Ukraine Travel Information

ENTERING UKRAINE 

Foreigners traveling to Ukraine (regardless of country of origin) must have:

1. a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the country
2. health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment in Ukraine

Exceptions:

• children under the age of 12 (1)
• drivers and crew members of freight vehicles, buses engaged in regular services, crew members of aircraft and ships, river vessels, members of train and locomotive crews (1, 2)
• employees of representative offices of official international missions and organizations accredited in Ukraine (1, 2)

Citizens of Ukraine and foreigners with permanent residency under the age of 12 (regardless of country of origin) must have:

• a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to entering the country

OR

• self-isolate for 14 days and install the Dii vdoma app on their phone (you can take a PCR test once back in the country to shorten the self-isolation period)

OR

• undergo observation at a designated medical facility

Cabinet of Ministers Resolution of 7 April 2021 #310

MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE

Foreigners coming to Ukraine must have health insurance that covers all COVID-19 related treatment and observation for the duration of their stay in Ukraine.

The policy must be issued by

• an insurance company registered in Ukraine; or
• a foreign insurance company with a representative office in Ukraine or a contractual relationship with a partner insurance company in Ukraine.

This requirement does not apply to:

• foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Ukraine;
• refugees and persons needing additional protection;
• employees of diplomatic missions and consulates, representative offices of international missions and organizations accredited in Ukraine, members of their families;
• military of NATO member states and Partnership for Peace member states participating in the training of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Health insurance can be purchased here

DII VDOMA (ACT AT HOME) MOBILE APP

Citizens of Ukraine who do not arrive with a negative COVID-19 test must self-isolate and install the Dii Vdoma (Act at Home) mobile app.  Border guards check for the app. If you are unable to install the app, you must go to a designated facility for observation

You can download the app on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ua.gov.diia.quarantine&hl=uk

You have 24 hours after installing the app to arrive at the destination where you plan to self-isolate. The app sends push notifications for selfies confirming your location – you have 20 minutes to do so. Local police are notified if the photo or geolocation do not match, if the app has been uninstalled, or the phone has been turned off.

The app is currently available only in Ukrainian – an English version is being developed.

A Ukrainian SIM card is required to use the app. Future versions should work on non-Ukrainian SIM cards.

Contact your airline about purchasing a Ukrainian SIM card.

For questions about the Dii Vdoma app contact the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

COVID-19 TESTING

If you take a COVID-19 PCR test at a certified laboratory in Ukraine and receive a negative result you do not have to continue medical observation / self-isolation.

The list of certified labs can be found on the website of the Center of Public Health (CPH) of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

In case of a negative result, the labs enters the information into an online platform which syncs with the Dii Vdoma app hourly. Users receive a message on the Dii Vdoma app that they can end self-isolation / observation.

The phone number provided when taking a COVID-19 test must match the number used to install the Dii Vdoma app.

The following is not recommended before taking the test:

24 hours – drinking alcohol
6 hours – using nasal drops or sprays
4 hours – eating, drinking, smoking, gargling, brushing your teeth, chewing gum, candies

AIRPORTS OFFERING COVID-19 TESTING

Kharkiv airport (HRK)

• Location: Ticket office #20, Terminal A ground floor
• Price: starting at 1,200 UAH
• Hours: 9 am – 11 pm daily
• Payment: cash or card
• Test reform form
• Results in English and Ukrainian
• Contacts: +38 (093) 737-77-56 /  testpcr.airport [@] gmail.com
• More info – https://hrk.aero/en/flying-safely-with-kharkiv-airport/

Kyiv Boryspil airport (KBP)

• Location: 2nd floor of Terminal D passenger (domestic flight departure area)
• Samples for PCR tests are taken 24/7 by airport medical station personnel and processed by the following labs: Adonis, Medlab, Esculab, Universum Clinic, IMMD
• Results are issued in Ukrainian and English
• Prices are set by each lab (range from 890 to 1400 UAH)
• Rapid testing is also available and takes up to 20 minutes. Prices are set by each lab (range from 750 to 850 UAH)
• Contacts: medical-duty-doctor2 [@] kbp.aero/ +38 044-281-72-35 / +38 063-980-67-47
• More info – https://kbp.aero/en/covid-19-general-information/
• https://kbp.aero/en/covid-19-pcr-testing-boryspil-international-airport/

Lviv airport (LWO)

• Performed by UNILAB
• Price: 1,500 UAH
• Results can be obtained in Ukrainian, Polish or English
• Payment: online at https://www.unilab.com.ua/index.php/ua/covid-19/2-uncategorised/69-coronavirus
• More info: https://www.lwo.aero/en/Covid-19

Odesa airport (ODS)

• Performed at the airport first aid post by CSD Medical Laboratory 24/7
• Price: 1800 UAH
• Contacts: +380(67)815-6557
• More info: https://testcovid19.com.ua/odessa

Many airlines have resumed flying to Ukraine, and the number of flights and cities is increasing as summer approaches. Check with your carrier for travel restrictions and changes.

IN UKRAINE

An adaptive quarantine is in effect through June 30, 2021.

Wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth is mandatory on public transportation and in public places. Effective November 21, the fine for not wearing a mask is 170 – 255 UAH (~US$5-$9). People should avoid crowds, stay 1.5 m (5 feet) apart, and wash their hands frequently. Everyone must carry ID.

Ukraine is divided into four epidemiological zones (red, orange, yellow, green) based on the COVID-19 situation. Regions are assigned a color that reflects a set of quarantine restrictions.    

Zones by oblast as of April 24, 2021:

RED: Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Kyiv City, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia
ORANGE: Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Rivne, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn
YELLOW: Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kherson, Odesa, Zakarpattia

Cities under red zone rules:

Lviv (March 19 – May 4): starting on April 19, students in grades 1-4 will return to classrooms, non-food market will reopen, dining establishments will be allowed to serve customers outdoors

Dnipro (March 25 – April 30 ): night clubs are closed, dining establishments are closed from midnight to 7 am except for delivery and takeaway, during the day tables must be at least 2 meters apart with no more than 4 customers per table, masks are required except when eating.

Kyiv City (March 20 – April 30) – all schools and kindergartens are closed, outdoor food markets are closed, special passes are required for travel on public transportation (ground and subway) – issued to essential workers and employees of critical infrastructure enterprises only. The Boryspil Express train and SkyBus are accessible to all passengers.

Train service has been affected in certain red zone regions.

Restrictions in YELLOW zones:

• Masks are required in public transport and public premises
• Persons must carry ID
• Restaurants, bars and cafes are closed from midnight until 7 am (except for delivery and takeaway); there can be no more than 4 adults at a table and tables must be at least 2 meters apart, visitors must wear a mask except when sitting at a table or eating/drinking
• Mass events (cultural, sporting, entertainment, etc.) are limited to 50% seating capacity in each hall or no more than one person per 4 square meter
• Events, banquets, master classes at night clubs, restaurants, cafes, bars are prohibited
• Cinemas and cultural institutions are limited to 50% capacity in each hall
• Museums, exhibitions and galleries are limited to no more than 1 person/10 square meters
• Gyms and fitness centers can have no more than 1 person/ 20 square meters, pools are limited to 4 people per lane for individual sessions or 6 people per group session
• No operation of accommodation establishments (except hotels, sanatoriums, social services centers and rehabilitation centers)

Restrictions in ORANGE zones:

• Same restrictions as in yellow zones, but stricter control measures may be introduced

Restrictions in RED zones:

• Same restrictions as in yellow and orange zones
• Dining establishment are closed except for takeaway and delivery
• Malls, entertainment facilities, gyms, fitness centers, pools, etc. are closed
• Stores and outdoor markets are closed, except for those where more than 60% of the space is intended for the sale of food, fuel, medicine, hygiene products, household chemicals, communication, press, veterinary drugs
• All mass events (entertainment, sporting, social, promotional, etc.) are prohibited
• Dining facilities in hotels are closed from 11 pm to 6 am except for room service
• Suburban and regional train and bus service may be restricted

VACCINE INFORMATION

Ukraine began vaccinating the population in February, starting with medical personnel and military. Rollout has been slow.

Vaccinations as of April 26:

Yesterday: 1,114 / Total: 528,028 / % of population: ~1.3%

Ukrainian Government COVID-19 Vaccination website – https://vaccination.covid19.gov.ua/

The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  U.S. citizens in Ukraine should follow local developments and guidelines.

What to do if you think you have coronavirus while in Ukraine – https://moz.gov.ua/koronavirus-2019-ncov

• If you have signs of an acute respiratory infection (cough, fever, tiredness, etc.) – call your family doctor
• If you or a family member in addition to those symptoms are experiencing trouble breathing, high fever, diarrhea, feeling faint – call the emergency medical dispatch service x103
• The dispatcher will determine whether to send an ambulance
• Air out your premises and put on a mask in preparation of the ambulance’s arrival
• The ambulance workers will assess your condition and decide whether you should to be hospitalized and whether to send someone to administer a COVID-19 test

Ukrainian Ministry of Health COVID-19 24-hour hotline: 0-800-60-20-19

LEAVING UKRAINE

Country-specific entry rules for Ukrainians can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website – https://tripadvisor.mfa.gov.ua/?page_id=1973  and at https://visitukraine.today/departure

Requirements for visas and COVID-19 testing vary by country and change frequently. Check with local authorities before traveling.

Some rules for popular travel destinations include:

From December 28, 2020 to May 26, 2021 all foreigners over the age of 6 traveling to Turkey by air must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of crossing the border. Starting on December 30, foreigners entering the country by land can also take a PCR test at the border. Travelers who refuse the test will be required to quarantine for 14 days. This requirement does not apply for transiting passengers. Visitors must also register online within 72 hours of traveling.

Effective January 26, 2021, all aircraft passengers two years of age and older, departing from any foreign country to a destination in the United States, must provide:

• pre-boarding proof of a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 test performed in the past 72 hours and an attestation to the veracity of the test, OR
• written or electronic documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the preceding 90 days in the form of a positive viral test result taken within the 90 days preceding the flight and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official stating the passenger has been cleared for travel.

The order applies to all travelers including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and foreign officials traveling for official purposes with limited exceptions for airline personnel and U.S. military and law enforcement on orders.  For further details and frequently asked questions, please visit the Centers of Disease Control website.

Air carriers will not board passengers who do not meet these requirements.  Accordingly, travelers to the United States should check with their air carrier or travel representative prior to departure.

As of March 10, travelers from Ukraine to Montenegro must have either 1) negative PCR test taken within 48 hour before arrival; 2) IgC antigen test taken no more than 30 days before arrival; 3) confirmation of two vaccine doses received at least 7 days before arrival.

Starting on February 15, all foreigners entering Slovakia must quarantine for 14 days.  A PCR test can be taken on day 8 to end the quarantine early.

From January 30 to February 15 Czechia is closing its borders to all foreigners, with the exception of those who study, work or have residency in the country. Those traveling to visit immediate relatives, for medical care or to attend weddings or funerals will be allowed to enter.

As of February 1, 2021, travelers to Georgia must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of crossing the border. A test must also be taken on day 3 of arrival in the country. This rule does not apply to those who have been vaccinated (two shots). Citizens of Ukraine will be allowed to enter the country by air starting on March 1 if they have a negative PCR result.

From January 29 – April 30, 2021 Bulgaria will allow Ukrainians to enter with a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of crossing the border.

Cyprus categorizes countries as Green, Orange or Red with different entry requirements for each category. As of April 1, Ukraine is considered a Red Category country. Travelers coming from Ukraine are required to: a) undergo a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours prior to departure proving a negative PCR result and b) undergo a laboratory test upon their arrival in the Republic of Cyprus. The examination cost will be borne by themselves and in addition, such persons should remain in self-isolation until the test result is issued. More info here

Effective January 13, 2021, Croatia is temporarily prohibiting and restricting the crossing of persons across all border crossing points. List of exceptions and more information on entering Croatia here

The Netherlands requires a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted less than 72 hours before crossing the border and an express test taken within 4 hours before boarding.

As of January 31, travelers to Dubai must present a COVID-19 negative test taken within 72 hours (down from 96 hours) of the flight. An additional test is administered upon arrival to travelers from certain countries, including Ukraine. The test is free. Travelers must self-isolate until they receive the test result.

Slovenia requires Ukrainian tourists have a negative COVID-19 test done within 48 hours of arrival. More information on entering Slovenia can be found here

Albania requires 14 day self-isolation.

As of November 11, passengers over the age of 11 flying from Ukraine to France are required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before the flight.

As of September 1, all tourists to Egypt must present a negative coronavirus test taken no later than 72 hour before crossing the border. Read (in Ukrainian) the requirements for the test result certificate here.

The EU will allow Ukrainians to enter for study, business, work, health care, diplomacy, transit and trucking. Documented proof of need to enter is required. Border guards at different checkpoints may interpret rules differently.

It is unlikely that the Schengen area will open its borders to unrestricted travel from Ukraine in the near future. The EU takes into account economic, social and epidemiological factors: the number of new coronavirus cases in the last 14 days and per 100,000 population should be near or below the EU average.

Entry requirements change on a daily basis. Check with local authorities for country-specific regulations.