Entry to Ukraine: Rules for Foreigners During the War

Entry Rules for Foreigners During the War: What is This Text About?

Despite the war, Ukraine has not restricted foreigners from visiting its territory. However, some changes concerning the increased scrutiny of traveler checks have taken place.

In general, to enter Ukraine, you only need a valid foreign passport and to arrive at a checkpoint for border control. However, this simple procedure did not always work even before the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, and it is even less likely to work today.

When planning a visit to Ukraine, we always recommend preparing in advance and assembling a package of documents for a successful interview at the border.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to issue an invitation for a foreigner to Ukraine?

• What package of documents should be prepared?

• How many days can a foreigner stay in Ukraine during martial law?

• Is it possible to come to Ukraine without an invitation?

• What documents are required for entry to Ukraine with an invitation?

• Is a visa required for entry to Ukraine?

• Where is the best place to cross the border into Ukraine?

How to Issue an Invitation for a Foreigner to Ukraine?

For a foreigner to confirm the purpose of their trip to Ukraine, the person organizing the trip must issue an invitation.

In general, invitations are divided into 2 types:

1. Invitation from a Legal Entity (company, volunteer organization, representative office). Often called a business invitation. This type of invitation is issued on company letterhead, certified with the director's signature and stamp (if applicable). It must contain an outgoing registration number, date of issue, and does not require notarization.

2. Invitation from an Individual (relative, friend, fiancée/fiancé, etc.), the so-called private or guest invitation. Such an invitation must be obligatorily notarized. To be notarized, the person inviting the foreigner must personally apply to a private or public notary with documents confirming their identity (passport, residence permit) and TIN (Taxpayer ID card) and sign the application-invitation printed on a notarial form.

Where to get the text of the invitation?

The most reliable way is to order the invitation from lawyers who constantly handle document preparation for foreigners. Due to continuous communication with foreigners and state bodies, lawyers are aware of the latest innovations and nuances, so the text of your invitation will, with maximum probability, meet all the latest requirements of border guards and consuls.

You can also find an example text of an invitation in Google and fill it out with your data. Sometimes, the invitation text is provided directly by the notaries.

What Documents Are Required to Issue an Invitation?

To prepare the invitation, you need to request the following from the foreigner:

• The page of the foreigner's foreign passport with personal data (scan or photo), which will be used to enter Ukraine;

• Address of residence abroad.

In addition, to issue an invitation, you need to determine the following:

• The address of the foreigner's future residence in Ukraine;

• The dates or period (from... to...) for which the foreigner is invited and the number of planned visits to Ukraine (single or multiple);

• The purpose to be indicated as the reason for the visit to Ukraine.

The inviting party's identifying information indicated in the invitation is:

• for a legal entity, this is the name, registration number in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Formations, and place of registration.

• for an individual – full name, passport details, TIN, place of residence.

Is It Possible to Come to Ukraine Without an Invitation?

If it concerns a citizen of a visa-free country, then yes, it is possible. However, we still recommend issuing an invitation. The fact is that, according to the rules of border crossing, a border service employee has the right to demand documents from a foreigner crossing the border that confirm the purpose of the trip. If the foreigner does not have such documents, the border guard may refuse entry.

Although the presence of an invitation is not a one-hundred-percent guarantee of passing border control, it significantly increases the chances of success. The more documents provided that confirm the purpose of the trip, the more likely the border crossing will go smoothly and take minimal time.

What Must Be Indicated in the Invitation?

The mandatory details of any invitation are:

• last name, first name, patronymic (if applicable) of the invited person;

• information about the date and place of birth of the invited person;

• citizenship of the invited person;

• details of the invited person's passport document;

• place of residence abroad of the invited person;

• purpose of the trip;

• period of the planned visit to Ukraine;

• number of planned entries of the invited person into Ukraine;

• planned place of residence in Ukraine;

• the inviting party's obligation to cover possible expenses related to the stay and departure of the invited person from Ukraine.

An invitation from a legal entity, in addition to the above, must be issued on company letterhead and additionally contain:

• registration number in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Formations;

• registration number and date;

• signature of the head of the legal entity.

An invitation from an individual must be notarized and contain:

• last name, first name, patronymic (if applicable) of the inviting individual;

• details of the passport document and permanent or temporary residence permit (for foreigners and stateless persons) of the inviting person;

• address of residence of the inviting person.

What Documents, Besides the Invitation, Need to Be Prepared?

In addition to a correctly issued invitation, the foreigner should preferably have the following with them:

• Medical insurance policy in Ukraine. After the lifting of COVID restrictions, this document is not mandatory, but to increase the chances of a successful border crossing, it is better to purchase insurance and have it with you. Such insurance must cover the entire planned period of stay in Ukraine.

• Documents confirming the circumstances of the trip. If you are traveling to obtain a residence permit, take all documents with you that confirm your right to long-term residence in Ukraine. If you are visiting relatives, take documents that confirm the family relationship – this, in addition to the invitation, will help you confirm the purpose of your visit to Ukraine.

• Document confirming sufficient financial provision. The procedure that establishes whether a foreigner has sufficient financial provision for entry to Ukraine defines that a letter of guarantee from the inviting party can be a confirming document. Usually, a correctly drafted invitation for a foreigner to Ukraine contains all the necessary guarantees. Accordingly, an invitation that specifies the inviting party's guarantees regarding providing the foreigner with funds in Ukraine should be sufficient for border crossing. However, often, during control, Border Service employees ask to see cash or a bank statement from the foreigner or the inviting party to ensure that the funds are genuinely available. Therefore, before the trip, you must be prepared to provide such a document or show cash. Read here on how to calculate the amount of funds that must be in the account.

In addition to preparing the package of documents, it is important to prepare for the interview. Before allowing entry to Ukraine, in most cases, a short interview is conducted with the foreigner regarding the reason for the trip to Ukraine and the planned duration of the visit. You must be prepared to answer the border guards' questions and be able to quickly show documents that confirm the information stated verbally. The inviting party must be available by phone during border control. If a citizen of a country with migration risk or the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) is entering Ukraine, preparation for a check that may last several hours is necessary.

Is a Visa Required for Entry to Ukraine?

If a citizen of a country with which Ukraine does not have visa-free travel agreements is traveling to Ukraine, they must first obtain a visa of type C-01 (business) or C-02 (private).

You can check if a country is on the visa-free list on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA).

Documents for visa processing can be submitted to the Embassies, Consulates of Ukraine, and visa centers authorized to accept documents for Ukrainian visas. Most often, this is VFS Global.

A foreigner can apply for a visa in their country of actual residence, with the exception of citizens of certain states. Familiarize yourself with the list of states whose citizens have the right to apply for a visa only in the country of citizenship or permanent residence here.

To submit documents for a C-01 and C-02 visa, you must first fill out the visa application form on the MFA website and prepare the following documents:

• passport and its copy;

• printed and signed visa application form;

• one photo sized 35 x 45 millimeters;

• medical insurance policy for the entire period of the visa's validity with coverage of 30,000 euros;

• document confirming sufficient financial provision for the period of the planned stay in Ukraine;

• receipt for the payment of the consular fee (excluding citizens of countries for whom the visa is processed free of charge) – usually paid when submitting visa documents;

• invitation and documents of the inviting party.

The passport submitted for visa processing must be valid for no more than 10 years, remain valid for at least three months after the declared date of departure from the territory of Ukraine, and contain at least two free pages.

Where Is the Best Place to Cross the Ukrainian Border?

Before heading to the Ukrainian border, you must check whether a specific checkpoint is operational, during which hours, and whether it can be crossed using the vehicle you are traveling to Ukraine in. For example, some checkpoints can only be crossed by passenger car or only on foot.

All information, including the checkpoint's congestion, can be found on the interactive map of the Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

As for the transit country for entry to Ukraine, the entry rules and the necessity of obtaining a visa are regulated by the internal legislation of each individual state. Currently, you can enter Ukraine via Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. Familiarize yourself with the information on the visa regime between your country of citizenship and the transit country in advance to correctly plan your route.

Need assistance with issuing an invitation or obtaining residence documents in Ukraine? Contact us, and our lawyers will provide qualified help!

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