ETIAS FOR UKRAINIANS

This website is not associated with or owned by the EU. The European Union’s official website is europa.eu.

IMPORTANT: Ukrainian nationals are subject to special conditions at this time. This page’s information is not currently applicable to displaced Ukrainians in EU Member States.

Despite the fact that Ukraine is not a member of the European Union, the country has signed an Association Agreement with the EU. In 2017, Ukrainian citizens were granted visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Ukrainians will be subject to a new travel authorization, ETIAS, beginning in November 2023. All visa-exempt third-country nationals (including Ukrainian passport holders) visiting Schengen countries will need to obtain a European visa waiver.

ETIAS Required

As soon as the ETIAS is fully implemented, it will allow Ukrainians travellers to visit the following European countries that are part of the Schengen Area:

  • EU Schengen
  • Non-EU Schengen States
  • Non-Schengen EU States
ETIAS Required

Non-EU Member States:

Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area:

ETIAS Required

Non-Schengen EU States

ETIAS REQUIREMENTS FOR UKRAINIAN CITIZENS

Ukrainian citizens planning to travel to Europe after November 2023 can apply for the Europe Travel Visa Waiver, or ETIAS, in order to enter the Schengen Area. ETIAS will also be required to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania, all of which are EU countries that are in the process of joining the Schengen Area.

ETIAS is being implemented to improve and strengthen Schengen Area security. Several security databases, including eu-LISA, Schengen Information System (SIS), INTERPOL, EURODAC, EUROPOL, and Visa Information System, will be used to screen applicants’ information (VIS).

These security checks are intended to increase the safety of European residents as well as visitors to the region. Anyone who poses a potential security risk will be identified and denied entry into the Schengen Area.

ETIAS is not a visa; rather, it is a visa waiver system similar to the ESTA in the United States. Ukrainians will be able to obtain an ETIAS by completing a simple online application. However, before applying, make sure you understand the ETIAS visa waiver requirements for Ukraine.

Ukrainians will need a valid biometric passport to apply for ETIAS. They will also need to pay the visa waiver application fee with a valid credit or debit card.

A current address, phone number, and an email address that works must also be provided.

When an ETIAS visa waiver is approved, the traveller will be notified via email at the email address provided on the application form. Answering a series of security questions about the applicant’s background is part of the ETIAS requirements for Ukrainians. It is possible that information on the following topics will be required:

  • Criminal record
  • Employment history
  • Drug use
  • Travel to conflict areas
  • Previous trips to Europe

HOW TO APPLY ONLINE FOR ETIAS FROM UKRAINE

The online ETIAS application for Ukrainians is fast and simple and will only take around 10 minutes to complete. It’s recommended to revise the ETIAS visa waiver requirements before starting.

Applicants for the European travel authorisation for Ukraine will be asked to provide information about themselves and their current travel plans, including:

  • All data on the information page of their passport, including first name, surname, date of birth, country of birth, gender, and nationality.
  • The ETIAS country that will be their first point of entry.
  • Details of education and current employment
  • Security and background questions related to public health risks, criminal records, and any previous refusals of entry to ETIAS countries.
  • Proof of ID of the applicant, if the person or company applying is a third party.

After successfully completing the application, the European visa waiver for Ukraine will be sent to the email address provided.

The majority of applicants will receive a response within minutes, and the ETIAS must be approved within two weeks. In the event of a refusal, the authorising authority will provide justification, and applicants will have the right to appeal.

Before crossing an external Schengen border with a Ukrainian passport, the ETIAS will be verified. Applicants should be aware that an ETIAS visa waiver does not guarantee entry into the EU, as the border security officer has the final say on whether or not to allow entry.

Visitors may be asked to provide additional documentation, such as:

  • A return travel ticket or evidence of onward travel
  • Proof of sufficient funds to cover the costs of the trip
  • Health insurance policy

TRAVEL TO EUROPE FROM UKRAINE

After receiving the Europe travel authorization from Ukraine, the applicant will be able to enter any of the European countries covered by the ETIAS agreement without the need for a visa for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

Both business and leisure trips are covered, but the Ukraine ETIAS does not include permission to work in the EU, which requires a separate permit.

The Ukraine visa waiver is valid for three years in a row and is a multiple-entry travel authorization. Ukraine ETIAS holders can visit multiple European countries as long as their stay does not exceed 90 days per stay. If the visa waiver or the traveller’s passport expires, the applicant must obtain a new ETIAS before returning to Europe.

ETIAS FOR UKRAINIANS – FAQ

Ukrainians will be unable to study in the Schengen Area under the ETIAS visa waiver programme. The visa waiver is intended for travel, business, and transit purposes.

To study full-time in the Schengen Area, you must first obtain a study visa or a national visa from the country where the course is located. Travelers will, however, be able to attend short courses, conferences, and training sessions.

Working in the Schengen Area is not permitted under the ETIAS visa waiver. Ukrainians may lose their right to hold an ETIAS visa waiver if they are caught working in a Schengen country without a work visa.

ETIAS permits allow visitors to enter the region for tourism, business, or transit purposes. Working in the Schengen Area violates the visa waiver agreement.

If a Ukrainian citizen wishes to work in a Schengen country, they must apply for a work permit in the country where they wish to work. The application process evaluates the applicant’s circumstances, and decisions are made on an individual basis.

The EU has agreed to activate the Temporary Protection Directive for displaced Ukrainians. Ukrainian citizens can stay in the EU or Schengen zone for a year without applying for a visa or asylum under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Because of the current state of affairs, it is unknown how ETIAS will affect Ukrainian citizens when it is launched in late 2023. Displaced Ukrainians are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive until further notice.