Ukrainian visa - insurance policy

Hi,
Nobody asked me for my insurance even though I had it!

South_of_60,

Are you a visa national? The website of the Ukrainian Embassy in Bangkok lists an insurance policy as a prerequisite for visa issuance.

Any travel insurance with medical cover for Ukraine should suffice.
When Europeans needed visa for Ukraine there was a similar prerequisite, but no one ever asked for a policy neither at the consulate nor at the border.
You will be glad to have one though if you need medical help in Ukraine you don't want to end up in a state hospital.

My friend bought an insurance from a local company and made it to the Ukrainian embassy at last. And there he was told that, because his layover is less than 24 hours and he is not changing airports, he is not eligible for a transit visa. He must either stay airside or make a full-hassle tourist visa with invitations, vouchers etc. to spend one night in humane conditions.

It is very unfortunate that his flight is non-refundable and non-changeable.

Hi,
I did not need a visa.

South_of_60
Lucky you were.

Just a thought, but sometimes it is easier to get a transit visa at the airport. While I don't usually recommend that people do this, your friend might try when at the airport - showing onward flights and medical insurance might be all that he needs plus payment of a small fee. It is worth trying as there is nothing to lose.

Ruth

everbrite

Yes, thank you for your advice, I was thinking into that direction. But I am 99.9% sure that nothing may come out of that. So I recommended my friend to cancel the booking he held for a hotel in Kiev: he wouldn't be able to cancel it when refused entry.

So here comes another question - what to do and where to go if, against all the probability, he is admitted in the middle of the night.

Have a list of hotels and their phone numbers and be ready to make some phone calls. Approach fellow travelers for assistance (maybe someone will take your friend home).

Ruth