Two separate questions
"Do I need a visa for Ukraine" is really two questions. The first is about entering for a short trip. The second is about living here, which means applying for a residence permit. For the same citizenship the two answers can differ, and this is exactly where people most often go wrong. The general procedure for getting a visa is described in the guide to getting a Ukrainian visa.
Entry for a short trip
The Procedure approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 150 distinguishes two regimes. Citizens of countries with visa-free entry may stay in Ukraine for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period, unless legislation or an international treaty sets a different period. Citizens of countries with a visa regime stay in Ukraine for the period their visa allows.
For some countries, international treaties set special periods that differ from the general rule. That is why your own country deserves a separate check. How to count visa-free days is explained in the article on the 90/180 rule.
Where to check your country
Which countries enjoy visa-free entry and which need a visa is decided by Ukraine's international treaties, and the list changes. The reliable source is the website of the МЗС (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MFA), in its section on visa matters for foreigners. There you can also see whether citizens of your country can get an e-visa.
Pay attention to the type of passport. Treaties often set different rules for holders of diplomatic and service passports than for ordinary travel passports. This article covers ordinary passports only.
Countries with a special procedure
Citizens of certain states go through a more demanding visa procedure. Paragraph 12 of the Rules for issuing visas, approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 118, provides that the list of such states is drawn up by the MFA together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Their citizens receive a visa only after a personal interview at the consulate and with the approval of the authorities that decide on entry bans.
Such foreigners must apply at a Ukrainian consulate in the country of their temporary or permanent residence. Paragraph 14 of the Rules allows exceptions, for example for holders of certain valid visas of other states. Processing times in these cases are hard to predict, so plan your trip with a generous margin. What influences the consulate's decision is explained in the article on visa refusals.
A visa for a residence permit
Visa-free entry does not give you the right to live in Ukraine. For long-term residence a foreigner applies for a посвідка (temporary residence permit, TRP), and for most citizenships that requires a visa D. A citizen of an EU country or the United States, for instance, enters Ukraine without a visa but, as a rule, still needs a visa D for a TRP.
Some foreigners do not need a visa D for a TRP, because a law or an international treaty says so. They apply for the permit without leaving Ukraine. While martial law is in force, a separate exception applies to volunteers, described in the article on the residence permit through volunteering.
Whether you personally need a visa D depends on your citizenship and on the ground for your TRP. Settle this before you travel. Otherwise you may have to leave Ukraine and come back with a visa.
Three typical situations
In practice foreigners fall into one of three situations. The table below helps to tell them apart.
When your period of stay runs out
Staying beyond the permitted period breaches the rules of stay. It leads to administrative liability and can result in a ban on entering Ukraine. Keep track of your dates and do not count on the border guard failing to notice.
If you have good reasons to stay longer, your period of stay can be extended. The application goes to the ДМС (State Migration Service, DMS) no later than three working days before the period ends. How this works is explained in the guide to foreigners' periods of stay.
Lawyer's experience
Here is the situation I see most often. A foreigner from a visa-free country arrives, finds a job and asks us to arrange a residence permit. Then it turns out that their citizenship requires a visa D, and they have to travel to a consulate abroad.
So at the first consultation I always ask two things, namely the person's citizenship and the purpose of their stay in Ukraine. Those two answers decide whether a visa will be needed, and we build the plan from the start so that the client does not have to make the trip twice.
If you are not sure whether you need a visa, our visa support starts with checking the entry regime that applies to you.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
My country is visa-free. Can I work in Ukraine without a visa?+
Visa-free entry only gives you the right to a short stay. To work you need a work permit, and to live in Ukraine for a longer time you need a residence permit, which for most foreigners requires a visa D.
Where can I check whether I need a visa?+
On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in the section on visa matters. Entry rules depend on international treaties and change over time, so check them before every trip.
What happens if I stay longer than allowed?+
Overstaying breaches the rules of stay and leads to administrative liability. It can also result in a ban on entering Ukraine, so extend your period of stay before it runs out.
Can a visa-free stay be extended?+
Yes, if you have grounds such as medical treatment or a pending residence permit application. The application goes to the State Migration Service no later than three working days before your period of stay ends.
Do the visa-free rules apply in the same way to a diplomatic passport?+
Not always. International treaties often set different rules for diplomatic and service passports than for ordinary ones, so those are checked separately.
This article is general guidance, not individual legal advice.