Information on the procedure of foreigners entry to (exit from)Ukraine
May 27, 2010 · Print This Article
At present, the Ukrainian legislation provides for both visa and visa-free entry procedure for foreigners (foreign citizens and non-citizens).
The rules of foreigners entry to (exit from) Ukraine are regulated by Ukrainian law On Legal Status of Foreigners, of February 4, 1994, by the Rules of foreigners entry to Ukraine, their exit from Ukraine and transit through its territory (under the Decree N 1074 by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers of December 29, 1995) and by the Rules of obtaining visa documents for entry to Ukraine (under the Decree N 227 by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers of February 20, 1999).
Foreigners shall enter/exit Ukraine through the crossing points on the Ukraine frontier, in case of presence of a national passport and a visa, if otherwise is not specified by the Ukrainian legislation.
All categories of visas are issued by Ukraine’s diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad. The Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issues diplomatic visas in the territory of Ukraine to diplomats for the term of their accreditation. Service visas are issuing to officers of foreign affairs institutions of foreign states in case of presence of a service passport, to foreign mass media staff as well as to the members of their families for the period of service card validity (Appendix 1).
At the territory of Ukraine the period of visas validity could be prolonged. Diplomatic and service visas, issued to diplomatic personal, officers of diplomatic institutions, consular institutions, international and other organizations, accredited in Ukraine are prolonged by the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Other visa types are prolonged by the organs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
In accordance with a Decree N 227 by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers of February 20, 1999, visas for foreigners are issued on the basis of their entry purpose, provided they have the appropriate documents (Appendix 2).
Depending on validity, there exist the following types of visas: short-term visas (issued for up to 6 months) and long-term visas (6-12 months); by frequency of use the visas are divided into single, multiple and collective.
At the time of temporary stay in Ukraine, foreigner has no right to change the status of residence for any other one and to apply for permission for permanent residence in Ukraine.
Since July 1, 2001, in accordance with a Decree of the President of Ukraine N 435 of June 15, 2001 “About the Additional Measures Directed Towards the Realization of Right of Human for Freedom of Movement and Free Choice of the Place of Residence” the registration of foreigners, which are entering Ukraine according to the set rules, and their passport documents is carried out only at the crossing points on the State frontier by the organs of the State Committee for the Protection of the National Frontier of Ukraine. Further registration of foreigners, which are temporary staying in Ukraine according to the set rules, and their passport documents is not carried out by the internal affairs agencies.
In case of loss of national passports by the foreigner on the territory of Ukraine, the passport owner should inform their hosting organization and an internal affairs agency about this incident. The latter, upon the foreigner’s request, issues a substitution document. On obtaining national passports by foreigners at the diplomatic mission or consular department of their country on the basis of the foreigner’s application and a petition by their hosting organization, the internal affairs agency provides for issuing an exit visa or registration of the foreigner’s national passport.
Exit of foreign citizens and non-citizens from Ukraine
Foreign citizens and non-citizens, which have temporary stayed in Ukraine, should exit the country in the course of the rules of entry to Ukraine.
In accordance with a Decree N 910 by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers of June 5, 2000 foreign citizens and non-citizens, which have the permanent residence in Ukraine or staying in Ukraine with the aim of job placement based on Centre of Employment confirmation or studying at the high school education institutions of Ukraine, exit Ukraine according to the passport documents with appropriate marks and certificates for residence.
Transit of foreigners through the territory of Ukraine is allowed, in case if the foreigner has a transit Ukrainian visa, a destination country visa and tickets or other documents proving that the intended trip is really a transit.
Citizens of the States which have concluded international agreements with Ukraine on visa-free travelling of citizens (Appendix 4) enter into Ukraine with a valid national passport, provided they have an insurance policy and a duly arranged invitation (original) by a legal or private person from Ukraine, if otherwise is not envisaged by an international agreement. There still exists a visa-free regime with the CIS countries (according to the Agreement on Visa-Free Migration of the CIS Countries Citizens of October 9, 1992), including Russia and Belarus (according to the concluded agreements).
Grounds for issuing visas
P-1 (private visa) - invitation of an established type duly arranged by the internal affairs agencies or an invitation of a Ukrainian medical institution and other documents proving the private nature of the trip.
P-2 (private visa) - personal application, results of a personal interview with an employee of a Ukrainian diplomatic mission or consular post which is in charge of deciding whether a visa can be issued, and documents proving Ukrainian background of an foreigner or a non-citizen.
B (business visa) - invitation of an established type duly arranged by the internal affairs agencies.
T (tourist visa) - documents proving the tourist nature of the trip.
H (visa for members of humanitarian missions) - approval by the Commission at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for coordination, acceptance, transportation, security and distribution of humanitarian aid rendered by foreign States.
E (visa for members of rescue services) - approval by the Ministry of Emergency Issues of Ukraine.
O (student visa) - invitation of an established type issued by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine.
M (visa for mass media staff) - Instruction by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on issuing the visa.
R (visa for members of religious missions) - invitation by a religious organization, certified by the State Committee of Religions.
TP-1 (transit visa) - document proving the transit nature of the trip, visa to a third country, ticket, etc.
TP-2 (transit visa) - documents proving the transit nature of cargo transportation and public bus transportation through the territory of Ukraine.
EI-1 (immigration visa) - work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour.
EI-2 (immigration visa) - permit by a local executive body for permanent residence in Ukraine.
OI (visa for international transport service staff) - license for international transportations issued by the corresponding agency of the host country.
Visas of other types are issued on the request by the State authorities of foreign countries, international organizations, invitation cards issued by ministries, by other central executive power bodies, as well as invitation cards of the type established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from Ukrainian legal and natural persons.
There is no need in invitation for issuing visas (types C, B, M, K, P) for the citizens of states - members of the European Union, Canada, Slovak Republic, United States, Turkey, Switzerland and Japan (in accordance with a Decrees by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers N 750 of May 5, 2000, N 1376 of September 01, 2000, N 192 of February 28, 2001).
In case of need, an employee of a Ukrainian diplomatic mission or a consular office may request additional documents which would in a better way specify the aim of the foreigner’s/non-resident’s trip or invite a certain person for an additional interview.
The list of countries with indication of visa regime:
Notion:
DP - holders of diplomatic passports
SP - holders of official passports
Austria
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Australia
Visa
Azerbaijan
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Albania
Visa, except DP, SP
Algeria
Visa
Angola
Visa
Antigua and Barbuda
Visa
Andorra
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Argentina
Visa, except DP, SP
Afghanistan
Visa
Bahamas
Visa
Bangladesh
Visa
Barbados
Visa
Bahrain
Visa
Belize
Visa
Belgium
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Benin
Visa
Belarus
Visa-free (internal passports for travel)
Bulgaria
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Bolivia
Visa
Bosnia and Gartsehovyna
Visa, except DP, SP
Botswana
Visa
Brazil
Visa, except DP, SP
Brunei Darussalam
Visa, except DPSP
Burkina Faso
Visa
Burundi
Visa
Butane
Visa
Vanuatu
Visa
Vatican
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
UK
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Venezuela
Visa, except DP, SP
Vietnam
Visa, except DP, SP
Armenia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Gabon
Visa
Haiti
Visa
Guyana
Visa
Gambia
Visa
Ghana
Visa
Guatemala
Visa
Guinea
Visa
Guinea Bissau
Visa
Honduras
Visa
Grenada
Visa
Greece
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Georgia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180nights
Denmark
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Djibouti
Visa
Dominica (Commonwealth)
Visa
Dominican Republic
Visa, except DP, SP
Ecuador
Visa
Zimbabwe
Visa
Eritrea
Visa
Estonia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Ethiopia
Visa
Egypt
Visa
Yemen
Visa
Zambia
Visa
Zimbabwe
Visa
Israel
Visa, except DP
India
Visa
Indonesia
Visa
Iraq
Visa
Iran
Visa, except DP, SP
Ireland
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Iceland
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Spain
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Italy
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Jordan
Visa
Cape Verde
Visa
Kazakhstan
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Cambodia
Visa, except DP, SP
Cameroon
Visa
Canada
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Qatar
Visa
Kenya
Visa
Kirghizia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
China (PRC)
Visa, except DP, SP
Cyprus
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
D K N R
Visa, except DP, SP
Colombia
Visa
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Visa
Congo (Republic)
Visa
Korea
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Costa Rica
Visa
Côte d’Ivoire
Visa
Cuba
Visa, except DP, SP, crew members of sea vessels and aircraft and travel for treatment
Kuwait
Visa
Laos
Visa, except DP, SP
Latvia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Lithuania
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Liberia
Visa
Lebanon
Visa
Libya
Visa
Liechtenstein
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Luxembourg
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Mauritius
Visa
Mauritania
Visa
Macedonia
Visa, except DP, SP
Malaysia
Visa
Mali
Visa
Malta
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Morocco
Visa
Mexico
Visa, except DP
Moldova
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Monaco
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Mongolia
Visa-free (for travel on official business travel, private purpose if the documents confirming purpose of travel)
Nepal
Visa
Nigeria
Visa
Netherlands
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Germany (Federal Republic of)
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
New Zealand
Visa
Norway
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
O and E
Visa
Oman
Visa
Pakistan
Visa
Panama
Visas, except DP, SP
Paraguay
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Peru
Visa, except DP, SP
P A R
Visa
Poland
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Portugal
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Puerto Rico
Visa
Russian Federation
Visa-free (internal passports for travel)
Romania
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
El Salvador
Visa
San Marino
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
SaudMali Arabia
Visa
Serbia
Visa, except DP, SP
Sierra Leone
Visa
Syria
Visa
Singapore
Visa, except DP, SP
Slovakia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Slovenia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
S V A
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Sudan
Visa
Tajikistan
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Thailand
Visa, except DP, SP
Tanzania
Visa
Tunisia
Visa
Turkey
Visa, except DP, SP or special passports
Turkmenistan
Visa, except DP, SP
Uganda
Visa
Hungary
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Uzbekistan
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Uruguay
Visa
Philippines
Visa
Finland
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
France
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Croatia
Visa, except DP, SP
Central African Republic
Visa
Chad
Visa
Bohemia
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Chile
Visa, except DP, SP
Montenegro
Visa, except DP, SP
Switzerland
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Sweden
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days
Sri Lanka
Visa
Jamaica
Visa
Japan
Visa-free for 90 days for 180 days