No stops at the border: Ukraine launches border and customs control on trains while in motion

From January 2026, border and customs control on international trains in Ukraine will be carried out directly during movement. Find out on which routes the new system will operate, what are the features of its operation and what this means for passengers

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside Ukraine

GET A POLICY

Ukraine is preparing for large-scale changes in the field of international rail transportation. Starting in January 2026, border and customs control for passengers of international trains will begin to be carried out directly in the carriages during movement, without long stops at the border. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the relevant decision as part of a pilot project.

The new format should significantly reduce the time of border crossing and make rail travel more comfortable for tens of thousands of passengers every month.

Read everything that is currently known about border procedures on Ukrainian trains in this article.

Planning a trip abroad? Get reliable medical insurance on the Visit Ukraine portal.

How will traffic control work on Ukrzaliznytsia trains?

The essence of the innovation is that customs officers and border guards will check passengers' documents while the train is moving - even at the entrance to the border or between border stations. This will avoid many hours of downtime at stations and reduce the load on checkpoints.

This mechanism is already being used in some Intercity+ high-speed trains on the Polish route and, according to the government and the State Railways of Ukraine, has shown positive results.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko noted that the new approach does not reduce the level of safety, but significantly saves passengers' time and reduces stress during travel.

On which routes will the new system of border and customs control on trains work?

At the first stage, the experiment will cover international routes connecting with Poland:

- Kyiv - Chełm - Kyiv (control during movement on the Kovel - Yagodyn - Kovel section);

- Lviv - Przemysl - Lviv (control during movement on the Lviv - Mostyska-2 - Lviv section).

According to official data, these trains are used every month by:

- About 27 thousand passengers on the Kyiv - Chełm direction;

- More than 104 thousand passengers on the Lviv - Przemysl direction;

In total, more than 130 thousand people in both directions.

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

Experiment scaling

According to the spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, from the beginning of 2026, the practice of control in motion is planned to be extended to nine pairs of trains (18 rolling stock for entry and exit).

After testing and coordination of procedures between the border guard service, customs and Ukrzaliznytsia, the new format may be introduced to night trains with sleeping cars, and later to other international routes.

Why were these changes necessary?

The demand for international rail transportation is steadily growing, while the old control model can no longer cope with the load. This became especially noticeable after the launch of the Eurorail from Uzhgorod to Bratislava, Košice, Budapest and Vienna - passengers have repeatedly complained about delays of several hours due to border checks.

According to Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba, traffic control should become a new standard for international transportation, as it combines speed, comfort and safety.

How does the EES system affect the situation?

An additional factor in the load on the border has become the biometric entry and exit system EES, which officially started operating in October 2025.

According to the State Border Service of Ukraine, the EES system slightly increases the time of verification due to the collection of biometric data, but has not led to a decrease in passenger traffic. That is why the optimization of procedures, in particular traffic control, has become critically important.

What does this mean for passengers?

For travelers, the new format means:

- shorter travel time;

- no long stops at the border;

- fewer queues and delays;

- a more predictable arrival schedule.

The government expects that after the experiment is completed, border and customs controls on trains while in motion will become standard practice for international flights.

If you are traveling abroad, do not forget about medical insurance. Even if the train trip has become faster thanks to traffic control, unforeseen situations can happen at any time - from a sudden deterioration in health to minor injuries during travel.

Medical insurance for travel guarantees you:

- coverage of medical expenses abroad;

- emergency assistance in emergency situations;

- 24-hour service and consulting support;

- peace of mind during the trip for you and your family.

Apply for a policy online before boarding the train and travel without unnecessary worries on international trips.

Protect yourself from unforeseen expenses and gain confidence in every trip!

Reminder! The rail connection with the Carpathians is expanding again. We have already told you how Ukrzaliznytsia resumed the route of the flagship train "Hutsulshchyna" to Rakhiv, what stops it has, and what other trains go to the highlands.

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 travelling abroad;

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

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

Visit Ukraine Merch – purchase 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.