transit way through its territory (Cabinet of Ministers regulations from 29 December 1995 N1074) and by Rules of registration of visa documents for the entry to Ukraine.

The foreigners enter (departure) from Ukraine through the check points at the state border by passport and in the case of visa presence, if any other order is not established by the Law of Ukraine. All visa categories are registered by the diplomatic representations and consular establishments of Ukraine abroad. On the territory of Ukraine the Department of consular service of Ministry of foreign affairs registers diplomatic visas for the terms of accreditation of diplomatic worker and official visas for the workers of foreign affairs departments for the foreign countries who have service passport, workers of foreign mass media, as well as for members of their families for the term of work of their service card.

The term of operation can be prolonged on the territory of Ukraine. Diplomatic and service visas, granted to the diplomatic personnel, workers of diplomatic representations, consular establishments, international and other organizations accredited in Ukraine, are prolonged by the Department of Consular service of Minister of Foreign affairs. Other types of visas are prolonged by the divisions of Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the regulations of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 20 February 1999 N227 registration of visas for the foreigners is held according to the purpose of their trip to Ukraine and with presence of appropriate documents. Depending on period of visa operation,

visas are divided into:
-short-termed (are granted for the period up to 6 months)
-long-termed (are granted for the period from 6 months to 1 year)

Visas are also divided into:
-one-time
-two-time
-multi-time
-collective

During the temporal stay in Ukraine foreigners or persons without citizenship do not have the right to change the status of their stay to any other.
From 1 July 2001 according to the President Law "About additional measures as for the realization of human rights for the indepence of transfer and free choice of accommodation" N435 from 15 June 2001 registration of foreigners who enter Ukraine is carried out only at the check points at the state border of Ukraine by the members of State Committee as for the affairs of state border protection. Further registration of foreigners, who on legal ground temporarly stay in Ukraine in the divisions of internal affais is not held.

In the case of passport loss on the territory of Ukraine the foreigner has to report to the organisation that receives him and divisions of internal affairs that give his a certificate that the passport is lost. After the receiving of national passport on the basis of personal and his organization's application forms in diplomatic embassy or consular establishment of his country, the division of internal affairs makes the decision about granting of exit visa and registration of national passport of foreigner.
Departure of foreigners and persons without citizenship from Ukraine

Foreigners and persons without citizenship who temporarily stay in Ukraine leave the country in the same order as they have entered Ukraine.
According to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from June, 5, 2000 N910 the foreigners and the persons without citizenship who permanently stay in Ukraine, stay in Ukraine with the purpose of employment, or study in higher educational establishments of Ukraine can go abroad in accordance with their passport documents with the appropriate marks and residence permits.
Transit way of foreigners through the territory of Ukraine is permitted with presence of transit Ukrainian visa, visa of destination country, tickets or other documents approving transit character of their trip.
Citizens of the states with which Ukraine have concluded international agreements about visa-free trips can enter Ukraine with the valid national passport, the insurance policy and properly registered invitation (in the original) from legal or physical persons in Ukraine (if other procedure is not provided by the international treaty). The visa-free movement has also left across the CIS countries (according to the Agreement on visa-free movement of citizens of the CIS countries from October, 9, 1992) and with Russia and Byelorussia (according to the concluded Agreements).
Types of Visa and Documents Necessary for Visa Registration

P-1 ( Private visa) - the standard invitation which has been registered by the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the invitation of medical establishment in Ukraine and other documents which approve the private character of trip.

P-2 (Private visa) - personal application and results of interview with the official of Ukrainian embassy or consular establishment representative who is authorized to make decision concerning issuing of visa, and the documents that confirm the Ukrainian origin of the foreigner or the person without citizenship.

B (Business visa) - standard invitation, which has been properly registered by the bodies of Ministry of Internal Affairs.Â

Т (Tourist visa) - documents set that prove tourist character of the trip.

H (Visa for the representatives of humanitarian missions) - proof of the Commission of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on problems of coordination, reception, transportation and protection of the humanitarian help, which comes from the foreign states.

L (Visa for the members of rescue services) - proof issued by the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

O (Student's visa) - standard invitation for the studies issued by the Ministry of Education.

M (Visa for mass media representatives) - order of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine concerning the registration of visa.

R (Visa for the representatives of religious missions) - invitation from the religious organization certificated by the State Religion Committee

TR-1 (Transit visa) - document, which proves transit character of the trip, the visa to the third country, the ticket etc.

TR-2 (Transit visa) - documents, which confirm transit character of the cargo transportation by motor transport and passenger bus transport through the territory of Ukraine.

IM-1 (Immigration visa) - work permission, issued by the Ministry of Labor.

IM-2 (Immigration visa) - permission of local executive power authority for permanent residence in Ukraine.
Visas of other types are issued on the background of the requests of state authorities of foreign states, international organizations, invitations of the ministries, other central executive authorities and also standard invitations of natural and juridical persons in Ukraine.
The invitation is not required for issuing visas of some types for the citizens of the following countries: the European Union countries, Canada, Slovakia, USA, Turkey, Switzerland and Japan (the regulations of the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine from May, 05 2000 N750, from September, 01, 2000 N1376, from February, 07, 2001 N113, from February, 28, 2001 N192).
In case of necessity the official worker of embassy or consular establishment of Ukraine may require other documents, which specify the purpose of the trip or invite a person for additional interview.

Please note that passport and visa information is subject to change and that requirements for specialty visas can be complex.
Travelers are advised to obtain the most current information from the primary source. For more information about visas, residence, and immigration, as well as application forms and fee information, please visit the website for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Міністерство закордонних справ України) at www.mfa.gov.ua, or contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate General of Ukraine.