- Entry Requirements
- Once in the Country
- Living
Passport and Visa Requirements
- Passport and Visa Service
- Consular services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa HQ
- For Further Information
- Ukrainian Embassies and Consulates worldwide
Taxes and Restrictions On Persons When Going Through Customs
- Tobacco
- Above 200g of tobacco, declaration is required .
- Alcohol
- The law requires that a declaration be made for the importation of over one liter of alcohol per person and over 2 liters of wine per person.
- Perfume
- There is nothing mentioned as to the maximum amount of perfume per person. On the other hand, it is necessary to declare goods that have a value of EUR 200 or more.
- Obligatory Declaration of Foreign Currency
- The law allows entry into the Ukraine with the equivalent of USD 10,000 in cash and USD 50,000 in travellers' checks. At the risk of confiscation, all currency has to be declared. Travellers leaving with more than USD 3,000 (and not more than the amount declared upon entry into the country) have to provide customs declaration forms of their entry into the Ukraine. In order to import amounts that are over USD 3,000, a declaration is necessary. Authorization is required for figures above USD 15,000.
- How to Refund Consumption Tax
- Customs reimburses VAT on goods bought in the Ukraine. However, it should be noted that the law has a few defects, from which big international companies based in the Ukraine suffer the results of. Legislative improvements are expected.
- Other Requirements
- Firearms, works of art, certain animals, plants and fruits and vegetables have to be declared.
Health Precautions
- Obligatory Vaccination and Other Recommendations
- There are no vaccination requirements for international travel.
However, the virulence of the swine 'flu (H1N1) forces travelers to seriously consider getting vaccinated against it. Likewise, there are areas in the country with risks of tuberculosis and where it is recommended to have the BCG vaccine. Lastly, the AIDS pandemic should not be ignored.To avoid any risk of diphtheria, tourists and travelers who wish to travel, from spring to autumn outside large urban areas in the Ukraine, must absolutely be vaccinated against diphtheria and avoid, as far as possible, drinking tap water. Water taken from sources which are supposedly to be drinkable must be systematically boiled and if possible, filtered. Moreover, when walking in the forest, you should wear clothes which cover your arms and legs. This is because ticks, which carry encephalitis, fall from trees and attach themselves to exposed limbs. - For Further Information
- Travel information
Safety Conditions
- Crime
- Tourist could be targets for theft or racial crimes. It is recommended not to walk alone at night and not to carry any valuable objects.
- Terrorist Risk
- Low.
- Risk of Natural Disaster
- The county of Transcarpathia is the most prone to floods and landslides.
- Traveling Women Conditions
- No particular risk. Avoid walking alone at night in certain areas.
- For Further Information
- US Department of State travel information
Time and Time Difference
- Current Local Time
- It is 03:12 PM In Kiev
- Summer Time
- Summer time from March to October.
Map of the Time Zone
Climate
- Type of Climate
- Ukraine has a temperate continental climate and a Mediterranean type climate on the shores of the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula. Average temperatures vary between -10 to +2°C in winter, and near +10°C in summer.
- For Further Information
- Ukraine weather (website in Russian) Weather Yahoo - Ukraine
Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall
Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems
- System of Measurement Used
- The metric system
- Unit of Measurement of Temperature
- Celsius
- Electricity
- Voltage
- 220 volts
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type of Electric Socket
- Type C.
- Type of Telephone Socket
- "Russian" type of socket.
- DVD Zoning
- Zone 2
Getting Around
Means of Transport Recommended in Town
- Recommendation
- The Ukraine has a relatively dense public transport network: trains, buses, minibuses, trolley buses, trams, taxis and subway in the big towns.
- Maps of Urban Networks
- Maporama Mapblast UT Library on line
- Urban Transport Agencies
- Ukraine subway map
- Find an Itinerary
- Map 24 Route planner
- Taxi Companies
- Kiev taxi companies VIP Taxi services
Transportation From Airport to City Centre:
 Airport |  Distance |  Taxi |  Bus |  Train |  Car Rental |
| Kiev - Boryspil(KBP) | 29 km / 18 miles | UAH 100 / 25-40 min | UAH 20 / 40-60 min | - | Available |
Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country
- Recommendation
- The Ukraine offers a wide range of national means transport, serving all major towns: planes, trains, buses, minibuses and taxis are common and cheap.
- Rail Companies
- Ukrainian railways (website in Ukranian or Russian).
Airlines
| Name | Type | Domestic Flights | International Flights |
| Ukraine International Airlines | Traditional | Yes | Yes |
| Aerosvit Airlines | Traditional | Yes | Yes |
| Aerostar Airlines (website in Ukranian) | Charter | Yes | No |
You Can Consult the List of Airlines Banned Within the EU. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Traveling By Yourself
- Recommendation
- The road network is in poor condition. Drive carefully, avoid driving at night outside the cities, watch the behaviour of local people, who often do not respect the highway code or traffic rules generally. Also watch the pedestrians. Having an insurance for your vehicle is compulsory.
- Driver's License
- It is necessary to have an international drivers license in order to be able to drive in the Ukraine.
- Conditions For Renting a Vehicle
- Have a minimum of 21 years and a 3 years old drivers permit.
- Rental Agencies
- Europcar Ukraine (airport) Budget Ukraine car rental Ukraine car rental portals
- Road Maps
- Road maps
- Find an Itinerary
- Multimap
Rules of the Road
- Minimum Driving Age
- 18 years.
- Side of the Road For Driving
- Right - side traffic.
- Speed Limits
- In town: 60 km/h (sometimes 40 km/h). Speedway: 90 km/h (sometimes 110 km/h). Highway: 130 km/h.
- Safety Belts
- All passengers, including the driver, are required to wear a seat belt.
- Permitted Amount of Alcohol in the Blood
- The penalty for driving under alcoholic intoxication is 2550 - 3400 UAH (485 - 646 USD)
- National Roads Organizations
- National Roads Department
Accommodation
- All types of hotels in the Ukraine
- Hotel Industry in Ukraine Ukraine-Tours
- All types of hotels in the Ukraine
- Different categories of Ukranian hotels (luxury, cheap, children friendly...) Select-a-room.com
- Hotel Rules
- Reservation conditions correspond to international standards. The price corresponds to one night per person, with breakfast and taxes included, except where otherwise indicated.
Price Indications
| Economy Room | Euro 30 |
| Medium Price Room | Euro 80 |
| Good Quality Room | Euro 200 |
Source: Lonely Planet
Eating Out
- Categories of Restaurant
- http://www.restaurant.ua/
- Kiev restaurants
Price Indications
| Economy Meal | EUR 15 |
| Medium Price Meal | EUR 30 |
| Good Quality Meal | EUR 70 |
- Food Specialties
- - Vareniki: a sort of ravioli stuffed with soft white cheese, meat or potatoes; - Borshch: a beetroot based soup; - Pampushki: small fresh bread rolls which are eaten with borshch; - Galushki: a kind of gnocchi served with sour cream; - Salo: sliced, smoked bacon; - Farshirovannie pertsi: stuffed sweet peppers; the stuffing is made of a mixture of ground meat and rice; - Farshirovannie sinenkie - eggplant with a vegetable stuffing (carrot, onion, cabbage); - Golubtsi - stuffed cabbage.
- Drinks
- Ukranian vodka is called the horilka or samohon if it is made at home. It can be flavored with honey or fruit. Ukranian wine is produced in Crimea. In terms of non-alcoholic drinks, there is kompot, which is fruit juice and the kvass, which is a traditional drink made from rye.
- Dietary Restrictions
- No specific culinary restrictions in Ukraine.
Paying
- Domestic Currency
- Ukrainian Hryvnia
- ISO Code
- UAH
- To Obtain Domestic Currency
- There are very many places where you can change money and ATMs can be found in banks and shops in urban areas.
- Possible Means of Payment
- Cash is still the most common form of payment. However, payment by credit card is becoming more and more common.
Speaking
- Official Language
- Ukrainian
- Other Languages Spoken
- The Constitution protects minority languages, especially Russian which is spoken in the center, south and in the east of the country. Indeed, Russian speaking people are the most significant national minority in Ukraine (22%). Otherwise, the administration only uses Ukrainian. However, the majority of civil servants are bilingual, even if some of them prefer using Russian. In Crimea, the language spoken is Tatar. It is highly recommended to speak only Ukrainian in the western part of the country.
- Business Language
- Russian remains the language of business except in the west of the country. Although there are more and more people with some knowledge of English, an interpreter is often required.
- Getting Some Knowledge
- Linguashop: Language learning software website.
- Free Translation Tools
- Ukrainian Linguistic Resources on line : English-Ukrainian-English Dictionary On-line translator "Multitran" : Translation of text and web pages Translator "Travlang" : Typical phrases in Ukrainian On-line translator "PROMPT" : Translation of text
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 102 |
| Firefighters | 101 |
| Emergency services in English | 112 |
Communications
- Quality of Communications
- The mobile telephone network coverage is uniform. The big towns are covered quite well, the rural areas are less well covered and certain areas are not covered at all.
- Telephone Codes
- To Make a Call From Ukraine, Dial 00 To Make a Call to in Ukraine, Dial +380
- Mobile Telephone Standards
- GSM - 900, GSM – 1800, G3.
- National Mobile Phone Operators
- Kyivstar (in Ukranian), MTS, Life, Beeline, etc.
Availability of Internet
- Internet Suffix
- .ua
- Access in Public Places
- Internet cafes are numerous and cheap, especially in the big cities.
- Access in Hotels
- Practically all hotels of a certain standard, offer internet access in the big cities. One should check at the reception or when booking. Wifi is developing rapidly.
Communities of Expatriates
- The Number of Expatriates
- The U.S.-Ukraine Business Counci.
- Blogs For Expats
- Expat blog - Ukranians Network
- Transportation Companies For Moving/Removals
- International Movers
Ranking of Cities
- Cost of Living
- According to the Mercer report, Kiev is ranked the 42nd city in the world, in terms of cost of living.
- Quality of Life
- The cities of Kiev, Sabastopol and Kharkov are the country's three cities in terms of quality of life.
- For Further Information
- Try Ukraine
Renting an Apartment
- Description of Apartments
- All types of appartments.
- Rental Costs
- There are appartments in all price ranges. A credit note is required to book. Full payment is made when taking over the appartment.
- Rental Agency Websites
- Apartments to rent in the center of Kiev Apartments to rent in the center of Odessa Apartments to rent in the center of Kharkiv Apartments to rent in the center of Lviv Apartments to rent in the center of Donetsk Apartments to rent in the center of Dnepropetrovsk
- For Further Information
- Best Appartments, Odessa
School System
- School Level
- Day care from 3 months to 3 years then pre-school from 3 to 6 years. Elementary school is from 6 to 10 years. Junior high is from 10 to 15 years. High school is from 15 to 18 year. University is from 4 to 9 years of study.
- International Schools
- Try Ukraine lists the Ukraine's international schools.
- For Further Information
- Ukranian National Education system
Health System
- Quality of Healthcare
- The quality of care depends of several factors, as much geographical as economical. Generally, the big cities are better provided for than the provincial towns, and private hospitals seem to be better than public ones. Neverthelss, reforms have enabled a clear improvement in the health system's quality and more reforms are anticipated, making the Ukraine one of the most exemplary countries in terms of health care in the area.
- International Hospitals
- There are no international hospitals. The most esteemed private clinics are "Boris" and "Medicom". There is also the American Medical Center: Tel: 211.65.65.
- Health Insurance
- Yes. You can see the report by the European Observatory Health Systems and Policies.
- Accessibility of the Health Insurance Network to Foreigners
- The medical insurance bought from the national corporation, Ukranmedstrakh, covers all health expenses and makes it possible to get all medical supplies in emergency cases.
- Health Ministry
- Ukranian Ministry of Health (in Ukranian)
Tourism and Culture
Different Forms of Tourism
- Historical
- There are many castles and fortresses from the Middle Ages to visit in western Ukraine.
- Cultural
- Many festivals enliven Ukraine's cultural life.
- Nature
- There are numerous sites in the country that are recognized by the UNESCO.
- Religious
- Ukraine is the cradle of the Orthodox religion.
- Thermal
- The thermal towns are Truskavet, Morshyn et Skhidnytsia.
- Beach
- Ukraine's most beautiful beaches are in the Crimea.
- Winter Sports
- Ukraine's winter tourism is concentrated in the Carpathian mountains.
- Shopping
- KievUkraine provides information on shopping in Kiev.
- Tourism Organizations
- Information portal on tourism in Ukraine National tourism organization (website in Ukrainian)
Individual and Civic Freedoms
- Political Freedom
- The Ukraine is rather politically stable. It has a degree of political freedom which is higher than a good number of ex-USSR countries.
- Civil Liberty
- 2/7
- World Ranking of Freedom of the Press According to "Reporters sans Frontières", 2011 report : 116/179
- Evolution: 15 places up compared to 2010
- For Further Information, Consult Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2011, Reporters Without Borders
- Free Access to the Internet
- The internet is the most free media in the Ukraine.
- Rule of Law
- Ukraine is largely ruled by law; however certain degree of crime and governmental restrictions on media exist in the country. Corruption is widespread in Ukraine, especially it exists at all levels in government departments.
- Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights
- Individual rights are generally well respected, even though there are problems in certain sensitive areas (media, political).
- Women's Condition
- There are "conventional" discriminations against the women: they are under-paid (from 50% to 75% of the men's salary in similar positions), under-represented in the "male" spheres (economy and politics) and over-represented in the "female" spheres (health and education).
Religion
- Degree of Freedom
- Religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution and by the 1991 law on freedom of conscience. Overall, religious freedom is respected in the Ukraine.
- Beliefs
- Orthodox: 83,7% (Kyiv Patriarchate: 50,4%, Moscow Patriarcate: 26,1%, Autocephalous Orthodox: 7,2%), Ukrainian Greek Catholic: 8%, Roman Catholic 2,2%, Protestant: 2,2%, Jewish: 0,6%, Other: 3,3%.
- Role of Religion in Society
- Religion plays a big role, not only morally but also socially and sometimes politically. The orthodox church is therefore linked to power and Islam has a certain amount of importance in Crimea.
