A foreigner or stateless person may be banned from entering Ukraine. People often learn about the ban only at the border, when they are refused entry and sent back. It is therefore better to check in advance — especially if there were earlier problems with documents, length of stay or fines.
Who can impose an entry ban
The State Migration Service, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service and the National Police (Article 13(3) of the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons"). The ban is entered into the database of persons not allowed to enter Ukraine.
Main grounds
- national security, public order, fighting organised crime;
- public health, protection of the rights and lawful interests of Ukrainian citizens;
- false information or forged documents when applying for entry;
- a forged, damaged or someone else's passport or visa;
- violation of border-crossing, customs or sanitary rules at a checkpoint;
- unexecuted court decisions, unpaid fines or other debts from a previous stay in Ukraine;
- entering or leaving the temporarily occupied territories in breach of the established procedure.
For how long
- usually 3 years;
- 5 years for illegally crossing the border outside checkpoints or for forced expulsion;
- if the ban is violated, another 10 years are added to the remaining term.
What to do
Find out which authority imposed the ban and on what grounds, and obtain a copy of the decision — without it the ban cannot be challenged. The decision can be appealed in an administrative court. Deadlines for appeal are limited, so it is best to act as soon as you learn about the ban.
Law text: Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons" (Articles 13, 14).