A visa to Ukraine is a permit required for entry into or transit through Ukraine’s territory. This permit is issued by placing a visa label in the passport of a foreign national or stateless person. The only exception is the e-visa, which can be issued online and has an electronic format.
Please note that a visa allows you to stay in Ukraine for a limited time, up to 90 days, and is not a final document for residence, as it may be in the USA or the United Kingdom. If you are interested in obtaining documents for residence, you can learn more on our pages “Temporary Residence Permit” or “Permanent Residence Permit.”
!!! We emphasize that we do not create grounds for entering Ukraine, but only assist in legally processing the grounds you already have. If you do not have any grounds for entering Ukraine, we will not be able to assist you. Thank you for your understanding.
Types of Visa to Ukraine
The issue of visa types and their processing procedures is regulated by the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 118 dated March 1, 2017, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Order No. 558 dated December 18, 2017. The resolution provides for 3 types of visas, each of which has a clearly defined purpose and grounds for issuance.
Types of visas:
- Visa B – Transit visa, which is issued exclusively for the purpose of passing through the territory of Ukraine to a third country, as well as for the transportation of goods and passengers by road transport. This visa can be issued as a single, double, or multiple-entry visa for the period of validity of supporting documents. However, the stay in Ukraine cannot exceed 5 days.
… - Visa C – Short-term visa, which is issued when there are temporary grounds for entry into Ukraine for a period not exceeding 90 days within 180 days. This visa can also be issued as a single, double, or multiple-entry visa, typically for 6 months. The maximum period for which a visa C can be issued is 5 years.
… - E-visa – A visa issued for up to 30 days for business, private, tourist purposes, or for treatment, or conducting activities in the fields of culture, science, education, or sports, or for performing duties as a foreign correspondent or representative of a foreign media outlet. This is not a separate type of visa, but a sub-type of the visa C, issued for a shorter term and in a simplified procedure.
… - Visa D – Long-term visa, which is issued for the purpose of obtaining residence documents in Ukraine (temporary or permanent residence permit). Visa D is always issued for 90 days and is always multiple-entry. This visa is an intermediate stage in obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine and must be obtained by all foreigners, except for citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Belarus.
Grounds for Issuing a Visa to Ukraine
In order to apply for a visa to Ukraine, you must have properly arranged grounds. The resolution clearly defines the list of grounds for each type of visa. Let’s consider the most common grounds for each type of visa.
Visa B
To obtain a transit visa, you need to provide one of the following documents:
- A document confirming transit travel (visa to a third country, if needed, travel ticket, etc.);
- A document confirming the transit transportation of goods and passengers by road transport;
- A license for international transportation issued by the relevant competent authority of a foreign state.
Visa C
To obtain a short-term visa, you need to provide one of the following documents:
- An invitation from a legal entity;
- An invitation from a Ukrainian citizen, foreigner, or stateless person legally residing in Ukraine;
- Documents confirming the tourist nature of the trip;
- Invitation from a healthcare institution;
- A document confirming the ownership of real estate in Ukraine;
- A document confirming family ties with a spouse, father/mother, or child who is a Ukrainian citizen;
- Invitation from a religious organization.
Visa D
To obtain a long-term visa, you need to provide one of the following documents:
- Certified copy of a work permit;
- Copy of the decision by the State Migration Service (SMS) granting immigration permit to Ukraine;
- Invitation for study issued by a higher education institution;
- Invitation from a religious organization;
- Invitation from a volunteer organization;
- Marriage certificate with a Ukrainian citizen;
- Marriage certificate with a foreigner who has a temporary residence permit or a birth certificate if applying for a visa for dependent parents or children based on family reunification.
Please note that these lists are not exhaustive. The full list of grounds can be found in the text of the resolution.
How to Apply for a Visa to Ukraine
You can apply for a visa to Ukraine in several ways: through the Ukrainian consulate during a personal visit or through a visa center; online via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, and in some cases, upon arrival at border crossing points.
To apply for a visa, you need to prepare and properly arrange your documents, fill out the visa application form, and register in the visa system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When submitting documents, you must pay the consular fee. The standard fee is 65 US dollars. A double visa fee may also be charged for expedited processing of the application.
In some cases, different visa fee rates may apply based on reciprocity, as provided by international agreements. For example, all types of visas for German citizens are issued free of charge, while the D-01 visa for UK citizens costs 2076 US dollars. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an immigration plan with lawyers in advance to significantly optimize costs and save time.
When submitting documents, biometric data is also collected, including fingerprints and a facial photograph. If necessary, an in-person interview may also take place, which can be conducted using remote video communication tools. The consular officer checks whether entry into Ukraine is prohibited or restricted for the applicant.
The standard processing time for a visa application is up to 10 business days. If additional checks are required, this period can be extended to 30 days. The expedited processing time is up to 5 business days.
Further Actions
Depending on the type of visa obtained, you can plan your further actions in Ukraine. For example, if you arrive in Ukraine for a private visit with a short-term visa but, due to certain circumstances (pregnancy, illness, funeral of a relative, or other valid reasons), you need to stay longer, you can apply for an extension of your stay in Ukraine.
If you have obtained a long-term visa of type D, the stay under this visa cannot be extended, and you must clearly plan the time for contacting the territorial department of the State Migration Service to apply for a residence permit. It is important to note that documents must be submitted no later than 15 business days before the expiration of the D visa.
Obtaining a visa to Ukraine is an important step when planning a visit to the country. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the grounds for obtaining a visa, gather and properly arrange the documents, register the foreigner for document submission, and provide instructions on further actions. Our team has been professionally dealing with migration and visa issues for many years.
If you need assistance with obtaining a visa, please submit an application on our website or contact us in any other convenient way.
