The information on entrance (departure) regulations for foreigners

For today the Ukrainian legislation defines both visa, and the visa-free order of entrance to Ukraine for foreigners (foreign citizens and stateless persons).

Entrance (departure) of foreigners to (from) Ukraine is regulated by the Law of Ukraine on the Legal Status of Foreigners from February, 4, 1994, the Entrance, Departure and Transit Regulations for Foreigners, (the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers from December, 29, 1995 #1074) and Rules of Visa Documents Registration For entrance to Ukraine (the decree of the Cabinet Of Ministers from February, 20, 1999 #227).

Foreigners who enter (leave) Ukraine must pass check points on frontier and present their national passport and the visa (if other order of entrance is not established by the legislation of Ukraine). The visas of all categories are issued by Ukrainian embassies and consulates abroad. On the territory of Ukraine the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues diplomatic visas for the accreditation terms of diplomatic agents, business visas for the representatives of foreign departments of foreign states who have a service passport, foreign mass media representatives and also the members of their families for the term of validity of their service cards (Appendix 1).

The duration of the visa may be extended on the territory of Ukraine. Diplomatic and the business visas are issued for the staff of embassies, consular establishments, international and other organizations accredited in Ukraine are extended by the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Other visa types are extended by the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

According to the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from February, 20, 1999 #227, registration of visas for foreigners is realized on the basis of the purpose of their trip to Ukraine and the presence of the documents appropriate for this purpose (Appendix 2). Depending on their validity term the visas are divided into of a on short-term visas which are issued for the period of six months, and long-term visas which are issued for the period from six months to one year. The visas are also divided in one-time, two-times, reusable, and collective.

During their temporary stay in Ukraine the foreigners or stateless persons do not have the right to change the status of their stay and apply for the permanent residence in Ukraine.

Since July, 1, 2001 according to the Decree of the President of Ukraine "About Supplementary Measures Concerning Realization of the Human Rights for the Freedom of Movement and the Free Choice of the Commorancy " #435 from 15.06.01 the registration of foreigners who enter Ukraine in accordance with established procedure and the registration of their passport documents is realized only in check points at the frontier of Ukraine by the bodies of the State Committee on Affairs of Protection of the Frontier of Ukraine. Any further registration of foreigners who temporally and on legal grounds reside on territory of Ukraine, and the registration of their passport documents in law-enforcement bodies is not conducted. The registration of foreigners who enter Ukraine for permanent residence, studying, training and working is realized by law-enforcement bodies in accordance with established procedure (Appendix 3).

In case of losing his (her) national passport on the territory of Ukraine the foreigner must inform about this his (her) organization and the law-enforcement bodies which will issue the certificate of loss at his (her) request. After foreigner's receiving the national passport on the basis of his (her) personal application and the application of his (her) organization in the embassy or consular establishment of his (her) country the law-enforcement body solves the question of issuing visa for departing from Ukraine or registration of the national passport of the foreigner.

Departure of foreigners and stateless persons from Ukraine

Foreigners and stateless persons who temporarily reside in Ukraine leave the country in the same order as they have entered Ukraine.

According to the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from June, 5, 2000 #910 the foreigners and the stateless persons who permanently reside in Ukraine, stay in Ukraine with the purpose of employment, or study in higher educational establishments of Ukraine may go abroad in accordance with their passport documents with the appropriate marks and residence permits.

Transit visas are issued provided your passport has valid visa for the next country of your destination, or if visa to that country is not required then tickets for transportation via Ukraine to the country of your destination are to be presented.

Citizens of the states with which Ukraine have concluded international agreements about visa-free trips (Appendix 4) may 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 remained 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).

Appendix 1. Diplomatic and business visas

Appendix 2. The grounds for visa registration

Appendix 3. Passports which are not released from the registration in law-enforcement bodies of Ukraine

Appendix 4. The list of the countries the citizens of which do not need visas for entering Ukraine