First things first: do you even need a visa?
Before you fill in a single form, it's worth checking whether you need an entry permit at all. For many travellers, the answer is no.
Citizens of the EU and EEA, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and a number of other countries do not need a visa to stay in Ukraine for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We've covered the details of this visa-free arrangement separately — see the 90/180 rule and who doesn't need a visa.
The e-Visa is intended only for citizens of countries that do not have a visa-free agreement with Ukraine. In other words, if your passport already entitles you to visa-free entry, there's no need to apply for an e-Visa — and no reason to spend time or money on one.
To check whether your country is on the list of those eligible for an e-Visa, use the official resource only — the platform at evisa.mfa.gov.ua. We've deliberately chosen not to reproduce a country list here: it changes from time to time, and the outdated lists that clutter other sites can only mislead you.
A quick decision guide
- Do you hold a visa-free passport (EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan and so on)? No visa needed. Move on to preparing your documents for the border crossing.
- Is your country not on the visa-free list? Check on evisa.mfa.gov.ua whether an e-Visa is available to you, and apply for it online.
- Not sure? The best way to confirm where things stand is our overview of entry requirements, which we keep up to date.
How to apply for an e-Visa: the 4 official steps
The e-Visa is applied for online only — on Ukraine's Foreign Ministry platform at evisa.mfa.gov.ua. There's no need to visit a consulate or go through an intermediary agency. The whole process comes down to four steps:
- Register on the evisa.mfa.gov.ua platform.
- Fill in the application form online.
- Upload copies of your documents (the list is below).
- Pay the consular fee.
After that, all you need to do is wait for a decision and receive your visa in electronic form.
Which documents you need to upload
When submitting your application on the platform, you'll need to upload:
- a photo;
- your passport;
- a health insurance policy with 30,000 EUR coverage;
- proof of sufficient funds for your stay;
- a document confirming the purpose of your visit.
The documents required to confirm the purpose of your visit vary by category (tourism, business, study and so on). The full list for each category is set out in the Help section of the e-Visa website — that's where you should cross-check before uploading, to avoid a refusal over an incomplete file.
Fees and processing times
The consular fee depends on the type of visa and whether you need it urgently:
- single-entry e-Visa — 20 US dollars;
- double-entry e-Visa — 30 US dollars;
- the urgent procedure doubles the fee.
As for processing times:
- standard processing — 3 working days;
- urgent processing — 1 working day.
Questions about the validity of the visa and the permitted length of stay depend on the category and country, so check them directly on evisa.mfa.gov.ua — that's the only source worth trusting.
Health insurance: not a formality, but an entry requirement
Be aware that a health insurance policy with 30,000 EUR coverage isn't just one item on the e-Visa document checklist. Holding medical insurance that's valid in Ukraine is a mandatory entry requirement for every foreigner, whether or not they need a visa.
Given that Ukraine is under martial law, an ordinary travel policy may not cover risks related to hostilities. For trips during this period, it's wise to choose insurance that includes war-risk cover. You can arrange a suitable insurance policy online in just a few minutes — on the market such policies start from a few euros a day, and you'll see the exact price for your travel dates on the quote page.
At the same time, keep in mind that even policies with war-risk cover have territorial exclusions. Cover typically does not apply to four categories of zones:
- combat zones (as defined by the relevant state acts);
- temporarily occupied territories;
- a 50-kilometre buffer zone around the first two categories;
- areas under a special-access regime.
These are specifically delineated zones, not whole oblasts. When planning your route, stick to regions outside these restrictions.
What else to prepare before entering
Because Ukraine's civilian airspace is closed, entry currently takes place by land — through overland border crossing points. So besides your visa (if you need one), it's important to have a full set of documents for the border crossing.
We've laid out exactly what to bring in our guide on documents to enter Ukraine. And for the bigger picture — from insurance to the rules of stay — it's handy to check our overview of entry requirements.
The bottom line
For most travellers from Western countries, no visa is needed at all for a short trip to Ukraine. If your country doesn't have a visa-free agreement, the e-Visa is applied for entirely online at evisa.mfa.gov.ua in four steps, and the fees and processing times are transparent and fixed. Steer clear of intermediaries who inflate the price — the official platform handles everything on its own. And don't forget the essentials: every foreigner needs valid medical insurance, and under martial law it should cover the relevant risks.