Customs rules of Ukraine: what can be imported from abroad?

Many foreign citizens come to Ukraine. Travelers need to remember the rules for crossing the state border. Find out more about what can be imported into Ukraine through the green and red customs corridors

Legal counselling on migration issues

GET

Foreigners from all over the world continue to arrive in Ukraine during martial law. It should be remembered that customs rules apply when crossing the border with Ukraine. They apply to both Ukrainians and foreign citizens.

Here are the rules for crossing the border and what items can be brought into Ukraine.

Green customs corridor. What can you bring in?

You can bring stuff that isn't subject to customs duties or declaration through the ‘green’ corridor.

Persons passing through the green corridor are exempt from submitting a written customs declaration. Exemption from submitting a written customs declaration does not mean exemption from mandatory compliance with the procedure for moving goods across the customs border of Ukraine.

The following items may be imported:

• personal belongings;

• goods worth no more than 500 euros and weighing up to 50 kg;

• edible products not for sale, worth up to 200 euros;

• cash (both hryvnia and foreign currency) in a total amount of up to 10,000 euros;

• medicines (except narcotic and psychotropic substances) in quantities specified by law: no more than 5 packages of each drug per person.

Take care of your safety! You can purchase insurance that covers risks related to war at Visit Ukraine.

If you plan to enter Ukraine in your own car, we strongly recommend that you insure it as well. Mini-Hull is an excellent choice for car insurance, even against the consequences of war.

Alcohol and tobacco products

Persons who have reached the age of 18 are entitled to import the following items free of duty:

▪️ 1 litre of strong alcohol (over 22%),

▪️ 2 litres of wine,

▪️ 5 litres of beer.

As for tobacco products, the following are allowed:

▪️ 200 cigarettes, or

▪️ 50 cigars, or

▪️ up to 250 grams of tobacco.

If the above limits are exceeded, the goods must be declared and the relevant customs duties paid.

Rules for importing goods from Poland: there are a few nuances

The import of goods from Poland to Ukraine is governed by general rules similar to those in other EU countries. However, there are a few important nuances to note:

1. Polish customs strictly control the quantity and nature of goods being transported, especially alcohol and tobacco products, even if they were purchased in duty-free shops.

2. Transporting large quantities of alcohol or perfumes without the appropriate documents may cause delays at the border. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the current rules of both countries in advance to avoid unpleasant situations when crossing the Ukrainian customs border.

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

Red customs corridor. Border crossing rules

When using the ‘red’ customs corridor, it is permitted to transport items that must be declared in writing, namely:

• goods requiring permits;

• currency and cultural valuables;

• securities and payment documents;

• preparations containing narcotic, psychotropic substances or precursors;

• goods worth more than 500 euros and weighing more than 50 kg.

Declaration is also mandatory if you are abroad for less than 24 hours or cross the border more than once every 72 hours, even if the goods do not formally exceed the limit.

Special attention should be paid to categories such as antiques, pets or medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances. These require a declaration and often special permits.

In these cases, a customs declaration must be completed and customs duty (10%) and value added tax (VAT) on the customs value of the goods must be paid.

Please note! Taxes are calculated based on the value of the goods, for which you must present the customs officer with receipts, labels and other available documents. If such documents are not available, customs officers will be forced to determine the customs value of the goods based on the prices of identical or similar goods.

Remember that you must provide accurate information about the goods you have, their quantity and name in the customs declaration.

Which goods require special permits?

Some categories of goods can only be imported into Ukraine with the appropriate official permits. These include:

❗️ Weapons and explosives — require a permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (MIA).

❗️ Medicines containing psychotropic or narcotic substances — subject to mandatory permission issued by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH).

If such goods are imported without supporting documents, customs authorities have the right to seize them, and the carrier may be held administratively or criminally liable.

We recommend that you consult in advance about each category of goods if you suspect that they may be subject to customs restrictions or special import conditions. You can get advice on this and other migration issues regarding entry into Ukraine from lawyers at Visit Ukraine.

We remind you! Preparing for a trip to Ukraine is a responsible process that requires consideration of all the details. In particular, this applies to the specifics of travelling to a country at war. Find out what to take with you to Ukraine and how to pack your backpack for the trip.

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

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – 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.