Find important information for people fleeing the Ukraine conflict and traveling to the EU. Learn about travel documents, border checks, and your rights. Casa Ucrania Foundation is here to guide you.
Amid the Ukraine conflict, it's crucial to understand the essentials when traveling to EU countries. Casa Ucrania Foundation is dedicated to providing you with the knowledge you need for a safe journey.
Ensuring Your Travel Documents
Before departing Ukraine for an EU country, it's advisable to carry valid travel documents. However, the absence of these documents or medical papers, such as a vaccination certificate or a COVID-19 test, should not deter your entry into the EU.
Entry Without a Biometric Passport
All EU nations bordering Ukraine grant entry to individuals escaping the war, whether or not they possess a biometric passport. This extends to children as well. If you're a Ukrainian national with a biometric passport, simply present it at the border. In all other cases, EU countries will admit you on humanitarian grounds.
Proving Your Nationality
Wondering how to prove your nationality? Even if the validity of your documents has lapsed, you can use various documents to establish your Ukrainian nationality. These may include expired passports, national identity cards, military service records, and more.
How can I confirm my nationality?
Here's a helpful list of documents that can be used to verify your Ukrainian nationality, even if they've exceeded their expiration date:
Various passport types (including national, diplomatic, service, collective, and surrogate passports, including children’s passports).
National identity cards, whether temporary or provisional.
Military service records and military service identification cards.
Seaman’s registration records, skipper’s service cards, and seaman’s passports.
Citizenship certificates.
Any other official documents that explicitly mention or indicate your citizenship status.
If you hold another nationality and are subject to the visa requirement for entering the EU, it's advisable to present your short-stay visa if you possess one. However, even if you don't have a short-stay visa, EU countries should still grant you entry to facilitate your repatriation to your home country.
Other Nationalities and Visa Requirements
If you hold dual nationality or another nationality with a visa requirement for the EU, presenting your short-stay visa is necessary if you possess one. If not, EU countries should still allow your entry, facilitating your repatriation to your country of origin.
Border Checks and Your Rights
Considering the situation in Ukraine, border checks may occur not only at borders but also at secure locations away from the border. Cooperation with authorities during these checks is crucial. All individuals, regardless of their nationality, are entitled to immediate assistance and information about their rights, including temporary shelter, food, and medicine.
Rights and Obligations
Both your rights and obligations may vary based on your EU status, which can differ from person to person. Police and administrative checks are possible at any time, even within Member States, for security and migration purposes. Cooperation with authorities, and providing necessary documents and information, is essential.
Unaccompanied Children
For unaccompanied children crossing external borders, informing the authorities is crucial. They will be referred to child protection services, ensuring their safety during this challenging journey.
Your safety is paramount, and Casa Ucrania Foundation is here to support you throughout your travels.
For more detailed information, please visit the official website of the European Union.
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