Ukraine Visa RequirementsFor Canada passport holders

Ukraine has been under full-scale Russian military invasion since February 24, 2022. The Government of Canada has issued its highest travel advisory "Avoid All Travel" (Level 4) for the entire country, citing active combat, indiscriminate missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, and the risk of rapid escalation.

Despite this, the visa-free arrangement between Canada and Ukraine remains in place. Canadian passport holders can enter Ukraine without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Some Canadians (journalists, humanitarian workers, NGO staff, and those with immediate family in the country) do travel to Ukraine, primarily to western regions.

The safety picture varies sharply by region. Eastern and southern oblasts (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and occupied Crimea) are active combat zones with ongoing ground warfare and artillery. Central Ukraine, including Kyiv, is not a front-line zone but is subject to regular long-range missile and drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure and populated areas. Western Ukraine (Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia oblasts) is considered comparatively safer as it is far from the front lines, but it is not immune to aerial attacks. Missile and drone strikes have reached Lviv and other western cities. No part of Ukraine can be described as safe.

Ukraine's airspace has been closed to commercial aviation since the start of the invasion. All civilian entry is by land or sea, primarily overland through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.

• Reconsider travel entirely: Given the "Avoid All Travel" advisory, the safest alternative is not to go. If your purpose is humanitarian support, many reputable organisations operating in Ukraine accept remote and diaspora contributions.
• Poland as a base: For those needing to maintain contact with family inside Ukraine, Krakow and Rzeszow (near the Ukrainian border) are well-connected Polish cities used as logistics hubs. Family members can cross into Poland to meet.
• Neighbouring countries for Ukrainian diaspora connections: Large Ukrainian communities exist in Warsaw, Vienna, Berlin, and Prague. Many consular and community services are operating from these cities.
• Virtual consular services: The Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa continues to operate and can assist with many documentation needs remotely.

• The currency is the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH). Exchange rates are set by the National Bank of Ukraine; as of 2024-2025, the rate is approximately UAH 40-42 per USD 1 (artificially stabilised).
• ATMs (bankomaty) are available in major cities and accept Visa and Mastercard, but availability depends on power supply. Rolling blackouts mean ATMs can be offline for hours at a time.
• Carry a significant amount of cash in UAH or USD. Cash is essential in areas with damaged infrastructure or unreliable power.
• Currency can be exchanged at banks and licensed exchange kiosks (obminnyky). USD and EUR are the most widely accepted foreign currencies for exchange.
• Mobile payments (Privat24, Monobank) are widely used by locals and work where internet is available, but do not rely on them exclusively.
• International bank transfers to Ukraine are possible through Swift, but some correspondent banking relationships have been disrupted since 2022. Check with your Canadian bank before departure.

• Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) at travel.gc.ca before entering Ukraine. This allows Global Affairs Canada to contact you in an emergency.
• Standard travel insurance policies exclude conflict zones. You need a policy that explicitly covers war risk, medical evacuation from a conflict zone, and repatriation. Verify this in writing with your insurer before departure.
• Download the Air Alert app (Повітряна тривога) for real-time air raid sirens across Ukraine. Heed all alerts immediately and move to the nearest designated shelter.
• Identify bomb shelter locations near your accommodation and planned routes on arrival. Ukrainian cities post shelter maps online and mark shelters with signs.
• Carry sufficient Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) in cash. ATMs are available in major cities but can run out of cash or be offline during power cuts. International cards work in many locations but cash is essential as backup.
• Travel within Ukraine by train where possible. Rail is generally considered safer than road travel for long intercity distances and is the primary means of movement for aid workers and journalists.
• Keep multiple communication devices charged. Carry a high-capacity power bank; rolling blackouts affect charging infrastructure across the country.
• Journalists and aid workers operating in higher-risk areas should consider appropriate personal protective equipment (flak jacket, helmet) and travel only with organisations that have in-country security protocols.
• Have a clear exit plan: know which border crossing you would use to leave, and have transport arranged or identified in advance.