Ukrainian Visa Stays

[Yankee@Moscow]

Not withstanding the new Ukrainian restrictions of staying only 90 days within a 180 day period, what are the rules for staying in Ukraine if you have a valid visa? I have never found anything that tells me how long you can stay for each type of visa. For instance, if I have a 5 year multi-entry business visa, what are the restrictions? If I have a student visa, surely I don't have to leave every 3 months do I? Can anyone point out where this type of information is available? I haven't found it anywhere. Thanks!

[Remington]

Originally Posted by Yankee@Moscow Not withstanding the new Ukrainian restrictions of staying only 90 days within a 180 day period, what are the rules for staying in Ukraine if you have a valid visa? I have never found anything that tells me how long you can stay for each type of visa. For instance, if I have a 5 year multi-entry business visa, what are the restrictions? If I have a student visa, surely I don't have to leave every 3 months do I? Can anyone point out where this type of information is available? I haven't found it anywhere. Thanks!

As far as I know, you should be okay at Russia-Ukraine border crossing. Try to stay away from airports in Kiev/Odessa and don't try to cross border into Moldova or Poland. They do enforce the 90/180 rule if you don't have student, work or resident permit. 1 or 5 years ME business visa means nothing to them. I have not heard anyone being detained or fined at Russia-Ukraine border crossing but I know few people have run into problems at the Moldovan border since it's the prime destination for expats in Ukraine going there for border runs. It's a matter of time before they start to enforce the 90/180 rule country-wide.

If you're worried then its probably time you start thinking about getting 2 years limited validity passport and swap passport every 90 days. You don't need an Ukrainian business visa.

[Wallace]

Sor Rem

I have to disagree with you on the Moldovan border. I personally know of at least 6 expats who have been denied visas from the consulate in Kishinau (Including me), but their paperwork was perfectly in order to get a visa from the consulate in krakow Poland.

You can still argue your way through the Moldovan border, it's the Polish border where there are problems

[Remington]

Originally Posted by Wallace Sor Rem I have to disagree with you on the Moldovan border. I personally know of at least 6 expats who have been denied visas from the consulate in Kishinau (Including me), but their paperwork was perfectly in order to get a visa from the consulate in krakow Poland. You can still argue your way through the Moldovan border, it's the Polish border where there are problems

I said to avoid crossing into Moldovan or Polish border because there will be problems crossing back into Ukraine if overstay 90/180 days in Ukraine. I know about problems getting visa at Ukrainian consulate in Chisinau and that's another reason why I said it. I know one guy was detained by the Ukrainian border guard for hours outside in the cold before he was allowed back into Ukraine. They let him back into Ukraine since he spoke Russian and they wanted to avoid international incident if he died from hypothermia. I know.. I know that's stupid.

[Yankee@Moscow]

I talked to a friend who just moved to Moscow from Kiev. He said that to bypass the 90/180 day rule you either have to get resident status with a work visa or other special visa (diplimatic, etc.) or get a student visa. The 90/180 day rule kicks in with all the other ways to be in Ukraine. This guy owns property there, has to pay taxes, and can't stay more than 90 days in 180 days. Nice system!

I've read that there are ways to extend the 90 days with special permission from OVIR, but nobody seems to have done this that I know. I can imagine the conversation that would ensue at OVIR. I'm sure that the words "конверт and под столом" would be prevelant.