Ukraine visa requirements
 Citizens of the following countries can visit Ukraine without a visa on short-term tourist, business or private travel of up to 90 days:
USA, Canada, Japan, EU nations, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Vatican, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Mongolia, Lithuania and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (except Turkmenistan)
This means that you may enter the country with just your passport and stay for up to 90 days within any six month period. If you are not from one of the countries listed above or are coming to Ukraine for a longer period of time, you will need to get a Ukrainian visa.
Ukrainian embassies and consulates around the world
Ukraine has embassies in countries all over the world. Here is a very useful list of Ukrainian embassies abroad >>
In addition to one embassy per country, there are also consulates in countries that Ukraine has close relations with. Generally, visas can be applied for both at embassies and consulates. List of Ukrainian consulates abroad >>
Visa application procedure You may apply for a Ukrainian visa in person or by mail at the nearest Ukrainian consulate. Here are the materials you will need to apply:
- a completed visa application (.pdf format)
- a passport that will be valid for at least one month after the requested visa expiration date and has at least one free page for a Ukrainian visa (see picture of visa here)
- one passport-type photo
- two separate money orders — one titled "application fee" and one titled "visa fee." The cost of these money orders depends on which type of visa you need, your country of citizenship, and how soon you need the visa. See this list of fees from the New York Consulate.
- depending on your country of citizenship and the visa type, you may need a letter of invitation (see below)
If you are applying by mail, you will also need to enclose:
- a self-addressed prepaid envelope from the United States Postal Service Express or Priority Mail
Visa application fees may differ slightly from country to country, so check with the consulate or embassy you will be applying to for exact information. If you are applying by mail, it is recommended to apply one month or more in advance. However, if you use express mail and pay for same-day processing, you could get a visa in as little as 4 business days.
Letters of invitation
According to the New York Ukrainian Consulate:
Invitation letters are NOT necessary for citizens of the US, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, Turkey, and citizens of the countries of the European Union for obtaining official, business, private, cultural, sports, and research visas.
Note that for each of these countries (except Turkey!) visas are not necessary in the first place for stays of up to 90 days.
If you need a visa and you require a letter of invitation for a tourist visa to Ukraine, our partners at Discover Ukraine can provide you with a letter of invitation if you book a hotel with us. This letter of invitation can 'invite' you only for the period of time that you have booked a hotel. When you fill out the hotel booking form there is a place where you can state whether you need visa support service (i.e. a letter of invitation — you will still need to apply for the visa yourself). |
