The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has strengthened the rules for entering Ukraine. Starting from 23 March 2021, according to the adopted amendments to the Government Resolution No. 1236 of 9 December 2020, foreigners must have negative PCR test, while Ukrainians must have a negative PCR test or serve 14 days of self-isolation. Let's take a closer look at the new rules.
PCR test is mandatory for all foreigners who want to enter Ukraine or are traveling in transit
To enter Ukraine, regardless of the country of origin, all foreigners must provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their entry into Ukraine. Age and other exceptions, including transit through the territory of Ukraine, are not provided.
In the absence of a negative PCR test, the foreign citizen will be denied boarding.
A health insurance policy is mandatory for all foreigners who want to enter Ukraine or are traveling in transit
The requirement for a health insurance policy that covers the treatment of Covid-19 in the event of an illness remains in effect.
In the absence of a policy, a foreign citizen will be denied crossing the state border of Ukraine.
Citizens of Ukraine who return from abroad are subject to self-isolation or must provide a negative PCR test
After entering Ukraine from abroad, regardless of the country of origin, citizens of Ukraine are subject to 14 days of self-isolation under the control of the application of the “Vdoma” (At Home) system. If it is impossible to install a mobile application, a citizen of Ukraine becomes subject to observation.
Categories of citizens to be exempted from self-isolation if there is no reason to believe that they have been in contact with a person with Covid-19:
- Children under 12 years old
- Citizens who can provide a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their entry into Ukraine.
There is also the possibility of early termination of self-isolation after returning from abroad in the event of a PCR test in one of the certified laboratories in Ukraine. The test result can be obtained in paper or electronic form.
Requirements for non-residents depend on the residence permit
The rules apply to non-residents with a permanent residence permit as to Ukrainians: after returning from abroad, they are subject to 14 days of self-isolation. They are exempted from self-isolation in case of providing a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their entry into Ukraine, or they can take a test in Ukraine to stop self-isolation early.
The rules apply to non-residents with a temporary residence permit as to foreigners: to enter it is mandatory to provide a negative PCR test and a health insurance policy without exception.
The division of countries into “red” and “green” zones is no longer valid
The rule about the listing of states with a significant spread of Covid-19 by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, which in the previous version of the Resolution was one of the criteria for determining whether a person is subject to self-isolation, has been canceled.
From now on, regardless of the country from which Ukrainians come home, they are subject to self-isolation. A prerequisite for entry into Ukraine for all foreigners is a negative PCR test.