3rd Visit to Ukraine since November 2009 - Visa requirements?

[Joolsy]

Hi All,
I am staying in the Ukraine at the moment until April 2010 which is the end of my 90 days.

The question here is: Can I leave the Ukraine, fly back to the UK and then return to the Ukraine for a further 90 days during which time I apply for a visa to stay?

I initially visited for 4 days to meet my GF for the first time. I returned in December for the Xmas period from 13 Dec to 31 Dec 2009. Does the 180 days start from my first visit or from the start of the calendar year?

I am at present living with my GF and her Son in Ukraine. What visa should I apply for, when and where is the best place to apply for the visa when necessary?

Some of these questions may have been answered in other posts but after a few hours of looking I have failed to find the information.

Thanks in advance of any advice.

Best wishes,
J

[Stirlitz]

I don’t know for sure but let’s use plain logic. Every entry and departure is stamped in your passport with the date. All you need to do is stick to the 90 days difference between each of those stamps, and you would be fine.

[Joolsy]

All you need to do is stick to the 90 days difference between each of those stamps, and you would be fine.

Thank you for this reply, but would that mean 90 days before I could return to the Ukraine?

Would I be better off getting a visa for a return?

What visa would be best ?

If I return for the 90 days in late April will I then be over staying my days allowance in Ukraine?

And at the end of this further 90 days would I then not be able to return until January 1011?

[sparky114]

As far as I am aware the maximum stay allowed is 90 days in any 180 which means you have to leave the country for 90 days and then you can go back for a further 90 days.

This does not run on calendar years so you can not get around it that way

I have heard of people getting 2 passports but now with the computerisation of immigration at the borders you will find that hard to do as they will know you have been in and out before therefore breaking the 90/180 rule

As a UK citizen you do not need a visa for Ukraine it is all controlled at the border so the only way is to marry her and apply for residency.

[sparky114]

Here is a link confirming maximum stay 90 days in 180

and no visa for UK

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/289/passport_visa/Europe/Ukraine.html

[Chris]

The the 90/180 rule applies here as Sparky stated.

You may however be entitled to apply for a Single/Double/Multiple entry Tourist Visa for a stay over 90 days.

Single entry up to 180 days
Double entry up to 180 days
Multiple entry up to 1825 days

However, this is a bit of a grey area, I am not 100% sure the above is still applicable as rules change regularly, so check it out with one of the Visa Application centres or the British Embassy in Kyiv before applying.

[sparky114]

The the 90/180 rule applies here as Sparky stated.

Thank you Chris for confirming that

[Chris]

The the 90/180 rule applies here as Sparky stated.

Thank you Chris for confirming that

No problem, however, I have added to it now.

[Joolsy]

Thank you to all of you who have replied to my questions. The information has been very good and straight forward.

It looks like I will either have to get out of Ukraine and back to the Uk and apply for a visa unless it is possible for me to go to Krakow in Poland and go to the Consulate there for the visa. Has anyone got experience of the Krakow consulate? A web site was saying they would have a visa done and completed inn a few hours if you were early enough and applied in person. Is this possible?

Once again thank you for you help.

[AkMike]

Keep in mind that with the new administration coming into power that things are going to change again! Which way it'll change is another question but I'm sure it'll change.
 Since the leaders seem to be leaning heavily towards Moscow I have a feeling it'll be back to visa's again.

Comments or thoughts?

[B.B.]

Could you not simply get a commercially-sponsored business visa and then come/go (more or less) as you please?

B/B

[ecocks]

Simply, it is not simple.

As you have done you can fly into the country and fill out the little white piece of paper with your info. They took half when you came in and you need to keep up with the other half until you leave. Fines are levied more often than not if you overstay 90 days but they were still working on getting a nationwide computer system to check the total days within 180 number.

Now, the law is 90/180. OK, clear enough but what about all these guys staying in there longer who aren't married to Ukrainians, aren't working for multinationals and those guys who just drift around the country all the time?

The law is not enforced consistently. There have been a few people turned back at the border for violating this rule but the majority get in and out with only small hassles.

Further, in order to stay over 90 days, even with a visa, you're supposed to register at the OVIR. Great, except that they will want to see either an invitation or a signed lease from your landlord and properly registered with the Zhek (Housing Administration office). These can be difficult to get from your landlords as itdocuments the property as being rented.

I received my 5 year business visa in Krakow and yes, as of a year and a half ago you got it back before 12 if you got it in there by 10 and then went to the bank to pay your fees. Cost was $165.

You cannot get residency until you have been married to a Ukrainian citizen for two years. Yes, it's screwy but they kept letting the married guys register at the OVIR under various visas until the two year period was up.

Even with the 5 year visa you still must register at the OVIR, pay your insurance and jump through all the hoops.

This still doesn't allow you to work or stay indefinitely however.

The bottom line is that there are laws which are vague and not enforced consistently.

Hope that helps.

[Joolsy]

Could you not simply get a commercially-sponsored business visa and then come/go (more or less) as you please?

B/B

How do I go about getting this commercially sponsored visa?  Can I get it in the Ukraine?

Also thank you to Ecocks for other information.

[Joolsy]

Keep in mind that with the new administration coming into power that things are going to change again! Which way it'll change is another question but I'm sure it'll change.
 Since the leaders seem to be leaning heavily towards Moscow I have a feeling it'll be back to visa's again.

Comments or thoughts?

I had better be quick then AKMike!!! Thank you

[B.B.]

Could you not simply get a commercially-sponsored business visa and then come/go (more or less) as you please?

B/B

How do I go about getting this commercially sponsored visa?  Can I get it in the Ukraine?

It seems to me that you are a UK national.  As I am US, I only have experience in obtaining business visas here, for which I have used a couple of providers, notably gotorussia.net.  Nothing recently, b/c I haven't been to Russia in a while, and Ukraine does not require visas for less than 90 days of each 180, as you are aware.

Perhaps the British guys might be able to point you in the direction of a service provider similar to gotorussia.net that can arrange a business visa to Ukr.

B/B