Citizens of visa-exempt countries will soon have to apply for an electronic travel authorization before going to Ukraine.
Ukraine is preparing to introduce a new measure aimed at strengthening border security and modernizing entry procedures.
Yesterday, the Ukrainian authorities announced their intention to develop an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for citizens of visa-exempt countries.
On Tuesday August 13, an interministerial meeting was held at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO), chaired by Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Secretary of the RNBO, to discuss progress in implementing the Council’s decisions to tighten controls on the entry and exit of foreigners and stateless persons.
Bringing Ukraine’s legislation into line with that of the European Union
During the meeting, aimed at strengthening border and migration control, as well as counter-espionage policy during martial law, it was proposed to define and approve a list of countries benefiting from a visa-free regime for entry into Ukraine, whose citizens will be required to submit “an electronic notification, in accordance with the established procedure concerning his/her intention to enter Ukraine”.
The participants of the meeting emphasized the growing importance for the state of aligning Ukrainian legislation with that of the EU by drafting and submitting to the Rada (Ukrainian parliament) a bill on the introduction of an electronic notification system for citizens of visa-exempt countries intending to enter Ukraine.
During the meeting, officials also discussed the creation of a preventive mechanism to “prohibit the entry into Ukraine of foreigners whose stay is undesirable for reasons of national security interests”.
Why an electronic travel authorization in Ukraine ?
Following the recent introduction by Israel of a similar system, named ETA-IL and also dedicated to visa-exempt travelers, Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel announced last June that Kyiv was considering reciprocating for Israeli citizens exempt from visas.
This initiative to create an ETA-type system is also part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to harmonize its migration policies with those of the European Union, and to improve the efficiency of its immigration system.
The introduction of an electronic travel authorization will enable Ukraine to more effectively control the flow of people entering the country, while simplifying procedures for travelers.
This project reflects a worldwide trend towards the digitization of visa, visa-free entry and border control processes, as already applied by many destinations such as the USA (ESTA), Australia (eVisitor), Canada (AVE), Israel (ETA-IL) and South Korea (K-ETA).
In the coming months, other countries will be launching their own ETA systems, including the UK, Japan, the Maldives and Europe with ETIAS.
How the electronic travel authorization will work ?
Electronic travel authorization for Ukraine is currently only in the planning stage, but the process should be relatively similar to that of countries already offering this formality, i.e. simple and accessible online. Here are the main steps that travelers could follow:
- Online submission: Applicants will need to complete an online form with their personal information, trip details, and possibly additional information such as travel history.
- Payment of a fee: A small fee will probably be charged to cover the administrative costs of processing the application.
- Security check: The information provided will be analyzed by Ukrainian security services to verify the applicant’s eligibility.
- Email confirmation: Once the application has been approved, the traveler will receive an email confirmation which must be presented on arrival in Ukraine.
Who will be affected by this ETA measure for travel to Ukraine ?
This “electronic notification” should therefore concern citizens of countries that currently benefit from visa exemption to enter Ukraine. This currently includes EU countries, the UK, Canada, Japan and several other nations. The final list has yet to be confirmed.
It should be noted that citizens of countries already requiring a visa to enter Ukraine will not be affected by this next measure, as they must still obtain a visa prior to travel.
In 2019, Ukraine launched an electronic visa service (e-Visa) to significantly simplify formalities for citizens of 52 countries wishing to enter for tourism or business purposes. Just before its recent suspension, the e-Visa for entry into Ukraine was offered to visitors from the following 45 countries:
- Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, East Timor, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
