Restrictions for buses at the border with Poland: what will change for carriers and passengers from July 10, 2025

New rules for bus routes have been introduced at the border with Poland. Find out what changes will affect regular and irregular carriers and which checkpoints will be open for each of them

Get insurance Green Card for traveling abroad by car online in 5 minutes!

BUY

On July 10, 2025, new rules for registering buses in the e-Queue system came into effect on the Ukrainian-Polish border, concerning the crossing of the checkpoints “Shehyni-Medyka” and “Nizhankovychi-Malhovychi.” According to the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the changes are intended to reduce the load on border infrastructure, which has increased significantly during the summer, and to ensure a more predictable and comfortable border crossing for passengers.

Read also: What can be imported and exported from Ukraine — customs rules for crossing the border.

What has changed in the rules for buses crossing the border with Poland?

According to a decision by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, from July 10, only regular bus routes operating on a fixed schedule will be allowed to pass through the Shehyni-Medyka checkpoint. This means that irregular services — including tourist, charter, and private buses — are temporarily unable to register in the system to cross this checkpoint.

The reason is seasonal congestion at the border and ongoing infrastructure reconstruction at Shehyni. In June, there were bus queues of up to 10 hours, which significantly affected the comfort of travel.

Reminder for drivers: if you are traveling by private car or minibus, be sure to obtain a Green Card — international motor insurance. You can do this online in a couple of minutes at Visit Ukraine.

Read also: Everything you need to know about border crossing points between Ukraine and Poland — opening hours, queues, border crossing rules.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Where are irregular routes being redirected?

An alternative solution for irregular routes is to register in the eQueue system through the Nizhankovychi-Malhovychi checkpoint. This new checkpoint was opened at the end of December 2024 and operates according to the European principle of coordinated control — joint border inspection on the Polish side.

Although its capacity is 50 buses per day, in June only 80 buses in total actually passed through it — meaning that the point is operating with a large reserve and can effectively relieve other routes.

At the same time, it is important to note that registration at “Nizhankovychi-Malhovychi” is not mandatory. Irregular route carriers can choose any other checkpoint where such registration is currently available. The changes only apply to departures from Ukraine — entry remains unchanged for all types of bus transport.

Reminder for passengers: when traveling abroad by bus, especially during the summer season, you should take care of your documents and necessary services in advance. For example, travel insurance is an important requirement for entry into EU countries, including Poland. Border guards may check the validity of your passport, the purpose of your visit, and whether you have sufficient financial means, as well as whether you have insurance. You can easily purchase insurance online on the Visit Ukraine platform by selecting the package you need in just a few minutes.

To avoid unpleasant surprises at the border, plan your route in advance, check the latest news, and don't forget to use the online services for Ukrainians available on Visit Ukraine.

We remind you! As of 2025, Ukrainian citizens can visit 149 countries around the world without a visa or with a visa upon arrival. Read the current visa-free travel rules, the list of required documents, requirements for traveling with children, as well as customs restrictions when crossing the Ukrainian border in our previous article.

Photo: News.LIVE

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.