All customs procedures are performed by the State Customs Service of Ukraine (SCSU). It is a specially authorized central body of executive power in the area of customs practice that was established in 1991 with the mission to direct, to co-ordinate, and to control the activities of customs authorities, specialized customs institutions and organizations in implementing the laws of Ukraine on customs practice.
Ukraine is a member of the following international/regional organizations: WCO, WTO, BSEC, GUAM, CIS.
International Conventions relating to customs signed by Ukraine :
WCO Conventions
- Convention establishing a Customs Co-operation Council;
- Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System;
- Convention on Temporary Admission (Istanbul Convention);
- International Convention on the simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures (Kyoto Convention) as amended;
- International Convention on mutual administrative assistance for the prevention, investigation and repression of Customs offences (Nairobi Convention);
- Customs Convention on Containers.
UNECE Transport Agreements and Conventions
- Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention);
- International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods;
- Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used for such Carriage (ATP).
Entering Ukraine
Upon arrival to Ukraine, you will have to go through Border and Custom’s Formalities. It will save you time and energy if you follow simple recommendations below.
Border Control
For entering Ukraine, valid Ukrainian visa is required. So far, it is impossible to obtain a visa on the border (except of Odessa airport where citizens of Turkey may obtain visa on arrival), therefore it is necessary to have it in your passport by the moment of arrival to Ukraine. You can read about Ukrainian visa regulations at our visa and Federal migration form section.
Having presented your passport with visa to a Border Control officer, you will receive an immigration card – authorization for temporary stay in the country. This card will have your personal information, such as your name, passport number, expected term of stay in Ukraine, etc. Your passport will be registered right on the border, no further registration when staying in Ukraine is required if you stay in the country for less than 6 months. Please, note OVIR (Police) passport registration in the territory of Ukraine is not required since 2001 for short-term visits.
Please, keep the immigration card you have received. You might need it any time during your stay in Ukraine and upon departure.
Customs Control
This is the next and the last formality you will be going through. Please, read the rules below to avoid potential problems upon departure. Make sure to fill in and keep Custom’s Declaration form if necessary.
It is allowed to bring into Ukraine:
- Cash and travel checks totaling up to USD 10,000. If money you carry in exceeds USD 3,000 it should be declared in written form.
- Precious metals, which total weight is more than 100 grams per person, regardless age are to be declared.
- Checks, issued by foreign banks and non-bank organizations exceeding USD 50,000 (or its equivalent in other currency) are to be declared.
- Alcohol in the amount of 1 liter of vine, 2 liters of beer, 2 liters of strong beverages (whisky, vodka, etc).
- Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 200 grams of tobacco.
- Food, total cost of which is lower EURO 50.
- Goods, cost of which is lower EURO 200 and weight is less than 50 kg.
For carrying bigger amounts in cash, checks and precious metals special National Bank of Ukraine authorization is required (form #5).
Customs and other fees will be imposed on the bigger amounts and weights of goods.
Goods weighting more than 100 kg and cost of which is less than EURO 1,000, will be subject to 20% Custom’s Tax, 20% VAT and a Product Tax, which differs from one group of goods to another.
Goods weighing more 100 kg and costing more than EURO 1,000 will be taxed on commercial rate basis.
Limitations and Prohibitions:
Prohibited objects are: radioactive, chemical or other harmful materials; pornography; any printed, recorded materials popularizing war, violence, race, ethnic or religious discrimination; anti-Constitutional propaganda.
Limitations are applicable and special authorizations will be required for carrying: any kind of weapons; animals; radio-electronic and high-frequency devices; medicine (if quantity exceeds 5 packs or the quantity necessary for 1 prescribed treatment course); drugs and psychotropic substances; devices for opium and hashish smoking.
Make sure to fill in the Entrance Customs’ Declaration Form to declare valuable objects you bring into Ukraine: money, travelers checks, expensive equipment, jewelry, etc.
After presenting it to a Custom’s officer and sealing, keep it with other documents. You might need this paper when leaving the country since valuables export is limited in Ukraine and is subject to customs taxation, and amounts exceeding USD 1,000 can be brought out with NBU permission letters only, unless your Entrance Declaration form states you have brought bigger amount into the country.
Leaving Ukraine
When leaving Ukraine, you will have to fill in the Exit Customs’ Declaration to list the valuables you are bringing out of the country. Please, note that valuables not included in the Entrance Declaration will be subject to Customs taxes and fees. Below are things to consider when leaving Ukraine.
It is allowed to carry out of Ukraine:
- Cash and travel checks totaling up to USD 10,000 and carried into Ukraine. If money you carry out exceeds USD 3,000 it should be declared in written form. However, it cannot exceed amount you carried in to the country.
- Ukrainian cash in the amount of more than UAH 10,000 is to be declared.
- Commemorative coins of gold and silver, nominal value of which is in UAH and does not exceed UAH 5,000. If more it is to be declared.
- Precious metals, which total weight is up to 100 grams per person, regardless of person’s age. If more it is to be declared.
- Checks, issued by foreign banks and non-bank organizations and amounting up to USD 50,000 (or its equivalent in other currency), which were brought into Ukraine (it should be on your Entrance Declaration) are to be declared.
For carrying out bigger amounts in cash, checks and precious metals special National Bank of Ukraine authorization is required (form #3).
Goods costing more than EURO 100,000 will be considered commercial import and taxed on commercial rate basis.
Limitations and Prohibitions:
Prohibited objects: radioactive, chemical or other harmful materials; precious metals, stones and cultural valuables imported with purpose of alienation; industrial equipment and its spare parts; as well as some products, list of which is constantly changing.
Limitations are applicable and special authorizations will be required for carrying out: any kind of weapons; animals; medicine (if quantity exceeds 5 packs or the quantity necessary for prescribed treatment course); narcotic and psychotropic substances; devices for opium and hashish smoking; valuable artwork, such as original paintings, sculptures, antiquary, coins, etc.
For preventing any problems with artwork export from Ukraine, we advise obtaining a license for exporting your purchase (easy to get).
