An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine

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Since the start of the full-scale invasion, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have gone abroad to seek temporary protection. However, not everyone who crosses the border does so to seek refuge.

Ukrainians continue to go on business trips, visit relatives or travel, so it is worth remembering the rules of entry and stay in Europe. We remind you what the Schengen zone is, how visa-free works and the basic rules for visiting EU countries.

What is a visa-free regime?

Since 2017, citizens of Ukraine can enter EU countries without a visa. Visa-free trips must last no more than 90 days within six months.

Importantly! The visa-free regime applies specifically to the European Union, not to the Schengen area.

The Schengen zone and the period of stay within its borders

Understanding what the Schengen zone is useful for every tourist, because it makes it clear where you can go and what rights you can use.

Schengen is the territory of certain European countries that have agreed to abolish internal borders. This zone includes both EU member states and others that do not belong to this economic and political union.

It is worth remembering several visa-free principles:

1. The first day of stay is the day of entry into the country;

2. The last day is the day of departure from the Schengen area.

3. If you have not crossed the border with a Schengen country during the last 90 days, you are granted a new 90-day period of stay in the respective countries;

4. If you were in the country with a visa or a temporary residence permit, your 90 days have not expired;

5. It is prohibited to stay in EU countries without a visa or residence permit after the 90-day period;

6. It is possible to stay in the EU without a visa after the 90-day period. Furthermore, it is necessary to leave the Schengen area and then return with a biometric passport after the expiration of the national visa or residence permit.

Life hacks for counting the number of unused days in the EU

Since Ukrainians can repeatedly cross the border with European countries, it is necessary to independently monitor the remaining unused days. For this, special "calculators" have been developed to help you.

In particular, there is a migration calculator from the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

Countries that Ukrainians can visit without a visa

Currently, Ukrainians can travel to about 100 countries without a visa. Regarding the EU countries, visa-free applies to all members, namely:

• Austria;

• Belgium;

• the Czech Republic;

• Denmark;

• Estonia;

• Finland;

• France;

• Germany;

• Greece;

• Hungary;

• Italy;

• Latvia;

• Lithuania;

• Luxembourg;

• Malta;

• The Netherlands;

• Poland;

• Portugal;

• Slovakia;

• Slovenia;

• Spain;

• Sweden.

Without obtaining a visa, you can also go to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania.

Also, Ukrainians can travel freely to the associated participants of the Schengen Agreement - Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Basic rules of preparation for a trip abroad

1. Prepare the documents

Ukrainians often perceive the visa-free regime as a guarantee of entry into the country of destination. But the state has the right to refuse a citizen to stay on its territory. To avoid rejection, observe the following conditions:

• Availability of a valid travel document - biometric international passport;

• Documentary confirmation of the purpose of the trip, a sufficient amount of money and tickets to return to the native country;

• Not on the list of persons prohibited from entering Schengen.

When crossing the border, you must show your biometric passport. They may also additionally ask to provide confirmation of housing reservation, availability of money, return flight tickets. If minors are traveling with you, you must confirm the right of custody of your own children or show parental consent to travel abroad.

2. Check the validity of your passport

A biometric international passport gives the right to cross the border with EU countries, if it is valid for three months after the planned date of return from the Schengen area.

Make sure that your document is really biometric - this is evidenced by the chip on the identification pages of the passport. Passports issued since 2017, as well as documents of series FB, FE, FF, FG, FH, FJ, PU, ​​SU, DU are biometric.

Pay attention! If you have been refused once, you can check for what reason. For this, border guards put special letters next to the stamp in the foreign passport. Read about what they mean in our article.

3. Take out travel insurance

Remember that in order to enter the territory of another country, Ukrainians must have a travel insurance policy with them. You can take out insurance online using the link.

4. Take the required amount of money

The daily rate of expenditure for EU countries is different or absent at all, as, for example, for Germany. It is recommended to focus on the amount of 45 euros per day per person.

5. Formulate the purpose of the trip

You can travel without a visa for tourist purposes, to participate in contests or competitions, for treatment or training, go on business trips, visit relatives, etc.

At the same time, the visa-free regime does not apply to persons traveling for employment, even if it is shorter than 90 days. If you plan to work legally, you need to obtain a special permit in advance. It is possible to do this at the embassy or consulate of the country where you are going to get a job.

Attention! You can get the necessary information, including contacts of Embassies and Consulates and relevant bodies of foreign countries, on our website https://visitukraine.today/uk/departure - just search for the country of interest.