Removal of Entry Ban to Ukraine

Refusal of entry and entry bans in Ukraine are situations that foreigners may frequently encounter. At the border, a foreigner can be denied entry and receive an official decision imposing a ban on entry to Ukraine for a period of three years, and in some cases, five or even ten years. It is important to understand that this can happen even if the passport contains a valid visa for Ukraine.

Border officials are responsible for thoroughly checking a foreigner’s documents, and due to the full-scale war, these checks have become even more stringent. Consequently, the final decision on allowing a foreigner to enter Ukraine is made by the border authorities.

In addition to the border service, entry bans can also be issued by other state authorities. Most often, a refusal of entry occurs due to violations committed by the foreign citizen during previous visits to Ukraine.

Who Can Prohibit Entry to Ukraine

Decisions to ban entry to Ukraine can be made by the heads of the following authorities and their divisions:

• Security Service of Ukraine (SBU): if a foreigner poses a threat to national security or is suspected of involvement in illegal activities.
• State Migration Service of Ukraine (DMS): in cases of violations of migration law, overstaying, or absence of legal grounds for residence.
• Border units, checkpoints, and other bodies of the State Border Guard Service: in connection with violations of border-crossing rules or suspicion of document forgery.
• National Police of Ukraine: if a foreigner has criminal or administrative offenses that may serve as grounds for an entry ban.

Each of these authorities can issue a ban on different grounds. Understanding the reason for the entry prohibition is crucial in order to properly challenge or lift it.

Grounds for Prohibiting Entry to Ukraine

Entry to Ukraine may be prohibited on the following grounds:

• Threats to national security and preventing any unlawful actions by a foreigner that may endanger Ukraine’s vital interests, including combating organized crime.
• Public health and protection of citizens’ rights and legal interests.
• Submission of fraudulent documents, including passports, visas, damaged or unofficial documents, documents belonging to another person, or knowingly false information when applying for entry or crossing the border.
• Violation of border rules, including crossing the state border of Ukraine, customs regulations, or sanitary norms.
• Outstanding obligations, such as unpaid court orders, decisions of state authorities, property obligations, or administrative fines, including those related to previous expulsion from Ukraine.
• Unauthorized entry to temporarily occupied territories or areas of military operations, entering outside designated checkpoints or without a special permit under Ukrainian law.
• Violation of residence rules in Ukraine, including overstaying within visa limits, exceeding the “90/180” rule, or violating terms of temporary residence permits.
• Failure to leave Ukraine after annulment of a temporary or permanent residence permit.
• Violation of residence rules in Ukraine – including overstaying within visa limits, exceeding the “90/180” rule, or violating terms of temporary residence permits.
• Failure to leave Ukraine after annulment of a temporary or permanent residence permit

Please note! Foreign nationals entering Ukraine must comply with the entry rules during martial law. Observance of safety requirements is mandatory, including responding to air-raid alerts and restrictions imposed during curfew periods.

Duration of Entry Ban to Ukraine

The period of an entry ban is specified in the official decision and is usually three years. Exceptions include:

• Deportation decisions. If a foreigner is subject to deportation from Ukraine, the ban is typically extended to five years, and deportation is carried out based on these documents.
• Failure to comply with the decision. If a foreigner does not comply with the entry ban, an additional ten-year ban may be imposed on top of the original term.
• Extension possibility. In cases where the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) issues the ban, the agency may review the extension of the ban one month before the current term expires. 

What to Do if Entry to Ukraine Is Denied

If entry is refused at the border, it is essential to act correctly to avoid worsening the situation and to retain the right to appeal. Border authorities or other authorized bodies must issue a document stating the grounds for the ban. This document is necessary to challenge the entry prohibition.

Avoid arguing with border officers or violating rules at the checkpoint, as this can lead to additional sanctions or administrative liability. If the ban appears to have been imposed in error or there are grounds for its cancellation, it is important to take prompt action.

Procedure for Lifting an Entry Ban to Ukraine

1. Obtain the official decision. First, it is necessary to obtain the official document, either the decision on border crossing prohibition or the entry ban decision. This document specifies the grounds for the ban and identifies the authority that issued it. If the decision is not available, a formal request can be submitted to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
2. Challenging the decision through administrative review. It is possible to appeal directly to the authority that issued the entry refusal, requesting a review of the ban. In some cases, this allows the restriction to be lifted without resorting to court proceedings.
3. Judicial appeal. If administrative review does not yield results, the ban can be challenged in court. Judicial review of an entry ban can take a significant amount of time and requires a professional approach. 

Timeframe for challenging an entry ban