Finally headaing back to Ukraine, but have a question.

[Gar & Ella 12]

Hello.

 

My wife and I are finally heading back to Ukraine after nearly 3 years from entry. And the great news is we get to bring our 20 month old daughter to meet with my wife's family. My question is my wife has her 2 year GC, Ukrainian International Passport but her Domestic UA Passport has expired. I don't think it should be a issue but last minute nerves are getting the best of me. We will be bringing both of her passports, Green Card, Marriage Cert, Daughters Birth Cert and my wife's NY Drivers permit.

 

Going through Newark, Warsaw and Lviv airports.

 

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this?

 

Thanks, Gary

Edited December 29, 2021 by Gar & Ella
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[ineedadisplayname 442]

1 hour ago, Gar & Ella said:

Hello.

 

My wife and I are finally heading back to Ukraine after nearly 3 years from entry. And the great news is we get to bring our 20 month old daughter to meet with my wife's family. My question is my wife has her 2 year GC, Ukrainian International Passport but her Domestic UA Passport has expired. I don't think it should be a issue but last minute nerves are getting the best of me. We will be bringing both of her passports, Green Card, Marriage Cert, Daughters Birth Cert and my wife's NY Drivers permit.

 

Going through Newark, Warsaw and Lviv airports.

 

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this?

 

Thanks, Gary

Your wife should be able to call the Ukranian embassy in the US to seek clarification.

I think the "internal passport" is more like an ID card and should not have much say on entering the country.

Btw your daughter will need an US passport to come back to the states. As far as I know the birth certificate will be not enough.

[Gar & Ella 12]

47 minutes ago, ineedadisplayname said:

Your wife should be able to call the Ukranian embassy in the US to seek clarification.

I think the "internal passport" is more like an ID card and should not have much say on entering the country.

Btw your daughter will need an US passport to come back to the states. As far as I know the birth certificate will be not enough.

Those were my thoughts also and our daughter has her passport. Thanks.

[gregcrs2 1,777]

Don't sweat the internal passport.  She will never need to show it to the airlines or passport control personnel.  She only needs the internal passport for such things as banking in Ukraine or obtaining any eligible government services.  Make sure you have COVID Insurance and know the entry requirements.  Visit Ukraine - INFORMATION PAGE FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS

 

[Gar & Ella 12]

7 hours ago, gregcrs2 said:

Don't sweat the internal passport.  She will never need to show it to the airlines or passport control personnel.  She only needs the internal passport for such things as banking in Ukraine or obtaining any eligible government services.  Make sure you have COVID Insurance and know the entry requirements.  Visit Ukraine - INFORMATION PAGE FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS

 

Thank You. Didn't buy insurance, our insurance (Blue Cross) has international coverage and has offices in Kyiv. I figure worst case I have to buy insurance when we land in Ukraine.

[millefleur 5,034]

**Moved from Working & Traveling During US Immigration to RUB regional forum**

[Bfhaynes 0]

You will not be allowed to enter Ukraine without COVID insurance issued by a company from Ukraine or who has an office there.

 

I travel to Ukraine a minimum of every 2 months.  Maybe you get lucky and get a corrupt border cop but it is not worth the bet.  I travel with a vaccination card but if you don't have the insurance and they follow the law you will not be allowed to go.  They will not have a problem with any valid international passport.  If you don't have vaccination cards for you and your wife, get ready to be tested frequently.

 

• All U.S. citizens entering Ukraine must show:
  • either a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test done within 72 hours of entering Ukraine, OR a negative rapid Antigen Test for SARS-CoV-2, OR a document confirming the receipt of one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccines on WHO’s list of approved vaccines (children under 12 are exempt from the testing and vaccination requirements). Note: A CDC vaccination card is an acceptable proof of vaccination.

AND

• proof of medical insurance covering all expenses related to COVID-19 treatment while on the territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian health insurance coverage can be purchased online – https://visitukraine.today/. You can find further details and exceptions from this requirement on the Ministry’s website.

 

Brian

[slavaskii 883]

On 12/30/2021 at 9:49 AM, Gar & Ella said:

Thank You. Didn't buy insurance, our insurance (Blue Cross) has international coverage and has offices in Kyiv. I figure worst case I have to buy insurance when we land in Ukraine.

Backing up what Bfhaynes said, the BCBS insurance isn't going to fly (trust me, tried to enter Minsk many years ago under the same mistaken belief, BCBS international doesn't mean anything to the border agent). Just purchase the insurance online now and sleep easier. I was in Kyiv airport back in December 2020 and I believe they had posters directing you to the insurance website, but it was pretty confusing and it would probably be best to do it now. 

Edited January 4, 2022 by slavaskii

[Gar & Ella 12]

5 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Backing up what Bfhaynes said, the BCBS insurance isn't going to fly (trust me, tried to enter Minsk many years ago under the same mistaken belief, BCBS international doesn't mean anything to the border agent). Just purchase the insurance online now and sleep easier. I was in Kyiv airport back in December 2020 and I believe they had posters directing you to the insurance website, but it was pretty confusing and it would probably be best to do it now. 

Thanks for all the help, wanted to let you know we entered Lviv on Friday with no issues. 2 different border agents checked Blue Cross insurance and we had no problems. About 6 border agents checking papers in terminal before you get to passport check. No questions at all, checked insurance and vax card. They were allowing those without insurance to purchase it online. At passport check the border agent checked passports and then asked for vax cards and insurance. Again not even one question. Not sure what this means for others, but we had no issues.

 

Only issue I had was a person from LOT airlines at Newark airport trying to tell me US citizens were not allowed in Ukraine, needless to say it was escalated to a manager and I was allowed through. I have no clue what this was about, even others on line behind us were saying she was wrong. I think she just didn't understand the rules, I have had others from LOT airlines at baggage check ask for my Visa, my response was simple. Don't need it, they check and apologize. If recall correctly they have asked for my Visa twice in the past.

 

Thanks for all the help we made it to Ukraine with no issue.

[slavaskii 883]

8 hours ago, Gar & Ella said:

Thanks for all the help, wanted to let you know we entered Lviv on Friday with no issues. 2 different border agents checked Blue Cross insurance and we had no problems. About 6 border agents checking papers in terminal before you get to passport check. No questions at all, checked insurance and vax card. They were allowing those without insurance to purchase it online. At passport check the border agent checked passports and then asked for vax cards and insurance. Again not even one question. Not sure what this means for others, but we had no issues.

 

Only issue I had was a person from LOT airlines at Newark airport trying to tell me US citizens were not allowed in Ukraine, needless to say it was escalated to a manager and I was allowed through. I have no clue what this was about, even others on line behind us were saying she was wrong. I think she just didn't understand the rules, I have had others from LOT airlines at baggage check ask for my Visa, my response was simple. Don't need it, they check and apologize. If recall correctly they have asked for my Visa twice in the past.

 

Thanks for all the help we made it to Ukraine with no issue.

Very interesting! - thank you for coming back to update us, it's always helpful so there's not duplicate threads with the same issue  It's funny, the first time I applied for a Belarusian visa they took my BCBS international, but the second, when I went in person, I was told it was unacceptable and to buy online from some company. Then, the next time I went to apply, they told me the company was now unacceptable and I'd need to buy direct from Belgosstrakh. I recognize, of course, Ukraine is not Belarus, but I got the strong impression it's more so about buying their product than having actual insurance 

 

Also - welcome to Lviv! Interesting LOT was that bad. I think wherever they're sourcing the Ukraine information from has been incorrect for a while, back in December 2020 I had a Lufthansa customer service agent in Frankfurt tell me I couldn't fly to Kyiv as an American but I told her "I don't care" and she just was like "okay". Seriously, that was basically the conversation and I was right, lol. It's good you talked to a manager; also, I've found TravelDocs to be consistently right about all sorts of restrictions since COVID started, so as long as that clears you, you should be fine (as this is what the agents SHOULD be using anyway...)