Ukraine travel advice

Travel Summary

• A human case of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu - has been reported in Ukraine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int has further details. You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk. Please be aware that the availability of anti-viral medicine may be limited in Ukraine.
  
  
• On arrival in Ukraine, those who are suspected of showing symptoms of A (H1N1) and those who have had contacted with them will be isolated and the medical authorities informed.
  
  
• Around 71,000 British nationals visited Ukraine in 2008 (Source: Border Guard Service of Ukraine) . Most visits are trouble-free. 19 British nationals required consular assistance in Ukraine in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (5 cases); hospitalisations (7 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (2 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (21 cases).
  
  
• You do not require a visa for ordinary visits of up to 90 days. See the Entry Requirements section of this advice for more details. You should carry your passport with you at all times for ID purposes. You should beware of petty crime, especially in crowded areas and tourist spots or when using public transport.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

Although the great majority of visitors experience no difficulties, there have been murders, muggings and other violent attacks on foreign nationals both in central Kyiv and other major regional centres in recent years. In some cases these have been racially motivated. Travellers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent and individuals belonging to religious minorities should take extra care, but all travellers should exercise caution. You are encouraged to report any security incidents or problems to the Consular section of the British Embassy. The Embassy is unable to assist in the reporting of crimes to the police or the provision of translators for this purpose but a list of local translators can be found on the Embassy website.

You should be alert to the possibility of street crime and petty theft and aware that foreigners offer lucrative targets. You should keep valuables and cash out of sight, especially in crowded areas and tourist spots, where pickpockets and bag snatchers operate. Recently, an increasing number of pickpocketing incidents on public transport – especially the Kyiv Metro – have been reported.

A common scam is to drop a wallet or bundle of money in front of a tourist. The criminal then "finds" the money and asks if it is the tourist's or offers to share the money with them. If you are approached in this way, you should walk away without engaging in conversation.

You should also beware of accepting drinks in bars from casual acquaintances, as they could be spiked.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Ukraine Country Profile

Road Travel

You must possess a valid International Driving Licence to drive legally in Ukraine.

There is a zero tolerance policy on drink driving. You should avoid driving outside urban areas. Driving standards are poor and roads are of variable quality. There are a high number of traffic accidents, including fatalities. Take extra care.

We have received reports of traffic police stopping vehicles and levying on the spot fines for minor traffic violations. Ukrainian law allows the police to stop a vehicle but only if a traffic offence has been committed, though a faulty light bulb is sufficient grounds for this. However, the police are not permitted to fine you on the spot. They should issue a ticket and send a report to the court to decide if a penalty should be paid. You are entitled to know why you have been stopped and to ask for the name and rank of the police officer that has stopped you. The police do not have the right to confiscate your driving license or other documentation. If requested to pay a fine you should decline and, if necessary, insist on going to the police station to speak to someone. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Department of Traffic Police has published the following Helpline and Duty Telephone numbers that you may contact for advice;

Ministry of Internal Affairs:

Helpline: (8044) 256 1675
Duty Tel: (8044) 256 1002/4

Department of Traffic Police:

Helpline: (8044) 272 4659
Duty Tel: (8044) 272 3660

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Rail Travel

You should take particular care on public transport. If you take the overnight train you should, if possible, travel accompanied and you should secure your compartment from the inside.

Air Travel

On 25 July 2007, Ukraine's State Aviation Administration suspended the air operator's certificates of three airlines - Baltic Airline, Aeromost Kharkiv airlines and Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines (UM Air) - because of concerns that they did not meet international and national standards. On 26 July 2007, the State Aviation Administration reported that a Kyiv court had cancelled its decision.

Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines (UM Air), Ukraine Cargo Airways, Motor Sich Airlines and Valare Avaition Enterprise (which may now be operating under the name Albatross Avia Ltd) have been refused permission to operate services to the EU because they do not meet international safety standards http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm. It is recommended that you avoid flying with these airlines. If you have a flight booked with these airlines and it is part of a journey which commenced in the EU you should consult your travel agent. A number of other Ukrainian airlines do have permission to operate services to the EU.

The European Commission published a Regulation on 11 April 2008, which stated that the overall exercise of safety oversight, and in particular the implementation and enforcement of the relevant safety standards by the competent authorities of Ukraine, needs to be strengthened in order to ensure for sustainable corrective actions by the carriers under its regulatory control. You may wish to take this into account when making travel arrangements.

Local laws and customs

New laws regarding foreign workers obtaining work permits to work in Ukraine require documentation to be legalised prior to application. This cannot be done by the British Embassy in Ukraine. For information on how to legalise a document, go to http://www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation. You should speak to your employer or a local lawyer regarding whcih documents might be required.

Don’t get involved with drugs. Penalties are severe.

Homosexuality is legal and generally tolerated.

You should carry your passport at all times for ID purposes.

Don’t take photographs in the vicinity of government or military establishments.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.

Entry requirements

Visas

Citizens of the EU (including British citizens) are allowed to enter Ukraine without a visa for a visit of up to 90 days. The overall duration of any stay without a visa must not exceed 90 calendar days per 180 calendar days from the date of first entry to Ukraine.

An appropriate visa will be required if you are coming to Ukraine for the purpose of employment, study, family reunion, immigration etc. Information about applying for a visa and application forms are available on the Ukrainian Embassy website.

If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you require a visa, you should check with your travel agent or your nearest Ukrainian Embassy prior to travel.

If you plan to stay more than six months, you must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs following your arrival in Ukraine. Your passport must be valid for at least one month beyond your intended date of departure from Ukraine.

Travelling with children

Non-Ukrainian children travelling with a single Ukrainian parent or other adult may be required to produce documentary evidence of parental responsibility before being allowed to enter or, leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact: www.ukremb.org.uk/eng/cvs/

Health

A human case of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu - has been reported in the Ukraine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int has further details. You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk. Please be aware that the availability of anti-viral medicine may be limited in Ukraine.

State medical facilities in Ukraine are generally poor. Private clinics and hospitals offer a better standard of care, though these do not always meet western standards and practices. If you are involved in an accident or taken ill, it is likely that you would be taken to a State hospital unless you can show that you have comprehensive medical insurance cover.

There is a bilateral agreement on Emergency Medical Treatment between Ukraine and the UK. You do not therefore need to pay an insurance levy when you arrive. If any attempt is made to charge you, you should inform the British Embassy in Kyiv. However, the agreement covers only emergency medical treatment. We recommend that you take out comprehensive medical insurance cover before you travel

The risk of radioactive contamination from the 1986 accident at Chernobyl is insignificant, other than within the exclusion zone immediately around the Chernobyl site. No special precautions are necessary.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Ukraine you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 430,000 adults aged 15 or over in Ukraine were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.6% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Ukraine and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should include cover for all forms of medical treatment. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

You should keep your original passport with you at all times for ID purposes and ensure that next of kin details are kept up to date.

Registration

If you are staying three months or more, you are advised to register on LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found at the top of this page and here.

Customs Regulation

There are strict customs regulations governing the export from Ukraine of antiques and items of historical interest. If in doubt seek prior permission from customs authorities.

Money

US dollars and Euros may be readily exchanged in major cities. Sterling may also be exchanged at a more limited number of sites. Use only official exchange booths. ATMs are also available and credit cards are widely used, but not universally accepted, in cities. Outside cities you should ensure that you have sufficient funds available in local currency.