Ukraine Customs

Don’t forget a couple ink pens. When you are still on the plane, the flight attendants will give each of you Ukraine’s Immigration Card to fill out. You will use this when going through customs (only in Ukraine). There are two portions and thankfully there are directions on the back of the form. Read them carefully. The top area is for information with traveling into Ukraine. The bottom area is for information having to do with leaving Ukraine. The directions and questions are in 3 languages including English. You will not have this card upon returning to the U.S. so none of these questions will apply to your adopted children upon returning to the U.S. I’m only providing this information so you have an idea of what to expect. Of course these questions and systems could change at any point.

The Immigration Card (when we traveled) asked the following:

1.)    Surname [Write your family’s last name]

2.)    Name

3.)    Citizenship

4.)    Date of Birth

5.)    Passport #

6.)    Type, visa #, term of visa [Leave this blank on the top and bottom portions.]

7.)    Children (name, date of birth) [Leave this blank even in the bottom (exit) portion unless you are planning to travel with any existing children.]

8.)    Purpose of Journey [We wrote, “Tourism” to avoid any hassle.]

9.)    Destination name, address [On the top (entrance) portion write “Kyiv Apartment.” On the bottom (exit) portion just write your city name, state abbreviation, and “USA.”]

10.) Vehicle (flight #) [On the top (entrance) portion put the flight you are currently on. It is located on your boarding pass. Leave this blank for your bottom (exit) portion.

11.) Signature of bearer [This line is located on the same line as question 6.]

Walk up to the customs officer and hand him your completed Immigration Card. He will look it over and begin stamping it if everything looks good. If the customs officer asks where you are staying, meaning he/she is not satisfied with “Kyiv Apartment” (in most situations this is fine) than have your facilitator’s address handy and tell it to the customs officer. If you can’t get that, even a random address of a hotel is fine. They just want proof that you are actually staying at some location. Have this information near your passport and all will be well. Upon approval to enter Ukraine, the customs officer will return the bottom portion of the Immigration Card to you. It is important that you keep the half he gives you because you will need it upon leaving Ukraine.

Fill out the Blue and White customs forms if you have anything to declare. It is best if you can avoid bringing anything that would require declaring because then you wouldn’t have to fill it out. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DECLARE ANY OF YOUR MONEY unless it is OVER $10,000 per person. So, if you bring $9,999 per person, you still DO NOT have to fill out the Blue and White Customs forms. These forms are made available after talking with the customs officer.

When you arrive in the Kyiv-Borispol airport, there will be multiple lines to choose from. Go to the “Non-Visa” line as the others are for Ukrainian citizens or people required to obtain a visa for various reasons. Currently, the “Non-Visa” lines are on the right side of the customs area.

You will be picked up from the airport by a driver arranged ahead of time by your facilitator. It may even be your facilitator. They will hold a sign with your last name so you will know the person to leave with. Also, the doors you exit the customs/baggage claim area and into the main airport area is a very small, gated location. You will not miss your family’s sign. ;-)