Visa-free EU regime anticipated

IMPACT – LOW

What is the change? The Council of the European Union has launched the second phase of visa liberalization with Ukraine.

What does the change mean? If adopted, the regime will allow visa-free travel between Ukraine and EU states.

• Implementation timeframe: Adoption is anticipated within the next year.
• Visas/permits affected: Business and tourist visas.
• Who is affected: Nationals of Ukraine and EU countries.
• Impact on processing times: None.
• Business impact: The regime would facilitate business travel.
• Next steps: The Council of the European Union will continue to monitor Ukraine’s implementation of rules put in place for the visa liberalization.

Background: On May 27, the Commission issued a progress report concluding that Ukraine had accomplished the first phase of a visa liberalization plan that began in 2008. The report found that Ukraine had put in place the necessary legal and institutional framework, such as document security and controls on illegal immigration. In the second phase, the Commission will be checking to make sure that Ukraine is implementing those laws and procedures, including the issuance of biometric passports.

BAL Analysis: Visa-free travel between Ukraine and EU states will boost business travel by making it faster and cheaper through the elimination of normal visa procedures.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Ukraine. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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