Visa policy of Ukraine
Visitors to Ukraine must obtain a visa from one of the Ukrainian diplomatic missions or online unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.[1]
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Ukraine |
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Presidency
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Executive |
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Visa policy map
Visa exemption
Citizens of the following 5 countries can enter Ukraine without a visa for an indefinite stay.[2]
ID - May enter with a national ID card if arriving directly from Georgia
1 - must hold proof of sufficient funds on arrival.
Holders of passports of the following 77 jurisdictions can enter Ukraine without a visa for a stay up to 90 days within any 180 day period, except where otherwise noted.[2]
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1 - up to 30 days within any 60 day period.
2 - up to 14 days.
3 - until January 30, 2021.
4 - until January 31, 2021 and up to 30 days whithin any 180 day-period[3]
ID - May enter with a national ID card in card format if arriving directly from Turkey
A - must hold proof of sufficient funds on arrival.
B - visa not required for service, tourist and private trips on conditions that documents certifying the purpose of the trip are provided.
Date of visa changes |
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Visa free
Cancelled:
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Ukrainian government intends to sign reciprocal visa-free deals with the following states in the next five years: Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Nauru, Palau, Peru, El Salvador, Samoa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Jamaica.[50]
Ukraine signed visa waiver agreements with the Marshall Islands on 28 November 2019[51] and Grenada on 16 July 2020,[52] but they are yet to be ratified.
Electronic visas
Ukraine introduced electronic visas on 4 April 2018.[53] Visas are valid for tourism and business purposes for 30 days and cost USD 85.[54][55] From 1 January 2019, electronic visas will also be available for the following purposes: treatment, activities in the field of culture, science, education, sports, in order to perform official duties of a foreign correspondent or representative of a foreign media.[55]
Nationalities eligible for e-Visas are as follows:[56]
Visa on arrival
The visa-on-arrival facility was terminated on 1 January 2019.[55] Previously, holders of passports of eligible countries could enter Ukraine by obtaining a visa on arrival at Kyiv Boryspil Airport, Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany) and Odessa International Airport for a stay up to 15 days.[57][58][59]
Non-ordinary passports
Additionally, only holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of Cambodia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Vietnam and only diplomatic passports of India and Mexico do not require a visa for Ukraine.
Ukraine signed a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic or official/service passports with Sri Lanka in September 2019, but it is yet to be ratified.[60]
Crimea
The Autonomous Republic of Crimea was annexed by Russian Federation after its military intervention of 2014.[61] On 4 June 2015, the Government of Ukraine has adopted the resolution No. 367 "About the statement of the Order of entrance on temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and departure from the territory". According to the document, entrance of foreigners and persons without citizenship on temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and departure from the territory is carried out through checkpoints according to passport documents and the special permission given by territorial authority, which, however, is not issued to regular visitors. Hence, most non-Ukrainians can only enter Crimea from Russia, whereby no border control is carried out and no trace of the entry left in the person's passport. Nevertheless, if somehow discovered doing this, such as by trying to enter "mainland" Ukraine from Crimea, Ukrainian law provides that tourists having entered Crimea from Russia can face an entry ban and/or imprisonment.[62]
Donetsk and Luhansk regions
Parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are under de facto control of pro-Russian paramilitary forces, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. These parts of country are declared Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone. In November 2014, the Government of Ukraine imposed passport control on all persons entering or leaving this territory. Ukrainian citizens have to show their passports while foreigners also have to explain the purpose of their visit. Arrival through checkpoints on uncontrolled part of Russia–Ukraine border are against law, visitors will not be able to proceed further into Ukraine.[63][64]
Fingerprinting
Ukraine introduced biometric control (fingerprints, digital photo) at border crossings for nationals of the following 70 countries on 1 January 2018: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.[65]
Future plans
- Some Ukrainian government officials often express their confidence that introduction of visa regime with Russia is necessary.[66][67][68]
- Ukrainian government considers the possibility of introducing visa regime with the United Kingdom.[69][70] This was a reaction to the absurdly high level of denials of visas for Ukrainian citizens in 2017-2018. In 2005, Ukraine introduced visa-free regime for European Union as a whole, without specifying every country of the union, thereby British citizens will lose visa-free entry to Ukraine the moment when the United Kingdom leaves the EU. After Brexit, Ukrainian government is going to negotiate with British government the resumption of visa-free travels to Ukraine for British citizens in exchange for visa-free travels to UK for Ukrainian citizens, or at least an easier procedure of getting a visa.
- The MFA of Ukraine announced that it is possible that it will cancel visa-free regime for Israel as a reaction to frequent causeless denials of entry for Ukrainian citizens by Israeli border guards in Ben Gurion Airport (especially the case, when a whole plane of 140 people was denied entry with no explanations), as well as systematic violations of rights of Ukrainian citizens in Israel.[71]
Reciprocity
Ukrainian citizens can enter most of the countries whose citizens are granted visa-free access to Ukraine without a visa but they require a visa for Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.
Visitor statistics
Most visitors arriving to Ukraine were from the following countries of nationality:[72]
Country | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
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See also
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ukraine. |
References
- "Country information (visa section)". Timatic. International Air Transport Association (IATA) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- Visa requirements for foreigners entering Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
- "President of Ukraine introduces a temporary visa-free travels for Chinese citizens".
- Agreement between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Government of the Mongolian people's Republic on terms of mutual visa-free trips of citizens
- About establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of the United States of America (in Ukrainian)
- About establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of Canada
- About establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of Japan (in Ukrainian)
- About establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of member states of the European Union, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein (in Ukrainian)
- About establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of the Principality of Andorra, State city of Vatican, Republic Iceland, Principality of Monaco, Kingdom of Norway and Republic of San Marino (in Ukrainian)
- Under the Agreement (exchange of notes) between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the abolition of payment of visas for citizens of the two countries and visa-free entry citizens of the Republic of Korea in Ukraine for up to 90 days on 25 May 2006
- About addition of the appendix 4 to Rules of entrance of foreigners and persons without citizenship to Ukraine, their departure from Ukraine and transit through her territory (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ukraine and Government of the Republic of Paraguay on visa abolition
- Previous visa-free agreement was applied in period 1990-2010 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia).
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the conditions of mutual trips of citizens (in Ukrainian)
- About temporary introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of the Republic of Macedonia from 15 August 2012 to 15 March 2013 (in Ukrainian)
- About temporary introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of the Republic of Macedonia from 16 March 2013 to 15 March 2015
- "Спрощення візового режиму з Республікою Македонія" [Simplification of the visa regime with the Republic of Macedonia]. macedonia.mfa.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of Macedonia. February 14, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukrinform-poroshenko-signs-visa-waiver-agreement-with-north-macedonia-for-a-year.html
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ukraine and Government of Montenegro on mutual trips of citizens (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the government of the Special Administrative Hong Kong People's Republic Of China on mutual abolition of visa requirements (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ukraine and the Government The State of Israel about refusal of visa requirements for persons who use passports of the citizen or service passports of Ukraine but State of Israel (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and Government of the Argentine Republic on visa abolition (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement (in the form of exchange of notes) between the Cabinet of Ukraine and the Government To its Majesty of Sultan and Young D_-Pertuana to Brunei To Darussalam about mutual visa abolition for citizens, what use passports for trip abroad (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ukraine and Council of ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on conditions of mutual trips of citizens (in Ukrainian)
- Previous visa-free agreement under different terms was applied in period 1990-2011 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia).
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic Serbia on refusal of visa requirements for citizens (in Ukrainian)
- "В Бразилию теперь можно ездить без виз" [Now you can travel to Brazil without visas] (in Russian). LB.ua. December 30, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- About establishment of a visa-free regime for citizens of the Republic of Croatia (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Turkish Republic on conditions of mutual trips of citizens (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ukraine and Government of the Republic of Panama on visa abolition (in Ukrainian)
- Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and Government of the Republic of Chile on conditions of mutual trips of citizens (in Ukrainian)
- Департамент консульської служби МЗС України (Consular Department of MFA of Ukraine) - Facebook
- "С 1 апреля украинцы будут ездить в Албанию без виз" [From the 1st of April Ukrainians will travel to Albania without visas] (in Russian). Ukrinform. March 10, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Безвиз с Антигуа и Барбудами вступает в силу 29 июня" [Visa-free regime with Antigua and Barbuda comes into force on 29th of June] (in Russian). Ukrinform. June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "2 листопада 2018 року набирає чинності Угода між Кабінетом Міністрів України та Урядом Держави Катар про взаємне скасування візових вимог, вчинена 20 березня 2018 року у м. Доха" [On November 2, 2018, comes into force an agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the State of Qatar on the mutual abolition of visa requirements, which was signed on March 20, 2018 in Doha.]. mfa.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. October 18, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- Visa-free regime between Ukraine and Dominica to be launched on November 13
- Visa waiver agreement between Ukraine and Northern Macedonia to enter into force on December 22
- https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/2892020-34449
- Was applied under the Agreement between USSR and Vietnam on 15 July 1981
Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on mutual visa-free trips of citizens on 21 October 1993 - Was applied under the Agreement between USSR and Cuba on 10 January 1985
Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Cuba about conditions of mutual trips of citizens on 20 May 1995 - Oznámenie Ministerstva zahraničných vecí Slovenskej republiky
- Украина и Болгария намерены упростить визовый режим
- Was applied under the Agreement between USSR and Yugoslavia on 31 October 1989
Agreement on mutual travel of citizens between Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2002 (in the form of an exchange of notes) - The agreement was concluded between the USSR and North Korea in 1986. The terms of the agreement allowed visa-free entry for group and individual trips with a tourist document. Tourist documents define the national tourism organizations. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine and North Korea have not determined the form of the tourist document for visa-free travel. This visa-free regime has not been applied for citizens of Ukraine with ordinary passports from 1991. Ukraine denounced the agreement in 2016.
- "Украина отменила безвизовый режим для граждан Северной Кореи" [Ukraine abolished visa-free regime for citizens of North Korea] (in Russian). UNIAN. August 31, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- Diplomatic note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
- https://www.unian.info/society/10703667-ukraine-s-cabinet-wants-to-sign-visa-free-deals-with-another-14-states.html
- https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2827027-ukraine-and-marshall-islands-sign-visa-facilitation-agreement.html
- https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3064438-ukraine-signs-visa-waiver-agreement-with-grenada.html
- Граждане 46 стран со среды смогут оформлять е-визы для поездок в Украину
- "The Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs starts issuing electronic visas (E-Visa) for entry into Ukraine". mfa.gov.ua. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. March 29, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України «Про внесення змін до Правил оформлення віз для в'їзду в Україну і транзитного проїзду через її територію»" [Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On amendments to the Rules of issuing of visas for entry into Ukraine and transit through its territory"]. www.kmu.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- eVisa Ukraine
- "Оформлення віз для в'їзду в Україну в міжнародних аеропортах "Бориспіль" (KBP), "Жуляни" (IEV), "Одеса" (ODS)" [Registration of visas for entry into Ukraine in international airports "Boryspil" (KBP), "Zhulyany" (IEV), "Odessa" (ODS)]. mfa.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України «Про затвердження Правил оформлення віз для в'їзду в Україну і транзитного проїзду через її територію»" [Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine «On introducing the Rules of issuing of visas for entry into Ukraine and transit through its territory»]. www.kmu.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. March 1, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Holders of the Macao Special Administrative Region Passport are granted visa-on-arrival entry to Ukraine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- Foreigners Now Need Russian Visa to Visit Crimea
- "Російське товариство захисту прав споживачів попередило росіян, що за незаконне відвідування Криму можна потрапити до в'язниці" [Russian Consumer Protection Society warned Russians that they could be imprisoned for illegal visits to Crimea]. www.5.ua (in Ukrainian). 5 Kanal. June 21, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- Kiev declares passport control on border with rebel-held regions
- Ukraine crisis: Kiev imposes passport control around rebel-held regions
- "З 01 січня 2018 року Державною прикордонною службою України запроваджується фіксація біометричних даних іноземців та осіб без громадянства з 70 держав, у т.ч. Російської Федерації" [From January 1, 2018, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine introduces fixation of biometric data of foreigners and stateless persons from 70 countries, including Russian Federation]. mfa.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "На порозі візового режиму з РФ: чому в Україні зважилися на радикальні кроки" [On the verge of visa regime with Russia: why Ukraine have ventured for radical steps] (in Ukrainian). Obozrevatel. September 5, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Ukraine MFA to be "technologically" ready to introduce visa regime with Russia". UNIAN. December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Візовий режим з Росією: боротьба з агресором чи символічний крок?" [Visa regime with Russia: fight with aggressor or a symbolic step?] (in Ukrainian). Channel 24. May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Україна думає ввести візи для громадян Британії" [Ukraine considers introduction of visas for British citizens] (in Ukrainian). Korrespondent. February 8, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Безвіз без взаємності. Чому Київ має відновити візи для громадян Великої Британії" [Visa-free regime without reciprocity: why Kyiv should renew visas for British citizens] (in Ukrainian). Yevropeyska Pravda (daughter newspaper of Ukrayinska Pravda). June 6, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- "Україна може скасувати безвіз з Ізраїлем – МЗС" [Ukraine could cancel visa-free regime for Israel – MFA] (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- Foreign citizens who visited Ukraine by country - State Statistics Service of Ukraine