The Ukrainian government won’t close its borders again after the entry ban expired on Sept. 28, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba announced on Sept. 30.
According to Kuleba, the entry ban was “a force majeure decision” aiming to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect Ukrainians.
But starting on Sept. 28, foreign citizens are allowed to cross the country’s borders even though the number of COVID-19 cases in Ukraine is still high.
To avoid the further spread of the virus, foreigners are only allowed to enter Ukraine with valid health insurance issued by a Ukrainian insurance company, or a foreign company with an office in Ukraine. The insurance has to cover the potential costs of COVID-19 treatment and observation in Ukraine.
However, foreigners with residency permits, refugees, members of diplomatic missions and international organizations can cross the borders without insurance. NATO soldiers who participate in training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine are also exempt from the rule.
If foreign and Ukrainian citizens travel from the country where the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last 14 days is higher than in Ukraine, they have to self-isolate or take a PCR test upon arrival.
This rule is not applied to children under 12, students of Ukrainian universities, members of diplomatic missions, cargo drivers and airplane cabin crews. Athletes and cultural workers who have an invitation from Ukrainian institutions are also allowed in the country without self-isolation.
Foreign and Ukrainian citizens who did a PCR test no more than two days before the trip and have proof of negative test results can cross the borders without restrictions too.
People who arrive in Ukraine and need to self-isolate have to install the Diy Vdoma app available in the App Store and Google Play. Those who can’t do that have to undergo a 14-day government-controlled observation in special facilities in Ukraine.
