Queues at the border with Poland: current situation and the busiest checkpoints in Lviv region

The summer season has increased queues at the border with Poland at checkpoints in Lviv region. Find out which directions are the busiest, how to avoid delays, and what will help you plan a comfortable trip

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With the start of the summer season, traffic through the checkpoints in the Lviv region has significantly increased. According to data from the State Border Service, passenger traffic has increased by 40%, and on weekends, the load increases by another 16% compared to weekdays. This leads to significant queues, especially during peak hours and before weekends.

Current situation on the border with Poland

As of the evening of August 7, border guards recorded the following queues:

● Shehyni – about 150 cars

● Krakivets – 100 cars

● Hrushev – 30 cars

● Uhryniv – 25 cars

● Nyzhankovychi – 10 cars

● Smilnytsia and Rava-Ruska – operating without delays

The checkpoints are distributed according to their level of congestion as follows:

● Most congested: Krakivets and Shehyni

● Average load: Hrushev, Uhryniv, Rava-Ruska

● Lowest load: Smilnytsia, Nyzhankovychi

An important factor affecting queues is repair work at the Shehyni checkpoint on the Ukrainian side. This has temporarily reduced the capacity for both passenger and freight vehicles.

For a complete list of crossing points on the border between Ukraine and Poland and their working hours, please follow the link.

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How to avoid long queues at the border?

Travelers are advised to check the traffic situation at border crossing points online in advance (for example, on the website of the State Customs Service of Ukraine or using a special interactive map) and choose less popular destinations, such as “Smilnytsia” or “Nyzhankovychi,” especially if the trip is not tied to a specific route.

Reminder: if you are traveling in your own car, don't forget your Green Card — compulsory car insurance without which you will not be allowed to cross the border. You can apply for a Green Card online via the Visit Ukraine platform.

When planning to travel through other regions of Ukraine, keep in mind that repairs are also underway in Volyn, particularly at the Yagodyn-Dorohusk and Ustyluh-Zosin border crossings.

What documents are required to cross the border?

To travel abroad by car, the driver needs the following documents:

● a valid biometric foreign passport or an old-style foreign passport + visa (how long a passport must be valid for travel abroad – read the link);

● vehicle registration certificate;

● driver's license;

● insurance (medical or travel and, if traveling by car, a Green Card is mandatory);

● confirmation of the purpose of entry and sufficient financial means.

Reminder: foreign citizens traveling to Ukraine are advised to have medical insurance covering war risks. You can purchase such insurance online at Visit Ukraine.

We remind you! On June 20, 2025, new rules for using the e-queue system for trucks crossing the border came into force in Ukraine. The updates are aimed at simplifying logistics, prioritizing important shipments, and eliminating abuse of the booking system. Read about who now has priority in the queue and how the conditions for extending and canceling bookings have changed in our previous article.

Photo: Patryk Ogorzałek/Agencja Wyborcza.pl

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