Ukrainians will need more than one passport to travel to the EU starting from the end of 2026

New conditions for visa-free entry for Ukrainians into the European Union

According to Radiotrek — Світ: Starting from the end of 2026, Ukrainians who are used to crossing EU borders without a visa will need an additional permit. The mere existence of a passport will no longer be sufficient grounds for entry. Now, before traveling, it will be necessary to obtain an ETIAS, and the application will cost 20 euros, which is approximately 1000 hryvnias.

Procedure for obtaining the ETIAS permit

The permit is not automatically issued with the passport: it needs to be obtained by each traveler separately, and is paid for individually online. Earlier, there was information circulating about a fee of 7 euros, however, the officially established rate is 20 euros. The validity of the ETIAS is up to three years; if the passport expires earlier, the permit becomes invalid as well. During this period, multiple entries into the countries connected to the system will be allowed.

Applications will only be processed after the payment has been received and the fee is non-refundable. In case of an error in the application or denial, the individual will have to pay again for resubmission.

Travelers from Ukraine should consider the new formalities in advance: without the ETIAS permit, the trip to the EU will not occur. This also means that an additional mandatory step will be added to the usual holiday preparations, so it is important to fill out the application carefully and monitor the expiration dates of documents.

The introduction of such rules is part of a broader trend towards tightening control at the borders of the European Union, which could affect the flow of tourists in the region.