Quick answer. Duty-free up to 60 days per trip for foreign-registered vehicles. Documents at the border: (1) foreign passport; (2) Green Card with active "UA" marker (motor TPL insurance for Ukraine); (3) original vehicle registration (V5C / Carte Grise / Fahrzeugschein / etc.); (4) home-country driver's licence + IDP recommended; (5) customs declaration MD-6 (paper or electronic at the border crossing). Extension beyond 60 days: at a customs post — or transition to resident import (Customs Code Art. 380 for new residents). Humanitarian aid: simplified regime under Cabinet Resolution from 2022 — declaration + letter from Ukrainian NGO recipient.
Temporary import regime — basics
Article 380 of the Customs Code of Ukraine allows non-residents to temporarily import personal vehicles with conditional full exemption from duty for up to 60 days per trip.
Who qualifies:
- Foreign national (non-citizen of Ukraine).
- Ukrainian permanently resident abroad (with documented foreign residency — Art. 380 also applies, with conversion to permanent resident import possible).
- Legal entity — non-resident (for company vehicles — separate regime under Art. 379).
How counting works:
- The car is registered in the driver's country of permanent residence.
- 60 days count from entry — not calendar. Leaving and re-entering within 60 days continues the running total.
- Annual quota: up to 365 days total per calendar year. Exceeding it risks transition to resident status with mandatory customs registration + VAT.
What doesn't count:
- Car in transit through Ukraine (a TIR / transit declaration regime, not temporary import).
- Car carried as cargo on a flatbed / trailer (it's goods, not a vehicle in service).
Documents at the border — checklist
- Foreign passport of the foreign national.
- Original vehicle registration (not a copy):
- EU: Fahrzeugschein (DE/AT), Carte Grise (FR), Permesso di Circolazione (IT), Tarjeta de Circulación (ES), Dowód Rejestracyjny (PL), Forgalmi Engedély (HU), Technický Průkaz (CZ).
- UK: V5C (logbook).
- US/CA: Vehicle Registration (DMV / SAAQ / etc.).
- JP: 自動車検査証 (Shaken-shou).
- AR/MENA: regional certificates.
- Valid Green Card — international motor TPL insurance certificate with the active "UA" marker (Ukraine joined the Green Card system in 1997). The policy must show coverage for Ukraine.
- Driver's licence:
- European and Vienna Convention national licences valid in Ukraine for up to 60 days.
- IDP (International Driving Permit) — strongly recommended additionally (especially for drivers from JP / CN / SA with non-Latin scripts).
- A Ukrainian licence is not required for foreign drivers for up to 60 days.
- Customs declaration MD-6 — completed at the border crossing (paper) or in advance on customs.gov.ua (electronic, recommended for speed).
Optional but helpful:
- Rental agreement (if you're a renter, not the owner) — notarised Ukrainian translation mandatory for hire-not-owner.
- Power of Attorney — for driving someone else's car.
- Service-station receipt for winter tyres / mechanical condition (autumn-winter).
Green Card — the most important detail
Green Card is an international motor third-party liability insurance certificate. Ukraine has been a member of the Green Card system since 1997.
What to verify:
- On the back of the card, UA must be active (not crossed out).
- Coverage period covers the full duration of your stay in Ukraine.
- Policy issued by an accredited Green Card insurance company — not all European policies cover Ukraine by default since 2022.
How to get a Green Card with the UA marker:
- EU: through your primary insurer (Allianz, AXA, ERGO, etc.) — surcharge of €30-100/month for non-EU countries. Some insurers excluded Ukraine from default coverage due to martial law; verify before the trip.
- UK: post-Brexit, a Green Card is required for any driving in the EU + Ukraine; bought separately.
- US/CA/AU: the Green Card system doesn't apply automatically — buy temporary Ukrainian insurance at the border crossing or online (Ukrainian insurers Brokbiz, Ingo Ukraine, ARX, TAS, USG).
If the Green Card is invalid or absent:
- At the border crossing, temporary Ukrainian motor TPL can be bought for 15-90 days for ~€20-60 (Brokbiz, Ingo Ukraine, ARX, TAS, USG, others).
- Without insurance — refusal of entry or fine 850-1,700 UAH (≈ €18-35) under Code of Administrative Offences Art. 126 + ban from third-party liability cover in case of an accident.
What happens at the border — step by step
- Green vs red corridor for vehicles: a separate route for cars — international crossing point → customs processing point → passenger control.
- Customs inspector asks: "Where are you going, for how many days?" + verifies registration + Green Card.
- MD-6 is filled in — either the inspector enters it in the system, or you complete a paper form.
- Entry stamp with date + temporary-import term.
- Vehicle inspection (rare for tourists, more often for humanitarian aid) — VIN, registration number, year, fuel type.
Time estimates:
- Passenger car without extra questions: 10-20 minutes from approach to exit.
- Humanitarian-aid vehicle: 30-90 minutes because of recipient document checks.
- Business visitor's vehicle: 30-60 minutes.
Best border crossings:
- Poland: Korczowa-Krakowiec (highest throughput, 24/7), Medyka-Shehyni (easier for pedestrians-and-cars), Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, Dorohusk-Yagodyn, Krościenko-Smolnitsa.
- Slovakia: Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhhorod (main one).
- Hungary: Záhony-Chop (rail + road).
- Romania: Siret-Porubne, Diakove (Moldova transit).
- Moldova: Palanka-Mayaky-Udobne, Starokozache-Tudora.
Check waiting times at dpsu.gov.ua (State Border Service), updated every 2 hours.
Extending beyond 60 days
If you need to stay longer:
Option 1 — short exit abroad for 1 day: does not reset the term. State customs checks history, the running total continues to accumulate.
Option 2 — temporary-import extension: at a customs post in your region of stay. Documents:
- Extension application.
- Original registration + Green Card (extended for new periods).
- Reason for extension: employer letter, doctor, school, humanitarian organisation.
- Customs fee for extension: ~200-500 UAH (€5-15).
Maximum single extension — additional 60 days. Total annual ceiling — 365 days.
Option 3 — transition to resident import: if you officially became a resident of Ukraine (received temporary / permanent residence permit), you must register the car in Ukraine with:
- Import duty 10% of customs value (EU EFTA — zero under EU-Ukraine AA for some categories).
- VAT 20% on (customs value + duty).
- Excise — by fuel type and year (old diesel — increased).
Customs brokerage ~$200-500 + payments.
Simplified humanitarian-aid regime (2022+)
Cabinet Resolution from March 2022 (with amendments) introduced a simplified regime for vehicles carrying humanitarian aid:
Documents:
- Letter from the recipient — Ukrainian NGO, charity foundation, church, hospital, state body.
- Cargo manifest.
- Registration + Green Card / temporary insurance.
Features:
- Duty-free vehicle entry for up to 30 days with possible extension.
- Electronic CN-23 declaration for cargo (filled before the crossing).
- Separate humanitarian-aid lanes at Korczowa-Krakowiec (not standing in the general queue).
Who can drive:
- Registered NGOs / charities.
- Religious organisations (Orthodox, Roman / Greek Catholic, Protestant congregations).
- Private persons with documented collaboration with a Ukrainian NGO (written letter on recipient's letterhead).
What is NOT humanitarian aid:
- Gifts for relatives (that's personal goods).
- Cargo for sale.
- Reserve for your own volunteer activity, without a letter of receipt from a Ukrainian NGO.
Edge cases — typical pitfalls
1. "I rented a car in Poland for a trip to Ukraine." A renter is not the owner. Need a notarised rental agreement with explicit consent from the rental company to leave the EU (most rental companies prohibit Ukraine in standard contracts). Without consent — refusal at the border. Fix: a separate "cross-border addition" in the contract (€30-100/day).
2. "I'm driving a friend's car under a power of attorney." PoA + their passport + ownership certificate = risky at the border. Could be paused for verification. Notarised PoA with English / Ukrainian translation strongly recommended.
3. "I drive a right-hand-drive car (UK / IE)." Ukraine drives on the left side of the wheel (i.e., right side of the road). RHD vehicles are not banned for temporary import, but for permanent registration — restrictions (since 2021, new RHD registrations forbidden). For tourists / temporary — no issue, just drive carefully.
4. "An electric car (Tesla / BMW i4) — separate customs code?" Yes, but temporary import is not affected. Only when filing for resident import — preferential customs regime for EVs (zero duty under EU-Ukraine AA, zero excise).
5. "My car won't pass Ukrainian technical inspection." Tourists don't need Ukrainian inspection — driving on foreign plates. If converting to resident regime — inspection through the MIA service centre.
6. "I'm bringing a humanitarian-aid vehicle but without a formal letter." At the border crossing — two scenarios: (a) the inspector lets you in on general temporary-import terms (60 days, no humanitarian-aid benefits); (b) inspector stops and demands documents. Pre-arrange the letter — that's safer.
7. "My Green Card expired mid-stay." Buy an extension or new Ukrainian motor TPL at any petrol station, broker, or online (insurance.ua, easybuy.ua). Driving without insurance — a fine.
8. "I extended the temporary import but didn't leave on time." Exceeding the term = fine 850-1,700 UAH under Customs Code Art. 470 + problems on next entry. Fix: urgently to a customs post, fresh extension or full customs clearance.
9. "I'm moving to Ukraine permanently — car from abroad." That's the citizen-relocation regime (Art. 380 with caveats): duty-free clearance possible if foreign residency > 1 year + relocation within 6 months. Otherwise — full customs clearance (duty + VAT + excise).
10. "I'm bringing a car from abroad to sell in Ukraine." That's not temporary import but import. Full customs clearance + all taxes. Trying to declare as temporary + sell — criminal liability under Criminal Code Art. 201 (smuggling).
Specifics for drivers from outside Europe
US / Canada / Japan / Australia:
- IDP strongly recommended — without it frequent road-stop questions from police.
- Green Card system doesn't apply to these countries; buy temporary insurance on entry (€20-60 for 30 days via Ukrainian brokers).
- US / CA / JP-registered cars are rare; may need additional VIN inspection.
LATAM / MENA:
- Few travellers drive a personal car (typically via Poland on rental).
- If driving — prepare translated (Ukrainian or English) registration documents.
Locale-aware notes (for English-language readers)
This English version covers anglophone travellers — US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland — diaspora driving home, journalists, NGO workers, business visitors.
- US travellers. Green Card system doesn't apply automatically; buy temporary Ukrainian motor TPL at the border for ~$25-65 per 30 days. IDP from AAA or USPS-issued IDP. Most American driver's licences are accepted but Ukrainian police prefer the IDP. Bring DMV registration (no Ukrainian translation needed at modern border posts).
- UK travellers. Post-Brexit, a Green Card is mandatory for any EU + Ukraine driving. Bought via your UK insurer with the "UA" marker selected. UK licences are accepted up to 60 days. RHD cars allowed for temporary import; permanent registration restricted since 2021.
- Canadian travellers. Green Card system doesn't apply; buy temporary Ukrainian insurance on entry. Canadian provincial driver's licences (Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta) recognised under Vienna Convention; IDP recommended.
- Australian travellers. Green Card system doesn't apply; buy temporary Ukrainian insurance on entry. Australian state licences (NSW, VIC, QLD) accepted; IDP recommended.
- Irish travellers. Green Card via Irish insurer (Allianz Ireland, AXA Ireland, Aviva Ireland). Irish driver's licence accepted in Ukraine.
- Routes from anglophone diaspora hubs. Most US/UK/CA/AU travellers fly into Warsaw / Krakow / Frankfurt / Bucharest and rent or buy a car in EU for the Ukraine leg, due to high cost of trans-Atlantic vehicle shipping. Returns: same crossings used (Korczowa-Krakowiec for Poland-routed travellers; Vyšné Nemecké for Slovakia route).
- Insurance. Most US/UK/CA/AU travel insurance excludes Ukraine. Vehicle CASCO coverage typically excludes conflict zones. See the travel insurance for Ukraine guide for products covering Ukraine.
- Embassy contacts (English-language). US Embassy Kyiv: kyiv.usembassy.gov. UK Embassy: gov.uk/world/ukraine. Canadian Embassy: international.gc.ca/country-pays/ukraine. Australian Embassy: ukraine.embassy.gov.au.