Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Ukraine is ending its visa-on-arrival program for foreign nationals traveling as tourist or business visitors starting Jan. 1.
What does the change mean? Those planning travel to Ukraine for business or tourism starting Jan. 1 will not be able to use the visa-on-arrival program. If they are eligible, they are encouraged to use Ukraine’s e-visa program instead.
Background: Visas on arrival are currently available at select airports for nationals of 33 countries. Nationals of 31 of the 33 countries who are eligible for visas on arrival are also eligible for e-visas, but Chinese and Indian nationals (both currently eligible for visas on arrival) are not eligible for e-visas. Nationals of the following countries are currently eligible for e-visas:
Visa-required nationals of countries that are not eligible for e-visas, including Chinese and Indian nationals travelling as a tourist or business visitor, must apply for a consular visa prior to travel.
Comments & Analysis: The change will add to the time it takes to plan travel to Ukraine for those who would otherwise use the visa-on-arrival program because e-visas can take up to nine business days to process. Travelers should take note of the change and plan accordingly.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? Following the imposition of martial law in 10 regions of Ukraine, the Ukrainian government has announced that male citizens of Russia ages 16-60 are restricted from entering the country. According to the State Border Authority’s hotline, Russian citizens holding temporary or permanent residence permits will not be affected by the restriction.
Background: After Russian forces seized three Ukrainian ships Nov. 25 in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian government imposed martial law in 10 regions. The bar on entry for Russian men has not been codified by law, but border officers are likely acting based on internal instructions that are not publicly available. As of now, Russian men who lack a residence permit are unlikely to be admitted to Ukraine during the period of martial law. In addition, Russian men who hold a valid residence permit may be at risk of non-admission. According to press reports, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said that Russia does not plan on retaliating against the Ukrainian ban by restricting Ukrainian nationals from entering Russia.
Analysis & Comments: Russian men ages 16-60 may face difficulties with crossing the Ukrainian border, especially if they do not already possess a residence permit. Russian men who are currently in Ukraine to obtain a residence permit are advised to stay in Ukraine until after the residence permit has been obtained. Additional information is likely to become available in the coming days.
IMPACT – LOW
What is the change? Ukraine and Georgia have approved a new travel agreement making it easier for those with Ukrainian IDs to travel to Georgia for short-stay tourism and business trips. Also, Ukraine and Uruguay have agreed to move to a visa-free travel arrangement.
What does the change mean? Georgian and Ukrainian nationals may soon travel to each other’s countries using only a Ukrainian internal ID for short-stay tourism and business trips. The two countries have had a visa-free travel arrangement since 1999.
Uruguayan and Ukrainian nationals may soon travel to each other’s countries for tourism and business trips of up to 90 days within a 180-day period without having to obtain a visa prior to travel.
Background: Earlier this year, Ukraine established visa-free agreements with Antigua and Barbuda and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, Ukraine has signed amendments to its visa-free agreement with Serbia to extend visa-free stays from 30 days to 90 days, but the changes have not been enacted. Ukraine launched its e-visa program for nationals of 46 countries in April. E-visas are valid for tourism or business purposes for a single entry of up to 30 days. The Ukrainian visa-on-arrival program is available to nationals of 32 countries (30 of which are also eligible for e-visas), is only available at certain airports, and has the same requirements as the e-visa program, including a document that confirms the purpose of travel, such as an invitation letter from the hosting entity. Visas-on-arrival may be granted only for certain purposes, including tourism or business, for a single entry of up to 15 days.
Analysis & Comments: When enacted, the agreements will ease travel for Ukrainian nationals traveling to Uruguay and Georgia and for Uruguayan and Georgian nationals traveling to Ukraine.
What is the change? Ukraine has announced the successful launch of its e-visa program for nationals of 46 countries.
What does the change mean? E-visas are valid for a single entry of up to 30 days.
Background: Eligible nationals may apply online, upload supporting documents and pay the government processing fee of US$65 electronically. The e-visa will be emailed to the applicant, who must print it out and present it at the airport upon arrival in Ukraine.
Nationals of the following countries are eligible for e-visas.
Countries Eligible for E-visas
BAL Analysis: Eligible nationals may begin using e-visas rather than applying for consular visas. Nationals who are eligible for both e-visas and visas on arrival may choose either program, but travelers should note that e-visas differ from visas on arrival. Visas on arrival are available to nationals of 32 countries (30 of which are also eligible for e-visas), are only available at certain airports, and have different requirements, including a document that confirms the purpose of travel, such as an invitation letter from the hosting entity.
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.
Copyright © 2018 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Ukraine is now accepting applications for its new e-visa program, allowing nationals of 46 countries to apply for e-visas for travel of up to 30 days for business or tourism.
What does the change mean? Nationals of 46 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore may now apply for e-visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website here.
Background: Ukrainian officials announced the creation of an e-visa program in 2017, but implementation was delayed. E-visa procedures have now been put in place and officials have begun accepting applications. Under current policies, nationals of the following countries are eligible for e-visas:
Ukraine waives visa requirements altogether for nationals of roughly 60 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and European Union member states. Those eligible for visa-free travel are eligible to stay in Ukraine for business or tourism for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
BAL Analysis: The e-visa program eases travel procedures to Ukraine for nationals of 46 countries. Travelers should note, however, that while the visas will be available for tourism or business, employment activities are prohibited on e-visas.
What is the change? Ukraine is poised to launch an e-visa program for nationals of 47 countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
What does the change mean? Once implemented, the program will allow nationals of the 47 countries to apply for e-visas valid for up to 30 days for business or tourist travel.
Background: Ukrainian officials announced the creation of an e-visa program in 2017, but implementation was delayed. E-visa procedures have now been put in place and officials are expected to begin accepting applications soon. Under current policies, nationals of the following countries will be eligible for e-visas:
Ukraine waives visa requirements altogether for nationals of roughly 60 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and European Union member states.
Those eligible for visa-free travel are eligible to stay in Ukraine for business or tourism for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
While the UAE remains on the e-visa list, the subsequent implementation of a visa-free travel agreement between the UAE and Ukraine means that obtaining e-visas is not necessary for UAE nationals.
BAL Analysis: The e-visa program will ease travel procedures to Ukraine for nationals of 47 countries. Travelers should note, however, that while the visas will be available for tourism or business, employment activities are prohibited on e-visas.
What is the change? A visa-free travel agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine has entered into force.
What does the change mean? UAE and Ukrainian nationals may now travel to each other’s countries for short-stay tourism and business trips without having to obtain a visa prior to travel.
Background: The UAE and Ukraine signed an agreement to waive visa requirements for short-stay trips in November. The deal has since been put into effect. The arrangement allows Ukrainian nationals to visit the UAE for stays of up to 30 days, while UAE nationals may visit Ukraine for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
BAL Analysis: The new visa agreement will ease travel for UAE and Ukrainian nationals traveling to each other’s countries.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Ukrainian border authorities have launched a biometric border control system at certain checkpoints on the Ukrainian border with Russia. The system is set to be launched nationwide, including at airports, on Jan. 1.
What does the change mean? Nationals of countries that are deemed a high migration risk, including Russian nationals, should be prepared to provide biometrics (fingerprints) upon their first arrival in Ukraine after the system is launched. Affected travelers should anticipate that border-crossing procedures will be slower than normal during this time.
Background: The switch to a biometric entry system was among a number of border-control measures the Ukrainian government said it may implement in 2018.
The system will work as follows: Stateless persons or foreign nationals of countries deemed a high migration risk will be asked to provide fingerprints upon entering Ukraine. The fingerprints will be checked against relevant databases before the person can enter the country. They will be kept on file electronically so that they will not need to be collected on subsequent visits. The Ukrainian Border Service recently released this video on how the system will work.
There is no word yet on when additional border security measures may be taken, but the Ukrainian government has discussed the possibility of requiring prior notification before traveling to Ukraine and requiring biometric passports.
BAL Analysis: The change will slow border procedures for affected travelers, including Russian nationals. BAL will continue to follow developments in Ukraine, including the possibility that other border security measures will be implemented in the near future.
What is the change? The implementation of Ukraine’s e-visa program, which was announced in April, is experiencing delays.
What does the change mean? While Ukraine’s foreign ministry develops a procedure to issue e-visas, foreign travelers are advised to apply for visas at a consulate. Additionally, although the visas-on-arrival program was recently expanded to cover business travelers, these visas are not recommended for business trips due to the risk of delays or being denied a visa upon entry.
Background: In April, Ukraine passed a regulation introducing e-visas available to business and tourist visitors for a single entry of up to 30 days. Although the program was to take immediate effect, authorities have not yet completed implementation procedures.
The regulation also added 20 countries to the visa-on-arrival program, now available to nationals of 33 countries, and allowed the use of visas on arrival for business purposes. Business travelers, however, should be aware that visas on arrival are not always granted and that they have several limitations, including that they are issued for a single entry of up to 15 days and do not cover work activities.
BAL Analysis: Travelers are not yet able to apply for e-visas, and business travelers should be aware of the risks and limitations of relying on visas on arrival.
What is the change? The European Union’s visa-free travel agreement with Ukraine is set to enter into force this weekend.
What does the change mean? Effective Sunday, Ukrainian nationals who hold biometric passports will be able to travel visa-free to Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Background: The European Parliament approved the visa waiver for Ukraine in April and the agreement was subsequently finalized. The change will allow Ukrainians to travel without a visa to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for business, tourism or family visits, but not for work.
The Parliament’s vote followed a European Commission recommendation to add Ukraine to the list of countries eligible for a Schengen visa waiver after determining that Ukraine had met key benchmarks on legal and political reforms. Negotiations over the visa waiver had been ongoing since 2008.
BAL Analysis: The waiver will benefit Ukrainians traveling to the EU (excluding Ireland and the U.K.) and ease consular visa processing. Ukrainian nationals should anticipate high demand for biometric passports and apply early. Travelers are reminded that a 90-day stay is calculated within a rolling 180-day period and, if not counted properly, can lead to overstays.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network partner in Ukraine. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.