A Ukraine visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan and you can stay up to 90 days. That regime is legally in force and has not changed. What has changed is the journey: Ukraine’s airspace has been closed since 2022, there is no flight from Baku to Kyiv, and the country can be entered only across a land border, from the Polish, Moldovan, Romanian, Slovak or Hungarian side. For those travelling to relatives, for work or on a document matter, this article explains the conditions of the visa-free regime and the real route.
Do you need a visa for Ukraine?
No. There is a bilateral agreement between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and on an ordinary passport you can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. In the list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, 90 days is shown against Ukraine. Martial law has not abolished the visa-free regime, but the check at the border is more thorough: you are asked the purpose of the trip, the address where you will be staying, your means of support and your insurance. The Ukrainian side’s rules are set out on the page for foreigners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | 90 days within 180 |
| Passport | Must cover the length of the trip, 6 months advised |
| Insurance | Required, medical insurance valid in Ukraine |
| Air links | None, the airspace is closed |
| Way in | Land border: Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary |
| Currency | Hryvnia |
No Ukraine visa, but the road runs through Schengen or Moldova
There are two realistic ways into Ukraine. The first is Moldova: citizens of Azerbaijan enter Moldova visa-free, fly from Baku to Chisinau, and from there the bus to Odesa takes 3–4 hours. This is the only route that does not require a Schengen visa. The second is Poland: you fly from Baku to Warsaw and go on to Lviv by train or bus, but for that a Schengen visa is needed and the queue of vehicles heading for Ukraine at the Polish border is long. The Romanian and Slovak options also require a Schengen visa. The train to Kyiv takes 5–6 hours from Lviv and 7–8 from Odesa.
What do they ask at the border?
Under martial law the Ukrainian border guards expect a precise explanation of the purpose of your trip: for a family visit an address and a contact, for a business trip an invitation, for a document matter the relevant papers. Medical insurance is compulsory and must be valid in Ukraine; some Azerbaijani insurance companies do not cover Ukraine, so check when you buy. For daily means of support you show cash or a card. There are no restrictions for male travellers; the martial law rules apply only to citizens of Ukraine.
Read next: Do you need a visa for Moldova? 90 days visa-free, the Transnistria rule and the wine cellars
The route and the cost from Baku to Ukraine
The cheapest visa-free route is via Chisinau: a Baku–Chisinau air ticket together with the Chisinau–Odesa bus gets you there in a day in all. The route via Warsaw is more comfortable but requires a Schengen visa and takes 1.5–2 days overall. From Odesa or Lviv the trains run inside Ukraine and tickets are bought in the app of the Ukrainian railways.
Tourist travel to Ukraine is not advised at present and Eastern Europe tour programmes do not include Ukraine; the Chisinau and Warsaw route is only for essential trips. Before travelling, look at the safety recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
Things to know before the trip
- Curfew. There is a night curfew in the cities and night transport does not run, so plan your route for the daytime.
- Air raid alert. Install a warning app on your phone and follow the shelter rules.
- Money. The hryvnia. Cards work everywhere, and dollars and euros are exchanged at a bank.
- Documents. Always keep your passport and insurance with you; checks are frequent.
- Registration. On a trip of up to 90 days no registration is required.
Frequently asked questions about the Ukraine visa
Can you stay in Ukraine more than 90 days without a visa?
No. To stay longer, to work and to study you need a visa in advance and a temporary residence permit inside the country. Ukraine has an embassy in Baku.
Can you enter Ukraine from the Russian side?
No. The crossings from the Russian and Belarusian side are closed, and entry from the occupied territories counts as unlawful under Ukrainian legislation and results in a ban on future entry.
Are extra documents needed for children?
The child must have their own passport; when travelling with one parent, the other’s notarised consent may be required when leaving Azerbaijan.
In closing
No Ukraine visa is needed and you can stay 90 days, but there are no flights and the country is entered overland via Moldova or the Schengen countries. A trip should be planned only when it is essential. The Viza.az team helps with building the Chisinau and Warsaw route, choosing insurance and, where needed, obtaining a Schengen visa.
You can read more about the Ukraine destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The border and security situation is changeable, so check the official sources once more before your trip.
