According to proposals that are expected to be accepted by the European Commission, tourists from Ukraine, Turkey, and Kosovo will be able to move freely within 26 Schengen countries for up to three months. While Ukrainians hope to achieve visa-free status with the European Union by the end of the year, there is another side to the coin.
Currently, foreigners from 60 countries - 28 European Union countries and 32 non-EU countries - can travel to Ukraine without a visa.
Who needs visas?
Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and many other developed countries still need a visa to travel to Ukraine. A visa to Ukraine officially costs between $85 and $170, depending on the type.
To attract more tourists to Ukraine, activists launched the #NoVisaToUkraine campaign and are negotiating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Migration Service, and other state bodies.
However, there are currently no proposals from the government to relax entry requirements to Ukraine.
- On the other hand, the abolition of visas will lead to a rapid exchange of experience with Europe, including in the construction business. For example, take a look at http://coplast.ru/. Even now, you can order very beautiful and modern stretch ceilings with photo printing, images, etc. It looks very beautiful, at an optimal price.
Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin stated that he is aware of the difficulties faced by foreigners applying for Ukrainian visas.
The European Union, the USA, the Middle East, and China are priority areas for expanding Ukraine's visa-free regime, Klimkin said. The goal of activating business relations with these countries motivates the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to simplify the process of obtaining a Ukrainian visa. 'An entrepreneur arriving in Ukraine should not have a headache about how to get a visa. All their attention should be focused on finally investing in Ukraine', Klimkin said.
The Ministry hopes to introduce a single package of documents for all visa applications, so there will be no need to make multiple visits to Ukrainian consulates in the future to obtain a visa, Klimkin added. '(The package) will consist of only four documents, in line with European Union practices', quotes the minister Kyivpost.
Another rule that Klimkin promised to introduce is that obtaining visas for foreigners should not take more than five days. In the future, it will also be possible to obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport, Klimkin said.
Activists are trying to smooth the visa application process at Ukrainian embassies by demanding that they provide a clear list of required documents. Embassies themselves should provide properly equipped waiting areas and also visa information in the official language of the applicant's native country.
The lack of electronic applications and a visa database is another problem. The Ukrainian government still issues paper visas that are affixed to visitors' passports. Border guards check the authenticity of the document manually, as there is no electronic register of visas that have been issued.