According to Implementation Decision of the Council of the European Union (EU) 2026/1912 of 30 July 2026, to cross the EU border in 2026 Ukrainians must have documents confirming their identity, the purpose and the conditions of the trip. Border officers check the passport, the insurance policy and may request additional proof of routes or finances.
Documents required on entry
First of all, the international passport is checked: for visa-free entry it must be biometric and valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the EU. For certain countries a longer validity — up to six months — may be required; during inspection the passport is scanned, including the chip and the photograph.
If you hold an ordinary international passport, you will need to apply for a visa to enter. Border officers may also ask you to confirm the purpose of your trip: this can be hotel or apartment bookings for tourism, return tickets or confirmation of onward travel. They may separately check that you have sufficient funds for the period of stay.
Insurance policy and “Green Card”
An insurance policy is a mandatory document for entry to the EU: it must cover at least €30 000 of expenses and be valid throughout the Schengen area. This can be a travel or medical insurance policy, depending on the purpose of the trip.
If you travel by car, you also need a “Green Card” — the international motor insurance certificate for the vehicle. During checks you may be asked to show proof of financial cover as well as the insurance policy itself.
Travelling with a child — what documents
Children under 16 must also have an international passport; if the passport is of an older type, the child may be listed in a parent’s passport. A birth certificate must also be carried.
During martial law a child may leave Ukraine with one parent without a notarised consent from the other. Departure is also possible when accompanied by a grandmother, grandfather or an adult brother or sister without such consent.
Additional checks at the border and the passport stamp
During control, border officers may ask additional questions about the trip; your answers must correspond to the documents you present. Therefore you should be able to produce bookings, tickets, the insurance policy and other necessary documents quickly.
Original documents and copies should be kept so they can be found quickly. In a post the Embassy of Ukraine in the Federal Republic of Germany advised that Ukrainians are recommended to obtain a stamp confirming border crossing in their passport because of the new temporary protection rules in the EU.
Validity periods: the passport must be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure; for some countries — up to six months. The policy must cover at least €30 000.
