VISA, ENTRY AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING TO OR STAYING IN UKRAINE

VISAS: Depending on the length and purpose of travel, U.S. citizens may or may not be required to get a Ukrainian visa prior to coming to Ukraine. U.S. citizens are exempt from the requirement to have a Ukrainian visa as long as the duration of their stay in Ukraine does not exceed 180 days and the purpose of their travel is tourism. U.S. citizens whose planned stay in Ukraine exceeds 180 days must have visas authorizing their entry into Ukraine. Also, the appropriate type of visa must be obtained if the purpose of their visit is other than tourism regardless of the length of stay. The Government of Ukraine does not issue visas at the point of entry into Ukraine. Travelers requiring a visa must obtain the correct Ukrainian visa prior to arrival; otherwise they will be turned back to the United States or will have to travel to another European country to obtain a visa.

U.S. citizens may apply for all types of visas through Ukrainian Embassies and Consulates overseas. Contact details for Ukrainian Embassies and Consulates are available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine website at www.mfa.gov.ua/mfa/en/305.htm or www.mfa.gov.ua/mfa/en/403.htm . A list of required documents for the visa application will be determined based on the purpose and length of travel on a case-by-case basis. For additional information about Ukrainian visas and related policy, please contact the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate nearest to you. While in the U.S., Ukrainian visas may be obtained from the Consular Office of the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, D.C. or from Ukrainian Consulates General in New York, Chicago or San Francisco.

Embassy of Ukraine 3350 M Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20007 Tel: (202) 333-0606 Fax: (202) 333-0817 Web site	Consulate General of Ukraine in New York 240 East 49th Street New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 371-5690 Fax: (212) 371-5547 Web site
Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco 530 Bush Street, suite 402 San Francisco, CA 94108 Tel: (415) 398-0240 Fax: (415) 398-5039 Web site	Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago 10 East Huron St. Chicago, IL 60611 Tel: (312) 642 4388 Fax: (312) 642 4385 Web site

Visit the Embassy of Ukraine's web site for the most current visa information. Also, see the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' web site at www.mfa.gov.ua/usa/en or www.ukraineinfo.org/ .

ENTRY: A passport valid for six months beyond the planned date of travel is required. If traveling on a visa, check your visa carefully upon receipt and pay careful attention to validity dates. Each traveler is responsible for understanding the type of visa issued and the provisions of the visa. Frequently, American citizens are refused entry to Ukraine because they thought they possessed a multiple entry visa, but in fact their visa was valid for only a single entry. Often, Americans try to reenter Ukraine after using their single entry visa, believing they have unlimited travel for six months. In some cases, Americans attempt to enter Ukraine before their visa becomes valid. This is a common mistake since in Ukraine the date is written day-month-year, not month-day-year. Thus, a visa issued on 01/05/08 is valid from May 1, 2008 and NOT from January 5, 2008. These travelers have been detained at the airport, refused entry and placed on the next available flight. The U.S. Embassy in Kiev is unable to assist travelers in these situations.

REGISTRATION: American citizens traveling to or staying in Ukraine are reminded of the changes to the Ukrainian Immigration Law introduced by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine #917 from July 11, 2007. Further changes were implemented after Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization on May 16, 2008. This Decree changes the registration procedures with Ukrainian authorities. The registration for short-term visits of up to 180 days is completed at the border by border control offices. Such registration is valid for a period of 180 days over one year. In other words, one may come to Ukraine as a tourist for a cumulative period of 180 days within a consecutive period of 360 days without a visa. The calculation of the 180 day period begins from the date of the first entry into Ukraine. This regulation applies to all American citizens irrespective of the date of their entry to Ukraine.

Initial registration for both short and long-term visits to Ukraine, with or without a visa, is done at the border when entering Ukraine. Future extensions for stays exceeding 180 days are completed through the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Office of Citizenship, Immigration and Registration. This office is also known as an "OVIR" office. Most cities will have several OVIR offices. Contact numbers for central regional OVIR offices can be found at vgirfo.kharkov.ua/region-ua.htm in Ukrainian only. Applications for extension of registration should be submitted at least three days before the current registration expires. Extensions are not automatic, however, and are valid only for continued presence in the country. It is not possible to depart Ukraine and return on the extension, nor can an adjustment to visa status be made from within Ukraine.

For more details regarding Ukrainian visas and registration procedures, American citizens are advised to contact the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate abroad or the nearest OVIR office inside Ukraine.

Travelers who intend to visit Russia from Ukraine must also have a Russian visa. The Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Ukraine is located at Prospekt Kutuzova 8, tel.: (380-44) 284-6816, fax 284-7936, e-mail, www.embrus.org.ua

Visitors to Ukraine should also note that Ukrainian law requires them to obtain mandatory health insurance. For more information see the section on Medical Insurance.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on the U.S. Department of State website. For information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Regulations sheet and visit the Ukrainian State Customs Service website.