Attention travellers to Ukraine: visa regime can be returned already in May!

[IreneLviv]

Visa regime for EU citizens may be introduced before 7 May

]Europe has not eased visa regime for Ukraine, which Kyiv leads to action to protect the interests of Ukrainian citizens, in particular, is likely restore the visa regime for citizens of EU countries, said head of the Secretariat of Ukrainian President Viktor Baloha.

As the press office on Thursday. V. Baloha noted that the outcome of negotiations between the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko in Prague with the Czech Republic, which chairs the EU, the Ukrainian side has not received a positive response about their aspirations to achieve meaningful relief visa regime for Ukraine.

“This gives additional grounds for a finding that has been in place for more than a year, an agreement between Ukraine and EU on simplified visa application procedure in many ways remains a formal document, and Europe with great reluctance open their borders Ukrainians”, - said V. Baloha.

He recalled that in 2005 at the initiative of Victor Yushchenko in his decrees unilaterally set a visa-free regime of entry to Ukraine citizens of EU member states and a number of leading European countries. Since that time, only the flow of foreigners from the EU increased by half.

At the same time, the introduction of Kiev is very liberal rules of crossing the border did not lead to adequate oncoming traffic from Europe. Following the expansion of the Schengen area has complicated the conditions for Ukrainians travel to EU countries. First of all, it refers to those of neighboring EU states, with which Ukraine has traditionally been a very lenient visa regime. ” Due to various constraints and challenges to halve the number of our fellow citizens traveling to EU countries, said the head of the Presidential Secretariat.

Secretariat Chief of Staff earlier suggested revision of Ukraine's visa regime with the EU, based on the principle of reciprocity. He is convinced: a few million UAH from the proceeds stay in the country, tourists from Europe may not even be the minimum compensation for the huge inconvenience that Ukrainians are waiting at the exit of the European States, said the press service of the President.

“Ukraine is to consider what is the efficiency of a simplified visa regime for the interests of our state, to the interests of Ukrainians. Now, pursuant to Presidential Decree relevant government authorities are developing their proposals. One of them - a return to the issuing of visas to nationals of EU countries who will receive them in the State border crossing points. It must be clearly understood: it is not audit the course of Ukraine to integrate into Europe, but protecting their own interests. The actions of Kiev looks to encourage European governments to real, not declarative steps toward us, “- B. Baloha quotes presidential press service.

[TheToad]

Thanks for this. I will be travelling and returning before May but expect to go back in summer. I wish the EU would drop the visa requirements. For one thing, it will disuade Ukraine from getting close with Russia and keep them with Europe instead.

[fear]

In 2005 on the initiative of our President, V. Yuschenko, it was unilaterally established a visa-free regime of entry to Ukraine for EU citizens. Since then only according to official data the flow of foreigners from EU countries has doubled. But unfortunately most of them turned out to be criminal elements; those, who were finding better and easier life here, including various kinds of sexual deviants!
Moreover, I hear there is some information about some plans of Western special services to detonate the next revolution in our Ukraine with the aim to hand over power here from such leaders of present Ukraine as V. Yuschenko and J. Tymoshenko, to more reliable and EU protйgйs. The matter is that our current leaders have used up trust of not only own people, but also their EU partners, especially after constant gas crises. And now EU needs to gain full control over our gas transporting system, whereto Europe has decided to invest hundreds of millions dollars due to the declaration, recently signed between Ukraine and EU.
I suppose that in the end for initiation of such revolutionary situation here European special services will be able to go to any provocations and even terrorist actions in order to create mass disorders and acts of mass insubordination to present authorities. Thus, I see only one solution of this difficulty: strengthening of visa regime for foreigners from EU now!

[Albatross]

The EU visa regime for Ukrainians hasn't relaxed in recent years. Given that fact it's understandable Ukraine considers to re-introduce a visa regime for EU citizens in retalliation. However, Ukraine's instability originates from within. A visa regime for tourists won't change anything.

[stepanstas]

I must say I support this. No need for open boarders if we see nothing in return. More people want to visit Ukraine, you would think nations would return the favor.

How does this work though. You can stay one month without visa right? Will that part change?

I will be travelling from USA, I assume this will not effect me.

[Svizzera_EU]

I hope I will not need a Visa. I hold an EU and a Swiss Passport.

[Legal support]

I hope the following iformation will be useful:

Visa regime
Ukrainian visa for entering the country is required for citizens of most countries.
No visas are required for citizens of the following countries: Poland, Hungary, Romania, Mongolia, Former USSR countries (except for Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), сitizens of EC, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and United States.
Please note that there are four kinds of visas to Ukraine: transit, private, tourist and business. In order to apply for a tourist visa, you need to have a set of documentation including a Visa Support Letter from a third party. This letter, prepared for you by our company, is a third party confirmation that you are indeed going to the Ukraine. This document is faxed to you for submission to the Ukraine Consulate nearest to you. In the past, hotel confirmation number was enough but not anymore. Ukrainian Consulates all over the world accept fax copies of these documents. After receiving a Visa Support Letter you need to apply for the visa.

Business visa is designed to persons, who are entering Ukraine as co-founders of joint enterpeizes or representatives of companies (firms, associations) for realization of control for implementation of contracts or as a consultants from foreign companies (firms, associations), and also to personnel of representative offices of foreign companies, which are having economic activity, in Ukraine; (Rules of design of visa documents for entry to Ukraine, p. 9).
For all types of ukrainian visas the following must be submitted:
1. A passport or travel document, valid for at least one month after the expiration date of the requested visa and having at least one blank visa designated pages;
2. One Visa Application form per travel document holder - answered completely and legibly typed or printed in ink in block letters, dated and personally signed by the applicant.
3.One photo - recent, passport-sized, resembling applicant’s travel document photo.
4. Certificate of permanent or temporary stay on the territory of Poland (In the case, if business-visa, will be designed in the Ukrainian consulate on the territory of Poland)
An original invitation (in some exclusive cases a legible fax version may be also accepted) from a legal entity duly registered in Ukraine, but invitation is NOT necessary for citizens of US, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, Turkey and citizens of the countries of the European Union for obtaining official, business, private, cultural/ sporting and scientific visas. (Rules of design of visa documents for entry to Ukraine, p. 12).
Visa fee is not charged for US citizens
The Consulate has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. The latter is hereby informed that submitting the aforementioned documents does not guarantee automatic issuance of the visa.
Information prepared due to Legal aid Ukraine: start up business, all kind of legal maintenance of the companies