How to enter Ukraine by car with foreign registration registered to another person — explained by Visit Ukraine lawyers

It is possible to enter Ukraine in a car registered abroad, but certain conditions must be met. Find out what documents are required for the vehicle, driver, and passengers, as well as the rules for temporary importation of cars into Ukraine, using a real request to VU lawyers as an example

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Many Ukrainians currently residing in the EU use foreign-registered cars. However, before traveling to Ukraine, questions arise: how to enter Ukraine with such a vehicle, especially if the car is not registered to you? In this article, Visit Ukraine lawyers explain the current rules using a real request from a client in Italy.

Request: Good afternoon, I live in Italy and have a car with Italian registration. For personal reasons, I registered it in the name of my son, a Ukrainian citizen who has been living in Italy for 11 years. My mother and I need to travel to Ukraine for two weeks in this car. I will not have time to obtain a power of attorney from my son at the consulate, but I can temporarily re-register the car in my name for 30 days. Will this be sufficient to enter Ukraine? In general, what documents are required for me and my mother to cross the border without any problems in a car with Italian registration? Thank you for your response.

How to enter Ukraine in a foreign car if it is registered to another person – legal advice from Visit Ukraine

According to Ukrainian customs legislation, Ukrainian citizens who permanently reside abroad can import a car for a temporary period of up to 60 days without customs clearance (temporary import regime).

However, for this, the car must be registered to the person entering the country, or entry must be based on a power of attorney (notarized or other official document). If the car is not registered in your name, without a power of attorney from the owner, there is a risk that the import will be refused or deemed illegal, resulting in a fine and the car being impounded.

Is temporary re-registration of the car in your name an option?

If your country has an official procedure for temporary transfer of ownership (for example, leasing or comodato d'uso per 30 giorni in Italy), and your name is indicated in the vehicle documents, you can enter Ukraine with it, following the rules for temporary import.

Important! This document must be:

● officially issued,

● translated into Ukrainian or English (preferably by a notary),

● contain your details as the user (even if you are not the legal owner).

Recommendation: you can also draw up a simple power of attorney with a notary in your country of residence (not necessarily at the consulate), but it is important to have this document translated and apostilled.

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What documents are required to cross the border?

For the driver:

1. Ukrainian passport (or foreign passport if you have a residence permit in your country of residence);

2. Driver's license (national in your country of residence or international);

3. Document confirming the right to use the car (technical passport, re-registration, contract, power of attorney);

4. Valid Green Card insurance policy for the car (valid in Ukraine);

5. Recommended: translation of the re-registration document.

For passengers: passport (no additional documents are required if the passenger is not the owner/driver of the car).

Please note! A Green Card is compulsory insurance for entering Ukraine by car, but it works like motor third-party liability insurance, i.e. it does not cover damage to your vehicle in the event of an accident and does not protect against other risks such as natural disasters or military action. To protect your car from additional risks, you can take out Mini Hull insurance. You can do this online on the Visit Ukraine website. Insurance is available for cars with Ukrainian and foreign registration — you can choose the coverage package and policy term yourself.

What is not recommended:

● Driving without any document confirming your right (ownership/control) to the car (even if the vehicle belongs to a relative);

● Relying on a “verbal explanation” to border guards — this is a risk of being denied entry or receiving a fine;

● Use a handwritten or unofficial power of attorney that is not legally valid in Ukraine.

If you still have doubts, contact Visit Ukraine lawyers. We will:

● check your documents;

● advise you on how best to draw up a power of attorney and whether you need to prepare an apostille and translation;

● provide advice on crossing the border without risk to your car.

To sign up for a consultation:

1. Select a convenient format (support, written or oral consultation).

2. Fill out the form with your details (full name, email, contact phone number).

4. Select a convenient date for the consultation.

5. Read the terms and conditions of the agreement and make the payment.

Not sure which consultation format to choose? Contact our managers via Telegram or WhatsApp – they will help you choose the best option for your situation.

Visit Ukraine is your reliable legal partner abroad!

We remind you! In the previous article, Visit Ukraine lawyers already explained whether a consular certificate (consular approval/travel note) is required and what documents are checked by customs when entering Ukraine by car with foreign registration.

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