Russia and Ukraine used to have a simplified border control process similar to the current movement between the countries of the European Union, but it’s no longer the case.

A new legislative act of the Ukrainian government puts an end to Ukrainian’s visiting Russia on internal passports. From 1 March 2020 citizens of Ukraine have to use international passports to cross the border to Russia.

Border control between Ukraine and Russia to get stricter

Foreigners sometimes get confused about the use passports in countries of the former USSR such as Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus. In these republics people have internal passports as well as external (or international) passports. Internal passports are used as an ID document for grownups.

It used to be possible for Ukrainians to leave cross the border to Russia without having an international passport. But from March 2020 citizens of Ukraine will only be able to enter the Russian Federation on an international passport.

According to Vadym Prystaiko, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the requirement for international passport will bring an additional layer of security for Ukrainian citizens. For instance, in case of losing the passport, it would be much easier to get the necessary documentation to return to Ukraine. But if the citizen left Ukraine on a biometric passport, then it’s much simpler for the Ukrainian consulate to provide assistance.

Another advantage is the ability to find out people with debts such as outstanding child support or other law breakers. The new order is also supposed to cut down processing times for the border patrol officers.

The new legislation had been approved by the cabinet on 18 December 2019.

Ukrainians who are currently in Russia and don’t have an international passport can apply to a consulate to get one before returning home. Until 1 March, they still can cross the border on internal passports.

Russians have to use biometric passports to enter Ukraine

From 1 January 2018 citizens of Russia were required to enter Ukraine only on a biometric international passport. They also have to complete a migration card and provide fingerprints, KP.ua reports. The requirements were put forward by the Ukrainian border control.

Visa to Ukraine isn’t required as yet for Russian citizens.

However, the office of border control of Ukraine has a list of Russian citizens who are unable to enter the country due to violations of the local legislation. One act in particular contributes a lot to this list: Anyone who enters the disputed area of Crimea, taken over by Russia in 2014, via air, becomes “persona non grata”. The only way a person can enter Crimea and avoid becoming inadmissible is to cross the border from the Ukrainian side by land.

Russia at the moment doesn’t intent to follow the suit and restrict the movement of Ukrainians into the country. Vice versa, they offer a simplified procedure of obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainians.

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