Ukraine to reopen its borders three months after shutdown

The gates are opening. On June 15, Ukraine is starting to welcome foreigners back to the country and letting Ukrainians travel abroad. Three months after imposing travel restrictions to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is reopening Boryspil International Airport.

The global pandemic has disrupted international travel, ruined vacation plans around the world, and left many people stranded in foreign lands. The travel restrictions have split Ukrainian families across borders, left migrant workers without jobs, and confounded foreign tourists who want to visit Ukraine. The easing of travel restrictions is meant to resolve these problems. 

While the government has promised to release detailed guidance about which travel routes will be restored and which will remain restricted, as of June 14, much of this information remains vague and incomplete. 

Nevertheless, there is enough public information to put together some pictures of who is welcome in Ukraine, where Ukrainians can go, and what rules travelers must follow. 

Who is welcome in Ukraine

There is no publicly available list of countries whose citizens will be welcome to fly to Kyiv.

However, the government has released a strategy. 

Ukraine will divide countries into so-called “red” and “green” categories based on the epidemiological situation there, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said at a morning press briefing on June 14. 

States that have 40 or more COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people will be deemed “red.” The residents of such countries will be allowed in but they will have to undergo a 14-day self-isolation period upon arrival in Ukraine.

Citizens of countries that have fewer cases have no reason to worry, Stepanov said. They can come over to Ukraine and go about their business without the need for quarantine. 

All foreigners who wish to come to Ukraine after June 15 will have to have medical insurance that would cover COVID-19 treatment in case they contract the virus. 

The list of “red” and “green” countries will be published on Ukraine’s Health Ministry website, according to Stepanov. As of June 14 afternoon, the list has not yet been published.

According to the website of Boryspil International Airport, planes from India, Israel, Belgium, Belarus, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates are scheduled to arrive on June 15. 

Planes to Moldova, Belgium, Belarus, India, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates are scheduled to depart from Ukraine on the same day.

Where Ukrainians can go

Eager to travel to Albania or the United States? Starting from June 15 Ukrainians are welcome there unconditionally, Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Kryklii said on Facebook on June 12. 

Great Britain will also welcome Ukrainians but require them to self-isolate for 14 days. Turkey will only ask them to pass a COVID-19 test on arrival with no other mandatory conditions. 

Starting from June 27, Tunis will open its borders for Ukrainians, assuming they pass a COVID-19 screening.

Cyprus, Montenegro, Georgia, and Greece might open the borders for Ukrainians starting July 1 but only if Ukraine improves its epidemiological situation before then. 

Sri-Lanka has recently announced that it is considering opening its borders for everyone starting from Aug. 1. However, some requirements will apply: travelers will have to arrive with a negative COVID-19 test performed at home and go through testing twice while at the island. Arrivals will also be allowed to stay only in certain hotels for a maximum of five days.

“The Ministry of Foreign affairs is actively talking with our international partners about reopening air travel, but this is a two-way street,” Kateryna Zelenko, the foreign ministry’s press secretary, told the Kyiv Post. 

“We want to achieve conditions in which Ukrainians can travel outside of Ukraine and back home without issues. The same conditions will apply to foreigners of those countries with which we will reach an agreement,” Zelenko said.

Foreigners and Ukrainians should watch the websites of the Ukrainian government, Ukrainian embassies, and other diplomatic missions in the country for the most up-to-date official information, Zelenko advised to travelers. 

“Again, we want to highlight that any foreigner wanting to come to Ukraine should be armed with the latest information, as to not face issues at the border,” she said.

A few rules to follow

On June 12, Boryspil airport published a list of new COVID-19 related rules that passengers must follow upon departure or arrival. ALL travelers will be restricted to Terminal D. 

At home:

• Cancel your trip if your body temperature is above 38 degrees Celsius or if you are experiencing fever, cough, shortness of breath or a loss of taste and smell;
• You must fill out a survey about the state of your health if requested to do so by the airline;
• Ensure that you have a sufficient amount of medical masks for the trip (one per 2-3 hours), gloves, and sanitizer (less than 100 milliliters); 
• Have all your documents at hand and check the requirements of your destination country;
• Plan your trip to the airport in advance and ensure you arrive 3 hours before your expected departure time.

Departure:

• Be aware that only passengers who have tickets and wear medical masks can enter Terminal D. Others will be restricted from entering. The only exceptions will apply to people accompanying a disabled person or child who will be flying without their parents or guardians; 
• Go through body temperature screening at the terminal entrance. If your body temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or higher, or if you have visible symptoms like fever, coughing or shortness of breath, you may be prevented from entering the terminal or plane;
• Follow all signs, including social distancing directions. Wear medical masks and use sanitizers;
• You may be asked to take off your medical mask for a short time at the passport checkpoint;
• If you have questions, visit the information desk.

Arrival:

• Follow directions on social distancing, wear a medical mask and use sanitizer;
• You may be asked to take off your medical mask for a short time at the passport checkpoint;
• Download and install the application called “Diy at home.” This application is mandatory for people required to self-isolate upon arrival to Ukraine;
• Limit your contact with other people while at the airport;
• Pick up your baggage and leave the terminal quickly.