Rules of entry

By RBK-UKRAINE

Europe continues to open borders for vaccinated Ukrainians. So, Ukrzaliznytsia trains can now travel to five countries.

On October, 10 the first train after the pandemic left for Poland. Now it is also possible to travel by rail to Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Moldova.

How to travel by train to Europe

Poland

Rail connections with Poland were suspended on March 15, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since September 9, 2021, the neighboring country has allowed entry for Ukrainians for any purpose.

The following can enter Poland without quarantine:

  • Ukrainians who have completed a full course of vaccination with vaccines registered in the EU (Pfizer, Moderna, Astra-Zeneca, Jonson & Jonson – certificates will have to be issued in English or Polish).
  • Those who have had COVID-19 and will provide a document about it.
  • Those who have not been vaccinated will have to stay in self-isolation for up to 10 days or shorten this period by passing a PCR test after 7 days.

From October 10, you can go from Ukraine to Przemysl – one of the oldest cities in Poland. The journey will cost from 1043 hryvnia – the journey duration is 7 hours 33 minutes (Kyiv-Korosten-Podzamche-Lviv-Przemysl), or from 1137 hryvnia – the journey duration is 9 hours 16 minutes (Kiev-Vinnitsa-Khmelnitsky-Ternopil-Lviv-Przemysl).

Moldova

Entry for Ukrainians to Moldova has been open since May, and vaccination certificates issued in Ukraine are accepted in this country since June 10.

To enter the Republic of Moldova you need to have:

  • Negative PCR test result valid no more than 72 hours before travel or rapid COVID test 48 hours before.
  • Recovery certificates (15-180 days).
  • Vaccination certificates with any vaccine.
  • Without a certificate of the absence of COVID, you will have to go on a 14-day self-isolation with the ability to shorten it after passing the test after 7 days. The requirements do not apply to children under 12 y\o.

You can go by train to Moldova from Odessa. The cost of a ticket to Chisinau – the capital of Moldova – from 352 hryvnia.

Hungary and Austria

The first flight after the lockdown to Budapest and Vienna departed from Kyiv on July 1. The train runs daily and tickets are sold at the international ticket offices of the stations.

There are no restrictions for Ukrainians with biometric passports to travel to Hungary from August 1. An exception is travel by air. In this case, a negative PCR test result within 72 hours or a certificate of vaccination is required.

From July 1, to travel to Austria without self-isolation, it is enough to have a vaccination with one of the approved vaccines: Pfizer, AstraZeneca / Covishield, Janssen from Johnson & Johnson, mRNA-1273 Covid-19 Vaccine from Moderna, Sinopharm, CoronaVac.

If there is no vaccination certificate, then you will need to spend 10 days in self-isolation, and at the entrance to have one of the documents with you:

  • negative PCR test result within 72 hours;
  • antigen test in 48 hours
  • a certificate of recovery.

In addition, before entering without vaccination, you must register for the Pre-Travel-Clearance – PTC. You must fill out the form online no later than 72 hours before the trip.

Slovakia

Railway communication with Slovakia resumed on July 1. Now you can go to this country by trains Mukachevo-Kosice, which run daily. Also, until December 11, trains run from Chop-Kosice, Chop- Čierna nad Tisou.

Train tickets can be purchased at the train station’s international ticket offices.

To enter Slovakia, you must first register on the korona.gov.sk portal.

Without self-isolation, Ukrainians vaccinated with any vaccine who have a vaccination certificate in English, Slovak or Czech will be able to enter. PCR test results are not required upon entry.

Unvaccinated travelers will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. It can be stopped by taking a PCR test after 5 days of stay.