A long-awaited day finally dawned.
Thousands of Ukrainians entered Schengen Area countries on June 11 without first having to obtain visas, on the first day of visa-free travel to 34 European nations. Visa-free travel was possible for those who already have biometric passports — containing a microchip with personal data, including fingerprints.
A day to remember. Visa free travel for Ukrainians now a reality. Bringing us closer together ????
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) June 11, 2017
The day was a poignant one for many in Ukraine, following the EuroMaidan Revolution that toppled former President Viktor Yanukovych on Feb. 22, 2014, Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, and the ongoing Kremlin-backed war in the Donbas that has already claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people. The revolution, which started this train of events, came about because Ukrainians wanted to enjoy the kind of freedoms the country was granted on June 11.
Mila Berestetska stood in line for passport check at the Kyiv Boryspil International Airport, clutching her dark blue passport in her hands. She was one of those taking advantage of the first day of visa liberalization, traveling to Barcelona on June 11 for a business conference.
Berestetska is fully covered – besides having a biometric passport, she also got a two-year Schengen visa, securing herself against any possible problems at the border.
Mila Berestetska talks to the Kyiv Post at the Kyiv Boryspil International Airport on June 11. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
“I have an option which passport to use (at the border),” Berestetska told the Kyiv Post. “It’s nice to have this (visa-free travel) finally, but it’s burdensome that we still have to show all the documents we previously had to submit to the embassies. Besides, you still need to have at least 20 euros for each day you plan to stay in (the Schengen zone).”
To enter the Schengen zone visa-free, apart from having a biometric passport, Ukrainians are required to show their return tickets, proof of accommodation, medical insurance, and sufficient funds to cover their trip.
“I hope that in the future we will not need anything more than a passport and financial proof. They (in the EU) just worry that Ukrainians will go to Europe for good,” Berestetska adds.
As of 5 p.m. June 11, some 8,200 biometric passport holders had entered the European Union, including 1,300 people without visas. Only five people were denied entry, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due to previous violations of the rules of the regime and overstaying Schengen visa. Under the visa-free regime, Ukrainians can’t stay longer than 90 days in an 180-day period and are not allowed to work in EU.
Ukraine passport holders might consider themselves lucky now: with the visa-waiver agreement, the power of Ukraine’s passport is rising, according to data compiled by Passport Index. Ukraine’s passport power will jump to 32nd place from 50th worldwide, overtaking that of the Russian passport.
Moreover, Ukraine’s visa-free score — the number of nations that Ukrainians can travel to without visas — will increase to 119 from 85. Currently in 41st place, Russia has a visa-free score of only 106.
Yaroslav Didenko, who works in information technology, got his biometric passport a year ago. Didenko says the visa-free travel is not about “traveling more easily,” but rather about Ukraine being acknowledged as part of Europe by proving it can meet European standards.
“I lived in the Netherlands for quite a while and Ukraine is mostly presented there as a corrupt state,” Didenko explains. “They started to learn more about the country, so the attitude is changing, but it’s just the beginning. We’re still struggling to be recognized as a European country. Now we have visa-free travel, but for them (in Europe) it’s just a transition, a tiny step.”
Yaroslav Didenko talks to the Kyiv Post at the Kyiv Boryspil International Airport near Kyiv on June 11. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Didenko is certain that the number of Ukrainian travelers will increase – also if more low-cost carriers enter the Ukrainian air travel market – but he worries that the border guards will check Ukrainian travelers “scrupulously” also because of the tense situation in the country.
Among other concerns voiced by travelers is that the country may lose visa-free travel rights if some Ukrainians abuse the regime.
Larysa Sokolova who works in retail said she didn’t travel often in the past, but never had problems on the border.
Larysa Sokolova talks to the Kyiv Post at the Kyiv Boryspil International Airport on June 11. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
“I hope that this (visa liberalization) process will go smoothly and we won’t ruin what we’ve just got,” Sokolova said. “I don’t want (the government) to change (some laws) so that will have an impact on (the European partners) who granted us visa-free travel. And, of course, we as travelers can’t show our ‘dark side’.” Sokolova still travels using her regular passport, but says she wants to apply for biometric one as soon as the hype surrounding the issuance of passports is over.
Tetyana Sheludchenko shared the sentiment.
Tetyana Sheludchenko talks to the Kyiv Post at the Kyiv Boryspil International Airport on June 11. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
“It’s impossible to sign up to the e-line to submit the documents to get biometric passport,” Sheludchenko said, explaining why she was still traveling with her regular passport.
“Once I’m back from vacation, I’ll do it. And finally we won’t have to pay for visas. It will be so much easier to travel,” At the same time, she’s unsure about the documents she will have to gather to travel visa-free. “I read lots of materials online, but it’s still not clear whether I have to show, for example, an invitation from my friends if I don’t book a hotel. Let’s wait for the first feedback from people who check it, so then we’ll know.”
What documents Ukrainians need to travel visa-free to 34 European states:
