Kyiv intends to begin the first stage of introducing new rules for crossing the Ukrainian border by foreign citizens and stateless persons. It provides for the collection of 10 fingerprints from foreigners entering Ukrainian territory. At the end of December, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBSU) presented a system for recording biometric data, which will be connected to the National System for Verification and Identification of Ukrainian Citizens, Foreigners and Stateless Persons. From January 1, this mechanism will work so far only at Kyiv international airports and at checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Russian border.
National security starts at the border
The new rules will come into force in accordance with the decree of the President of Ukraine, signed on August 30, 2021, which puts into effect the decision of the country's National Security Council (NSDC) of July 10 to strengthen control over the crossing of the Ukrainian border by foreigners. In addition to fingerprinting, the document also stipulates that foreign citizens entering the territory of Ukraine must electronically inform the authorities in advance about the date and purpose of their arrival. But the introduction of this norm has been postponed for now, since it takes more time to launch the necessary electronic resource.
The National Security and Defense Council motivated the tightening of the rules for crossing the Ukrainian border with the needs of national security. The majority of experts interviewed by DW consider the new rules to be a justified measure. But they point out that the corresponding decree is not clearly spelled out, and therefore raises many questions. “The text of the decree does not contain a provision regulating the implementation of this complex and complex decision,” says Sergei Danilenko, senior analyst of the Geostrategy group, Doctor of Political Sciences.
The rules are not the same for everyone
Kiev has never hidden the fact that more stringent requirements for crossing the border are needed in order to control Russian citizens entering Ukrainian territory. But this was clearly stated for the first time only during the presentation of a new system for recording biometric data. “This system provides a higher guarantee that we will not receive dubious elements from Asian countries, the Middle East, as well as from the Russian Federation,” said Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
Arsen Avakov
According to him, recording biometric data will be mandatory for citizens of 70 states included by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the updated list of countries at migration risk, which included Russia. As for other foreigners, the press service of the State Border Guard Service reports, this procedure will be applied to them only “based on the results of analysis and risk assessment.”
Some experts have expressed doubts about the correctness of including Russia in the list of countries at risk of migration. After all, it is obvious that the reason for tightening the requirements for Russians entering Ukraine is not their status as potential migrants. The main reason why Russia was included in this list is the security factor, Pavel Kravchuk, an expert with the organization “Europe without Barriers,” said in a commentary to DW. He confirmed that the purpose of the new law is to make it more difficult for “spies and saboteurs” to enter Ukrainian territory. “And although the nature of the threats from Russia differs from the threats posed by most other countries on this list, the same control mechanisms apply to them,” the expert explained.
A biometric passport is not a reason
Just a few months ago, representatives of the Ukrainian authorities claimed that holders of biometric passports, including Russian citizens, would be exempt from the fingerprinting procedure. But the latest message from the GSPU press service no longer says anything about this exception.
It is logical that the fingerprinting procedure should be applied to holders of all types of passports, says Pavel Kravchuk. “As far as I know, Ukrainian border guards do not have access to fingerprint information recorded on the chips of foreign biometric passports, just as border guards of other countries do not have access to such information on Ukrainian passports,” the expert noted. However, an exception will be made for persons with diplomatic passports and for children under 18 years of age.
Information "ignore"
For now, law-abiding citizens of the Russian Federation who are planning to visit Ukraine in the new year will not have to take any advance actions before the trip. But do they know about this?
Context
Russian Railways launched freight trains bypassing Ukraine
Traffic is open on a 137-kilometer-long section in the Voronezh and Rostov regions along the Ukrainian border.
Russian Railways expects to launch passenger service in the fall. (09/20/2017) In the process of preparing the material, DW carefully studied the websites of the SSPU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in an attempt to find information about the introduction of new rules for entry into the country for foreigners, but did not find any. The websites of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Kyiv also ignore this event.
The lack of communication on the part of the Ukrainian authorities with society and the outside world regarding new requirements for foreigners, in particular Russians entering the territory of Ukraine, can lead to serious image losses for Kyiv, predicts Sergei Danilenko. “There is less than a week left before the new rules come into effect, and the relevant departments have still not published clear instructions on who will be able to cross the Ukrainian border and on what grounds,” the expert said.
Danilenko emphasizes that departments of the Russian Federation that care about the interests of Russian citizens should report such changes. “But perhaps in Moscow these security measures of the Ukrainian authorities at the border are perceived as a formality, and therefore they do not consider it necessary to inform about them,” the expert admits.
See also:
What you need to know about the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens
How to enter Ukraine from Russia today?
Those planning a trip to Kyiv or Odessa are interested in the question: Do Russians need a visa to Ukraine?
Today, the visa-free regime remains, travel is not dangerous, the risk of being refused and not getting on vacation is minimal.
Official information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the “Consular Issues” section: Russian Federation – Visa not required, which means you will most likely be allowed through. Duration of stay on the territory is 90 days over six months. Conditions for crossing the border with Ukraine now:
- A foreign passport is required;
- Absence of a previously imposed veto on travel;
- Documentary justification for the purpose of the visit;
- Confirmation of financial support for the duration of your stay.
At customs, when crossing the border with Ukraine, people are allowed only with a foreign passport; travel with internal passports was canceled back in 2015.
You need a biometric or regular passport.
Information has appeared that since the beginning of the year, in order for Russians to enter the territory of Ukraine, it is necessary to fill out an electronic application form on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (VISA.MFA.GOV.UA) within a certain period of time. However, now the portal is under development; when selecting a tourist destination (C-06 Tourism), the system issues: A visa is not issued for citizens of the selected country and purpose of travel.
With a biometric passport to 30 countries
Since the introduction of the EU visa-free regime with Ukraine, Ukrainians do not require visas for short-term trips to all EU countries (except for the UK and Ireland), as well as for trips to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which are not members of the EU. A total of 30 European countries. The main condition is the presence of a biometric passport.
What you need to know about the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens
Three months in the EU
You can stay in the Schengen area countries without a visa for no more than 90 days within a period of 180 days. For example, you can go on vacation to the Aegean Sea in Greece (pictured) without a visa. The period of 90 days is not fixed, but floating, so you need to pay attention to travel dates if there is a risk of exceeding the permitted period. Violation of this rule may result in a ban on re-entry into the EU.
What you need to know about the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens
For those entering from Russia to Ukraine
Regardless of the country of residence, any entering foreigner is required to have an insurance policy, which, in the event of infection, will cover treatment for a viral infection. Since the summer of 2021, the Ukrainian government has adhered to the principle of dividing countries into red, yellow and green zones. The indicators depend on the number of cases per 100,000 population over the past two weeks. Those entering from the green zone do not need to self-isolate and present tests. If a tourist arrives from a red zone, what should he do:
- provide a negative PCR test result dated 2 days before entering Ukraine: in this case, there is no need to undergo self-isolation;
- get tested and remain in quarantine until the absence of infection is confirmed;
- undergo isolation quarantine in designated institutions or at home with the obligatory installation of the “Home” application.
It is not necessary to observe quarantine for children under 12 years of age, tourists from the green zone and those whose test showed the absence of the virus in their body.
Officials are gradually resuming pedestrian and road traffic if you plan to visit other states; it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the conditions of entry and exit a couple of weeks before travel.
Without a visa, but with documents
To enter the Schengen zone states, Ukrainians only need a biometric passport, but an immigration officer has the right to ask to confirm the purpose and conditions of the trip, to prove the availability of sufficient funds to stay in the EU and subsequently return.
What you need to know about the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens
Required documents
One of the innovations was the availability of a special invitation, issued and certified by a notary on the territory of Ukraine. The required paper is drawn up by a citizen of the country the Russian is visiting, and then sent by mail to Russia. This document is presented to the border guards. The invitation form can be free; it is highly desirable to draw up a document in Ukrainian.
It also became impossible to cross the border using an internal Russian passport. The possibility of introducing a visa regime is being discussed among politicians, but so far the bill has not been implemented, including due to a possible mirror response from the Russian Federation.p>
You can’t work, you can’t study on short-term courses
The visa-free regime does not give the right to work in EU countries. To do this, you need to separately obtain a work permit, and most likely, apply for a visa. But to participate in seminars and short-term training courses of up to 90 days, you can do without a visa. If your studies will last more than three months, it is better to contact the embassy or consulate of the country where you will be studying.
What you need to know about the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens
The border between Russia and Ukraine passes through populated areas
The border between Russia and Ukraine may be revised
As nvdaily.ru reports, on September 23, the State Agency of Land Resources of Ukraine entered into a number of agreements with state specialized enterprises for work related to the demarcation of Ukraine’s borders with Russia and Moldova for a total of 9.06 million UAH (about 40 million rubles). This is stated on the Our Money website with reference to information from the Public Procurement Bulletin.
UAH 3.47 million was allocated from this amount for the demarcation and delimitation of borders with Russia. Including for border demarcation in the Sumsko-Bryansk section - 0.50 million UAH, in the Sumsko-Kursk section - 0.09 million UAH, in the Chernigov section - 2.88 million UAH. UAH 4.65 million has been allocated for the border with Moldova.
Another 0.94 million UAH was allocated to ensure the functioning and development of the state geodetic network on the western and Russian borders of Ukraine.
At the end of last week, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov said that he does not exclude the possibility of demarcating the land border between the two countries. However, the border line currently passes through some populated areas. So it is very likely that officials will have to reconsider the location of the border strip.
“Now we are faced with a situation where, having agreed on a land border and having begun practical work on the ground to delimit it, we suddenly and unexpectedly discovered in some cases that settlements are divided into two parts, that the border runs along the street and literally through the house.” , - said Zurabov.
The Ambassador believes that in the future it will be necessary to build on the opinions of local administrations and citizens of those settlements that find themselves in the disputed territory. Zurabov has no doubt that it is pointless to determine the border line at the intergovernmental level without asking the opinion of people who find themselves in such a difficult situation.
“Somewhere the border will shift so that the settlement is on Ukrainian territory, and somewhere, therefore, on Russian territory, so this technical work will continue,” Zurabov added. In his opinion, without taking these positions into account, there is no point in holding consultations at the interstate level.
To visit relatives or to a conference?
If you are visiting relatives or friends, you should have with you an invitation and information about the inviter - address and telephone number. If the purpose of the trip is to participate in a business or scientific conference, then it is advisable to have an invitation to it with you. And if we are talking about studying, then you may need confirmation of enrollment in an educational institution. Travel health insurance is not required, but it is recommended to take it out.
What you need to know about the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens
How can a Russian citizen enter Ukraine?
The State Aviation Service of Ukraine recently announced a set of innovations for Russians, according to which they can enter:
- in the event of death or illness of a close relative, subject to presentation of appropriate documentary evidence;
- upon invitation from a citizen or legal entity of Ukraine;
- employed there, also with confirmation of employment;
- tourists during a layover in Ukraine;
- persons who have a temporary residence permit in this country;
- at the invitation of state-owned companies, to participate in forums, etc.
Attention ! Men from 16 to 60 years old registered in the Republic of Crimea are strictly not allowed into the country.
If you belong to these categories of Russian citizens, you must have at least 2 thousand hryvnia with you for 1 day of stay in the country. This is also a new rule.
When moving by land, there will be no problems on the border with Ukraine: at customs checkpoints everything goes quite smoothly, disputes arise extremely rarely.
How much money should you have with you?
To prove your solvency upon entry, you may be asked to present traveler's checks, confirmation of your accommodation reservation, cash, and even check your credit card limit. The required amount depends on the duration and choice of country(ies) of travel and can vary greatly: for example, in Latvia it is only 14 euros per day per person, and in neighboring Estonia it is already 94 euros per day.
