The information in this article is current as of the date of its publication. In case of changes, we will inform about it on our resources and the blog section of the website.
Despite the war, Ukraine did not restrict foreigners from visiting its territory. However, some changes regarding the thoroughness of the traveler’s check did take place.
In general, in order to enter Ukraine, you only need to have a valid foreign passport and arrive at the checkpoint to pass border control. However, such an algorithm did not always work, and before the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, even more so, it rarely works today.
When planning a visit to Ukraine, we always recommend preparing in advance and collecting a package of documents for a successful interview at the border.
In this article we will tell:
How to issue an invitation to a foreigner to Ukraine?
What package of documents to prepare?
How many days can a foreigner stay in Ukraine during martial law?
Is it possible to come to Ukraine without an invitation?
With which documents to enter Ukraine upon invitation?
Do I need a visa to enter Ukraine?
Where is the best way to enter Ukraine?
How to make an invitation for a foreigner to Ukraine?
In order for a foreigner to be able to confirm the purpose of his trip to Ukraine, the person organizing the trip needs to draw up an invitation.
In general, invitations are divided into 2 types:
- Invitation from a legal entity (company, volunteer organization, representative office). Often such invitations are called business invitations or business invitations.
This type of invitation is drawn up on the company’s letterhead, sealed with the director’s signature and seal (if any). It must contain the original registration number, the date of issue and does not require a notarization.
- Invitation from a natural person (relative, friend/girlfriend, bride/groom, etc.), so-called private or guest invitation.
Such an invitation must be notarized. For certification, the person inviting the foreigner must personally contact a private or public notary with documents certifying his identity (passport, identity card) and TIN (taxpayer card) and sign the invitation statement printed on a notary form.
Where to get the text of the invitation?
The most reliable way is to order an invitation from lawyers who are constantly involved in the preparation of documents for foreigners. In the conditions of constant communication with foreigners and government bodies, lawyers know the innovations and nuances of document preparation, therefore, with maximum probability, the text of your invitation will meet all the latest requirements of border guards and consuls.
You can also find an example of the invitation text on Google and fill it with your data.
Sometimes the text of the invitation is provided directly by notaries.
Whichever method you decide to use, in any case, the invitation must contain mandatory attributes, the list of which can be found below. Be sure to check that your invitation contains these mandatory elements before giving it to a foreigner.
What documents are required to issue an invitation?
In order to draw up an invitation, the following must be requested from a foreigner:
Page of the foreign passport of the foreigner, with which the entry to Ukraine will be carried out, with personal data (scan or photo);
Address of residence abroad.
In addition, to draw up an invitation, you need to decide on the following:
The address of the foreigner’s future residence in Ukraine;
The dates or period (from… to…) to which the foreigner is invited and the number of planned visits to Ukraine (single or multiple);
The purpose to indicate as the reason for the visit to Ukraine.
From the receiving party, identifying information is indicated in the invitation:
for a legal entity, this is the name, number in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organizations, place of registration.
for an individual – full name, passport data, TIN, place of residence.
Foreigners have the right to stay on the territory of Ukraine for no more than 90 days in 180 days.
That is, a foreigner can stay in Ukraine for 90 days in a row, or come for shorter periods, for example, 30 days, but in total they should not exceed 90 days.
180 days should be counted not from the day of first entry, but from the date on which you are interested in the number of days of stay. For example, the first entry took place on 03/03/2024, and the number of days of stay should be known as of 06/03/2024. Therefore, 180 days should be counted from 03.06.2024, not from 03.03.2024. You can automatically calculate the length of stay in the migration calculator on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
At the same time, it is possible to specify not only the exact dates of the foreigner’s stay in Ukraine, but also the period during which the entries will take place in the invitation. For example, you can indicate that a foreigner is invited to Ukraine for short-term multiple trips in the period from 01.05.2024 to 30.04.2025. At the same time, it will be possible to visit Ukraine twice for 90 days.
Is it possible to come to Ukraine without an invitation?
If we are talking about 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, the border service employee has the right to demand documents confirming the purpose of the trip from a foreigner crossing the border. If the foreigner does not have such documents, the border guard can refuse entry.
Although the presence of an invitation is not a 100% guarantee of passing border control, it greatly increases the chances of success. The more documents you provide confirming the purpose of the trip, the more likely it is that the border crossing will go smoothly and take a minimum amount of time.
What must be included in the invitation?
Mandatory details of any invitation are:
- surname, first name, patronymic of the invited person;
- information about the date and place of birth of the invited person;
- citizenship of the invited person;
- details of the passport document of the invited person;
- place of residence abroad of the invited person;
- the purpose of the trip;
- the period of the planned visit to Ukraine;
- the number of planned entries of the invited person to Ukraine;
- planned place of residence in Ukraine;
- the obligation of the inviter to bear possible expenses related to the stay and departure from Ukraine of the invited person.
An invitation from a legal entity, in addition to the above, must be issued on company letterhead and additionally contain:
- number in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organizations;
- 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 of the inviting natural person;
- details of the passport document and permanent or temporary residence permit (for foreigners and stateless persons) of the inviting person;
- residential address of the inviting person.
For transit through third countries, it is desirable to issue a bilingual English-Ukrainian invitation, so that the employee of the foreign border service could be convinced of the reason for transit through the territory of his state
What documents, in addition to the invitation, need to be prepared?
In addition to a correctly issued invitation, it is advisable for a foreigner to have the following with him:
- Health insurance policy on the territory of Ukraine. After the removal of the current restrictions, this document is not mandatory, but to increase the chances of a successful border crossing, it is better to buy 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 going to apply for a permit, take with you all the documents that confirm your right to long-term residence in Ukraine. If you are visiting relatives, take documents confirming the family connection – this, in addition to the invitation, will help you confirm the purpose of your visit to Ukraine.
- Document on sufficient financial support. The procedure for determining whether a foreigner has sufficient financial support for entry into Ukraine stipulates that a guarantee letter from the inviting party can be a confirming document. Usually, a correctly drafted invitation to a foreigner to Ukraine contains all the necessary guarantees. Accordingly, the invitation, which specifies the guarantees of the inviting party regarding the provision of funds to the foreigner in Ukraine, should be sufficient for crossing the border. However, often, during the control, Border Service officers ask to show cash or a bank statement of the foreigner or the inviting party to make sure that the funds are really there. Therefore, before the trip, you need to be ready to provide such a document or show cash. How to calculate the amount of funds that should be in the account, read here.
- In addition to preparing a package of documents, it is important to prepare for the interview. Before allowing entry to Ukraine, in most cases, a short conversation is held with the foreigner regarding the reason for the trip to Ukraine and the period for which the visit is planned. It is necessary to be ready to answer the questions of the border guards and to be able to quickly show documents that will confirm the information that was voiced orally. The inviting party must be in touch during border control. If a citizen of a migration risk or CSTO country enters Ukraine, it is necessary to prepare for a check that may last several hours.
Note that the invitation provides grounds for crossing the border with Ukraine, but not with other countries.
In addition, the decision on the permission to cross the border is always at the discretion of the employee of the Border Service. An invitation is not a guarantee of entry, but this document and the ability to clearly answer the questions of the Border Service officer will significantly increase the chances of success
Do I need a visa to enter Ukraine?
If a citizen of a country with which Ukraine does not have agreements on visa-free travel is going to Ukraine, it is necessary to first issue a C-01 (business) or C-02 (private) visa.
You can check whether a country is on the visa-free list on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Documents for obtaining a visa can be submitted to Embassies, Consulates of Ukraine and visa centers that have the right to accept documents for Ukrainian visas. Most often, it is VFS Global.
A foreigner can apply for a visa in the country of his/her actual residence, with the exception of citizens of certain states. See here for a list of states whose citizens have the right to apply for a visa only in the country of citizenship or permanent residence.
To apply for C-01 and C-02 visas, you must first fill out the visa application form on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prepare the following documents:
- passport and its copy;
- printed and signed visa application form;
- one photo measuring 35 x 45 millimeters;
- health insurance policy for the entire period of validity of the visa with a coverage of 30,000 euros;
- a document confirming the availability of sufficient financial support for the period of the planned stay in Ukraine;
- a receipt for the payment of the consular fee (with the exception of citizens of countries for which visas are issued free of charge) – usually paid when submitting documents for a visa;
- invitation and documents of the inviting party.
The passport provided for visa application 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.
When issuing a visa, the original invitation will remain at the consular institution of Ukraine. Therefore, we recommend that you prepare two copies of the invitation, or the original and a notarized copy, so that you can use the second copy for border control.
Where is the best place to cross the border of Ukraine?
Before heading to the Ukrainian border, it is necessary to check whether a specific checkpoint is functioning, at what time, and whether it is possible to cross it with the vehicle you are going to Ukraine with. For example, there are crossing points that can be crossed only by car or only on foot.
All the information, including the busyness of the crossing point, can be found on the interactive map of the Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
As for the transit country for entering Ukraine, the rules of entry and the need to obtain a visa are regulated by the internal legislation of each individual state. Currently, you can enter Ukraine through Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. Familiarize yourself with the information about the visa regime between your country of citizenship and the transit country in advance in order to correctly form the route.
Do you need help with drawing up an invitation or obtaining documents for residence in Ukraine? Contact us, our lawyers will provide qualified assistance!
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