Ukraine Might Scrap Visa Requirements for Volunteers During Martial Law

Ukraine is considering scrapping the visa requirements for foreign volunteers during martial law.

At present, foreigners, when coming to Ukraine as volunteers working with accredited organizations, need to apply for a long-term visa known as a D-type visa at a Ukrainian consulate abroad, then request a temporary residence permit once they are in Ukraine – which is subject to renewal each year.

On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, passed the first reading of Bill 13071 that aims to scrap the visa requirement during martial law and for one year after its termination. The motion was supported by 277 lawmakers.

In the future foreign volunteers working with accredited organizations will be able to apply for a residence permit directly once inside Ukraine if the draft bill becomes law.

The bill also stipulates that foreigners who entered Ukraine as volunteers after Feb. 24, 2022 – the day of Russia’s full-scale invasion – will be legally in Ukraine.

The bill will likely need to go through another reading, then be endorsed by the president to become law, the timeline for which remains unclear.

Martial law in Ukraine was extended to Aug. 6 in April this year.

Visa fees differ based on nationality as they are determined reciprocally with the country of issue.

For instance, US passport holders need to pay $182 for a volunteer D visa, while UK passport holders are required to pay $333 for a volunteer visa, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

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The basis on which the visa is issued will also affect the fees. Ukraine charges US passport holders $317 for a D visa issued under “family reunion,” whereas UK passport holders are charged $2,076 for the same visa.