All visitors to Ukraine must make a border crossing at some point. This can be a stressful experience for travelers, especially after a poor night's sleep... Foreigners wanting to legally visit Poland should make their way to a Polish diplomatic outpost in their own country, where they will be given full information on the rules governing their visit to Poland...

Ukraine

Crossing the Ukrainian border

All visitors to Ukraine must make a border crossing at some point. This can be a stressful experience for travelers, especially after a poor night's sleep. This page will tell you what to expect and give you the information you need to act confidently and get through quickly.

Entering Ukraine

Foreigners may enter and exit Ukraine by airplane or at any international border crossing. These are along most major roads between Ukraine and neighboring countries and at all points where trains cross the border. Border crossings are forbidden in all other areas. In rural border areas local villagers are allowed to pass through the border, but foreigners may not.

Upon entering Ukraine you will fill out an immigration card, a customs declaration (if applicable), and have your passport and visa checked (if you are required to have a visa). The border officer will ask you about your purpose for visiting Ukraine and will stamp your passport and immigration card. The stamp shows the date and location of your border crossing. The border officer may ask additional questions about what you will be doing in Ukraine, but this is more of a formality than an attempt to incriminate you. Then you pass through customs, where you are asked about what you are taking into the country. Custom's officers have the right to inspect your baggage to check that the amount of various items you are bringing into the country is within the duty-free limit. If they are not, you are subject to customs duties.

Customs regulations and declarations

If you are carrying any valuables into or out of the country or more than $1000 USD in cash, you will be required to fill out a custom's declaration upon crossing the border. You are allowed by law to bring up to $10,000 USD in cash into Ukraine without special documentation. For a detailed list of items that must be declared, see the Ukraine Embassy site. If you have no items to declare or less than $1000 in cash, you will not need to fill out a customs declaration. If you have filled out a declaration, hold onto it and present it when leaving the country.

Medical insurance in Ukraine

Ukraine has a special emergency medical insurance policy for foreigners that most visitors to Ukraine are required by law to buy in Ukraine, either at the airport or at the insurance company's office in town. Some sources say you are not required to buy the insurance if you have an insurance policy of your own that covers you while in Ukraine, but I am not sure of this. See the Ukraine Minister of Foreign Affairs website for a list of countries and diplomatic positions that are exempted from this requirement.

In any case, this insurance is quite inexpensive (see chart at right for almost up-to-date prices), and all you need to do to sign up is present your passport and tell the worker the time period you need coverage for. There are instructions in English on the insurance policy about what to do should you need emergency medical attention. They have, for example, a round-the-clock phone number with English-speaking representatives. Not all foreigners are required to purchase this insurance;

Immigration card

The immigration card is a scrap of paper that asks you to fill in the following information:

- name and surname
- citizenship
- date of birth
- passport number
- purpose of journey (i.e. "business," "tourism," "private," etc.)
- vehicle (flight) # (i.e. the train number, the flight number, or your license plate)
- *point of destination, company address (i.e. name and address of company or private person who you are
visiting, depending on the type of visa you have)

* Make sure you have the address you are going to stay at (or at least one of them, if you are going to be traveling around) in a handy location so that you can fill out the immigration card quickly.

You fill out this information twice, both halves are stamped, and you keep your half, which is "kept for the whole period of stay in Ukraine" and "must be presented together with the passport to Ukrainian border authorities" when leaving the country.

In actuality, you are rarely asked for your card upon leaving Ukraine and are not subject to penalties if you have lost it. However, it is wise to hold on to it and take it with you whenever leaving the country or entering border areas where you may have your passport and immigration card checked, even if you do not leave the country. This way you will avoid potential conflicts. For example, there are passport checkposts along roads in the Carpathian mountains next to Romania where you must present these documents, even though you are still in Ukrainian territory and are not allowed to cross the border there anyway (there is no international border crossing).

Leaving Ukraine

Exiting Ukraine is usually quicker and easier than entering it. You go through a quick passport check where you are usually not asked about what you were doing in Ukraine. Then you go through customs and are asked about what you are carrying with you, and present a customs declaration if applicable. Custom's officers have the right to inspect your baggage to check that the amount of various items you are taking out of the country is within the duty-free limit. If they are not, you are subject to customs duties.

Ukrainian Border Crossing Procedures

Arranged by means of transportation

Airplane
If you fly in by airplane, you will receive a customs declaration and an immigration card to fill out while on the plane, and you will make your border crossing in the airport upon arrival. First you stand in line for the passport check, then you go to the baggage claim to get your luggage, and finally you pass through customs with all your things. If you are leaving Ukraine, you will do all of this in reverse order.

In international airports near passport control there is usually a UkrInMedStrakh booth which issues emergency medical insurance policies to foreign travelers. You are supposed to buy this inexpensive policy if you do not have travel insurance that covers you while in Ukraine. If crossing the border by land, you will be expected to buy the policy on your own if necessary.

Train
If you are crossing the Ukrainian border by train, you will not have to leave your compartment; the border and customs officers will come to your compartment themselves. Most border crossings by train, unfortunately, are late and night and may involve up to four separate visits spread out over several hours — the border officers and customs workers of the country you are leaving, and the border officers and customs workers of the country you are entering. Border crossings are especially long between Ukraine and central European countries, because the standard width of the railroad tracks is different and the wagon wheels must all be adjusted accordingly.

Bus
How you cross the border by bus depends on its destination. If it is a local bus, the crossing may by long and tedious, as customs officials work over local contrabandists in a sort of cat-and-mouse game. Crossing the border is much easier on international buses. Before the border the bus attendant gathers everyone's passports and gives them to the officer at the border. If you are entering Ukraine, you will be given an immigration card and told to hurry up with it, since all the other passengers are usually Ukrainian citizens returning home. The border officer may or may not get on the bus to ask you about your purpose of entry.

Usually passengers leave the bus to pass through customs together with their luggage, but some buses have avoided this in the past by collecting money from passengers and paying a bribe to speed the process up. This only happens on the Ukrainian side of the border. Keep in mind that you will have to get out of the bus twice with all of your stuff to pass through two sets of customs.

Automobile
People who enter or exit Ukraine by car don't have to haul their luggage around to get through customs, but they often have to wait in line for hours. You shouldn't have to get out of your car much, but customs officers may inspect your vehicle to check that the items you are carrying are within the duty-free limit and do not break the law.

Bicycle or on foot
The author is not sure whether all international border crossings may be crossed on foot. Some people say yes, others no. However, borders may be crossed on bike. The procedure is pretty much the same as if you were in a car, but you don't have to wait in line for very long.

Ship
It is also possible to enter and exit Ukraine by ship. In this case, it seems logical to assume that your border crossing will take place at the port of entry to or exit from Ukraine, but I have no further information on the topic.

Source: http://www.tryukraine.com

Border crossing between Ukraine and Poland

(Chełm -) Dorohusk PKP - Jahodyn UZ (- Kowiel):  [D] PKP operates on 1435mm gauge tracks to Yahodyn. Prior to June 2000, there  had been broad gauge cross border passenger services to/from CheÅ‚m, but now  only standard  gauge long-distance passenger (Berlin - Warszawa - Kyiv) remains, plus freight traffic. 1520mm tracks remain in situ towards factories near Chełmand confirmation of  continuing broad gauge cross-border freight would be welcomed.

(Sławków -) Hrubieszów LHS - Iziv LHS:  [D] This 1520mm gauge line is the "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line) between Sławków near Katowice and Vladimir in Ukraine. Mainly  used for  freight, including a recently introduced "road-train" service, it has been  discovered there are two pairs of cross border staff trains to the railway  carriage works at Hrubieszów Towarowy from Iziv. Timings are based on shift patterns but it is not recommended to attempt to travel due to Ukraine Visa  requirements.

Hrebenne PKP - Rava Rus'ka UZ: [D] The PKP-operated 1435mm gauge through service to/from Warszawa was withdrawn after 3 June 2005. No freight traffic can  operate, as the tracks to the interchange sidings at Rava Rus'ka have been  lifted.

Werchrata PKP - Rava Rus'ka UZ: [D] A Broad gauge  freight only crossing, now worked by UZ only and in 2006 with just a daily freight to a factory at Werchrata. The 1520 mm lines on the Polish side serving  transhipment sidings are all out of use.

(Przemyśl -) Medyka PKP - Mostiska 2 UZ: [E]  Both gauges are used for passenger and freight traffic. UZ operates 1520mm gauge  passenger trains to PrzemyÅ›l. From 2004 PKP has worked to Mostiska 2 on a  through train to/from Kraków and Kiev on three days a week via the standard  gauge line and new gauge changing facilities at Mostiska 2. After an incident at  the SUW2000 gauge changer at Mostiska 2 on 3 October 2006, the through Krakow – Kiev service was interrupted and a change of train from Standard to Broad gauge  was required at the PKP border station of Medyka. This continued until 29 October 2006 when the change of train was moved to Przemyśl. It is believed a  through service via the gauge changer may be reinstated in January 2007.

(Przemyśl - Hermanowice -) Malhowice PKP - Nizhankovichi UZ (- Dobromil - Khyriv): [D]  Closed as a through route, formerly interlaced dual gauge 1435/1520mm. Until early 1995, PKP operated 1435mm gauge corridor trains through Ukraine via this route and the Krościenko - Stariava crossing. By July 2004, significant lengths of the 1435mm gauge track  within Ukraine had been lifted north of Dobromil. A 1520mm UZ passenger service  still runs between Khyriv and Nizhankovichi where the 1520mm gauge tracks now abruptly end. PKP 1435mm gauge freight still uses Przemyśl to Hermanowice.

(Sanok -) Krościenko PKP - Stariava UZ (-  Khyriv): [D] PKP operates 1435mm gauge local passenger services between Sanok (Zagórz before 2004/2005) and Khyriv.  This border crossing had been restricted to Polish and Ukrainian passport holders  prior to 1 February 2006. Between Stariava to Khyriv, a 1520mm gauge track is interlaced with the 1435mm  gauge track, and carries a UZ passenger service. See also the Malhowice - Khyriv crossing.

Source: http://www.steane.com

Poland

Crossing the Polish border

Foreigners wanting to legally visit Poland should make their way to a Polish diplomatic outpost in their own country, where they will be given full information on the rules governing their visit to Poland. The list of Polish consulates abroad is accessible on the Polish Foreign Ministry website in English: http://www.msz.gov.pl

Foreigners can visit Poland on the following bases:

* With a current passport that expiry date exceeds at least three months after the date of entry into
Poland;
* With a travel visa;
* With permission for temporary rights to remain;
* With permission for permanent rights to remain

Citizens of countries that have signed bilateral agreements with Poland partially lifting visa obligations are in the best situation. A current passport is all they need to enter the country, although their right to remain is limited, most often to 90 days. There are, however, in this group countries whose citizens have the right to stay in Poland for less than 90 days - for example, citizens of Singapore can stay only 30 days on this basis.

The list of "visa-less" countries is long and may increase further, depending on the signing of further international agreements. They are: Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Panama, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Uruguay, USA. Note! In line with Poland's EU accession on May 1st 2004 all citizens of EU member states are as well as the European Economic Area able to enter Poland from their own states or from other member states on the basis of a passport or ID documents valid in their own countries.

Green card

When crossing the Polish border a foreigner is required to buy an insurance policy of the civil responsibility popularly called the "Green Card". Poland is a member of a wide-ranging international system of such cards. Such insurance can be bought in the traveller's own country, which comes out cheaper than buying it at the border.

Insurance policy The "Green Card" is a form of civil protection of a car owner or a person driving it should damage to a third party occur while driving the vehicle. The insurance guarantees that when the damage is done, the insurer, and not the person who caused the accident, will pay out the damages.

Visas

The period your visa is valid "according to Polish regulations" is the basic period for which you have the right to visit and stay in Poland. Foreigners can apply for visas in Polish diplomatic outposts abroad. They must be ready with their personal details, dates of arrival and departure to and from Poland as well as the purpose of their visit. The consulate will confirm acceptance of applications with the appropriate stamp in the passport.

You must also pay a fee when applying for your passport. Regardless of the type of visa and period of its validity visa payments range from 10-80 euros. In the case of visa applications being refused by a consulate no payments made will be returned. In connection with Poland’s EU accession, transit visas have been reintroduced for citizens of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Thanks to a beneficial bilateral agreement, citizens of Ukraine will not have to pay a visa fee.

In your passport, assuming you have not been refused entry by the consulate, you will find one the following types of visa:

* AIRPORT,
* TRANSIT,
* ENTRY WITH THE PURPOSE OF:

a/ repatriation,
b/ resettlement as a member of a repatriated person’s closest family
c/ obtaining permission to stay for a specified time or permission to settle permanently,

* PURPOSE OF VISIT:

a/ tourism,
b/ visiting,
c/ participation in sports events,
d/ conducting economic activity,
e/ conducting cultural activity or participating in international conferences,
f/ undertaking special service activities or as a representative of a foreign state,
g/ participation in matters related to seeking asylum
h/ undertaking work,
i/ science, training, educational - excluding paid work,
j/ temporary immunity:

* DIPLOMATIC,
* SPECIAL SERVICES,
* COURIER,

Entry visas are granted only:

* short-term
* a maximum stay in Poland of 3 months in a 6-month period counting from the day of arrival
* long-term - to the year the visa deadline expires

The validity period of a long-term visa can be up to 5 years. Details of the rules of entry, stay and movement in the Republic of Poland are contained in the Law of June 13th 2003 on foreigners ( Dz. U. Nr 128, poz. 1175 ).

If, however, the purpose of the visit to Poland is to gain employment or conduct other paid work other procedures apply.

Polish consular offices on the territory of Ukraine

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Kiev
Address: 01030 Kiev, Bohdana Chmielnickiego street, 60
Tel. (044) 234 92 36, 234 66 78, Fax (044) 234 99 89
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Kharkiv
Address: 61002 Kharkiv, Artioma street, 16
Tel. (057) 757 88 01, Fax (057) 757 88 04
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Lvov
Address: 79011 Lvov, Iwana Franko street, 110
Tel. (0322) 97 08 61, 97 08 63, 76 05 47, 97 08 62, 97 08 64
Fax (0322) 76 09 74
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Luck
Address: 43016 Luck, Katedralna street, 7
Tel. (0332) 77 06 10 do 12, Fax (0332) 77 06 15

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Odessa
Adres: 65062 Odessa, Uspieńska street, 2
Tel. (048) 729 44 13, 729 39 36, Fax (048) 729 43 88
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Means of financing your visit

Simply having a visa in your passport does not absolutely guarantee that you will be able to enter the territory of Poland. A very important issue the border authorities will be interested in is how you intend to finance your stay in Poland.

At the request of the border authorities foreigners may have to show how they intend to finance their entry to, stay in and departure from Poland. This may be in Polish zlotys or other exchangeable currencies. Valid credit cards and travellers checks can also be used, as may a bank confirmation stamp, stamped at the latest a month before crossing the border, with the signature of an employee authorised to confirm that the visitor has appropriate funds in his or her bank, which also must have its branch in Poland.

The amount of financial means which a foreigner coming to Poland must have, and documents to confirm this and the purpose of his or her crossing the border are regulated by the Amendment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Administration from September 29th 2003 (Dz. U. Nr 178, poz.1748).

For every day a foreigner is staying in Poland he or she will need to have at least 100 zlotys, and children under 16 years of age, 50 zlotys. The total money visitors need to have on them is 500 zlotys for adults and 300 zlotys for those under 16. If the period of stay does not exceed three days, the respective amounts are, 300 zlotys and 150 zlotys. Border authorities will check if the person crossing the border is able to cover the costs of using a car for use on Polish roads.

Border authorities will strictly require a foreigner to have confirmation that they have sufficient financial means if they are a part of a package tour, youth camp group, on a sportings event or visiting a medical centre or sanatorium for treatment. In such cases, they may be asked to show documents confirming their participation in such events, together with confirmation of fees paid for a stay in Poland or a document confirming the foreigner?s need for treatment. Such documents, the equivalent of financial means, must contain: the exact data about their issuer, the dates concerning tourist services, dates and places of stay, exact itinerary of the trip, name and surname of participant(s) and a confirmation that all costs have been paid to the relevant tourist services.

Additionally, participants of on package tours, youth camps, or members of sports professions or those entitled to sanatorium treatments must have the equivalent of 20 zlotys for each day of their stay, in total not less than 100 zlotys. The document confirming support for a foreigner coming to Poland is an invitation, issued by a Polish citizen living in Poland or a foreigner staying in Poland legally for at least 5 years before issuing an invitation. The boarder authorities will only respect an original invitation written on a formal form and registered in the invitation registry run by a voivodship, according to the address of the person inviting. A voivodship will refuse the registration in the invitation registry if the inviting institution is not able to prove or will not obligate itself to cover all the costs of a foreigner?s stay in Poland, including costs of possible treatment.

A foreigner can also be invited by a legal entity (e.g. an enterprise functioning as a joint-stock company) or an institution (e.g. a public or self-governing office, or a university).

Source: http://www.msz.gov.pl
Source: http://poland.gov.pl