If you're planning on living here in Ukraine, or making your first ever trip, here's a few things that maybe of use to you. If you're already aware of this stuff, apologies.
Phone operator "Life" will give you unlimited Internet on your mobile phone for just 30rph a month. Buy your Sim from almost anywhere in Ukraine for as little as 15rph, then top up as you need via scratch cards or via millions of kiosks situated just about everywhere. Suitable, of course, for receiving and sending emails and surfing the Web. Very popular amongst Ukrainians.
In addition to the above service, "Life" also offer approx 1.15rph a minute International calls for a monthly fee of 6rph. If you need to call home when you're here, and fail to activate this service (if you use Life) then you will pay an astonishing amount for a mere 5 minute call !
Mobile 3G Internet is as good as anywhere else here and there are a number of providers, People Net is one such provider, offering various tariffs. The lowest tariff being 100rph a month for 2Gig of traffic and an initial 100rph for the Dongal. 5 Minutes to install on your Computer and your away. If you're using a Note or Netbook, People Net claim with their Dongal you'll have mobile Internet access across roughly 75% of Ukraine, including Caparthian Mountains. Top up every month via kiosks situated everywhere. The only problem is People Net require a contract to be signed and will not enter into a contract with a non Ukrainian. (a girlfriend/wife or simply a good friend can enter into agreement for you)
Wi-Fi hotspots are present throughout Ukraine, and many Hotels are beginning to offer Wi-Fi within them.
Notebooks & Netbooks are readily available for sale and appear to be around 30% cheaper than UK & USA. Worth bearing in mind however, computers here have Russian version Windows installed and dual Russian/English lettered keyboards, naturally.
Unless the new President changes things, stays in Ukraine for up to 3 months without a Visa for EU, US and some other nationalalities is still the norm. But, the rules did tighten in 2009 and Ukraine's borders became computerized. Part of the tightening was that a stay of 3 months without a Visa MUST then be followed by non return to Ukraine for 6 months, then another stay of up to 3 months will be permitted. "Border hopping" in order to get stamped out, then back in and starting the 90 days all over again has been "abolished" 90 days count down upon entry into Ukraine, and continue to count down. Signs are now present at most, if not all of Ukraine's borders warning foreigners that it is against Ukraine law to offer it's border staff bribes. Hefty fines and even being barred to enter Ukraine for an amount of time can be imposed upon rule breakers. Holders of Visa's are unaffected by the new 90 days in – 180 days out rules.
If you are already living in Ukraine but do not have a Visa, The Ukrainian Consulate in Krakow, Poland issue same day Visa's for $480, providing you have all the correct documentation. Your Visa can then be renewed from within Ukraine. An overnight bus runs from L'Viv to Krakow every night, the trip, including an average 2 hours at the border takes around 6 hours.
If you live in the UK and want a cheap way to come to Ukraine without flying, there is a Ukrainian Coach Company that runs Kiev to Manchester and back again every 2 weeks - ₤135 return. Coffee, air conditioning, toilet and movies are all present on the bus. It takes around 39 hours and stops every 4 hours. Once in Ukraine, the bus will stop at L'Viv, Rivne and then Kiev. They do not charge extra for quite a large amount of luggage, unlike the so called cheap flight operators !
I hope you have found something here useful to you, which is it's intention.
Other members may wish to add additional useful information.
Excellent post - I wish there was more of this kind of thing, and less of the troll-wrestling we often get here.
Regarding the 3 month allowance, is this in a single trip, or can it be an aggregated 3 month total. For instance, I've been there twice in the last year, for a total of two weeks. My last time was in October, and I'm hoping to return in Feb. Will I have any problems?
I have read much, and spoken with Ukrainians much, since being here to make sure I interpret the new rules correctly, this is what prompted me to get my arse over to Krakow a couple of months ago, just before my 3 month stay limit was up, and get a 1 year Business Visa. So, as I understand, you will have NO PROBLEMS, because, as you say, you have only spent 2 weeks here in a 12 month period, you are allowed 6 months in any 12 month period, separated by 6 months ie – 3 months in – 6 months out – another 3 months in – another 6 months out.
And will you be in West UA when you come next month ?
Most people can get a at least a 1 year business visa pretty easily, invitation is $50 and application fee is about $200 for multi entry . If you are going there regularly just get one, Im on my 5th not having the luxury of getting a visa on entry.
GD, cheers mate, I'll give that a go (didn't know it was possible)
SirD, much appreciated. I'm flying out on the 19th, returning on the 25th. I'm in Kiev the whole time, and am currently shopping for heavier winter gear. How cold is it in the west at the moment?
Sir daniels would you be interested in having your tips posted on easyukraine? we try to keep an area just for tips so people can see what they might need when they visit. just pm me.
Weather is improving thankfully here, just -6C most days now, cold, ice everywhere, but last weeks -27C was simply too much.
"Bow"
I don't know anything about "easyukraine" website, is it yours ?
Thanks, I'm keen to learn more about this country in which I now call my home, and it's people, culture, women. And if you feel I've got something to offer your visitors, then I'd be glad to offer tips I've learnt.
I have 3 pm's I still can't open, I can't send any either. I uploaded an Avatar of me and my girl back in 1910, and though a century has since passed, the head of Avatar Approval died back in the 50's and the job is still vacant !
There's a bit of an equation - quantity vs quality.
1: There are plenty of sites like anastasia, globaladies, which will flood you with letters. There's debate on how many are sincere (there are some, but the "needle/haystack" analogy applies)
2: There are individual agencies based in Ukraine/Russia which you can check out (or use a private investigator which isn't prohibitively expensive). The advantage is that the agencies know the girls directly, so you can get an additional point of view (you're the money giver, so this can be used to your advantage if you're willing to 'make it pay' for them - money is the international language, after all). Kherson Girls or Kiev Connections are reputable examples. Local owned and operated, arguably with a far higher percentage of genuine candidates, but with a far smaller pool of potential matches than the big international sites. In my experience, these are good for meetings when you're there (in town & stood up by someone you arranged to meet? $40 for an introduction to any of their girls), but they tend to be 'pay-per-letter', which is not cheap, and makes you a tempting target for them earning easy money - so not great for correspondence. If you do want to just go and meet girls and try things out, some of them (Kherson Girls, Kiev Connections, Sumy Love) do a kind of 'unlimited' deal, where you pay a set fee and they keep introducing you to girls (at no extra cost) until you're settled (or variations on the theme). KC call it their 'matchmaker' service, mentioned on their site. The cheapest I've come across is Sumy Love, which is $170 for a week of introductions.
3: For my money, the best compromises are Elena's Models and Fiance.com. Fiance's an 'aggregator' as opposed to an agency (tons of agencies use them to connect their girls to you). I'd say EM is by far the biggest actual agency, so plenty of choice, although it does lose that personal touch due to its size. In my experience, the same equation applies - Fiance has higher quantity, but EM does have a higher percentage of quality (i.e, serious about finding a guy for marriage). As they both offer subscriptions (i.e., no pay-per-letter), they're by far the safest and most cost effective (pay-per-letter is an open door for unscrupulous practices, and the most common type of scam).
4: Finally, don't forget the free sites: fdating.com, mamba.ru, ezymatch.com. I treat these like the napster of dating sites - lots of choice, but no quality control. You're likely to meet real people, but also real scammers (the only 'translation' scammer I've come across was on ezymatch). These are free to sign up to, so you lose nothing by doing a 'copy & paste' from your profile on one of the others.
I'd say that a mixture of the above, with the exception of 1, is probably your best bet.
Oh, and don't trust "Jim's List" - the man's a fool!
Finally, if an agency has an "Anti Scam" section (we don't scam, we don't support scamming, watch out for scammers etc), don't be convinced - they all have this, including the scam sections. For recommendations, aside from the above, search this forum for the name of the agency in question. Chances are it's been discussed at some point.
After that, ask any specific questions. Among the serial-arguers, there's a few nice blokes here paddling the same boat as you :)
Sird it is my site I own it with one other person you can email me from the site. we always welcome tips and advice from people. we started it to try to help people traveling to Ukraine find the services they need when they get there.
Travice,
Some people do not like it, but I used Bride.ru with great success when I was single. They also offer the subscription type, which gives you access to all available addresses. And the thing I noticed about them is that they do not publish a profile until somebody from Bride.ru has first talked to the lady on the phone. However, that does not mean that it is free of scammers. ALL sites have their share of scammers.
I've had 11 PM's to date since starting this thread, most about a Visa for Ukraine. I'm by no means an expert on the subject, I know only what I did. Sorry to bump this thread if you already know what you are doing Visa wise, but maybe a newcomer might find a breakdown of the process that someone has already taken helpful to them ?
Simon [Finace ID kept private] is the latest person requiring our help, my reply to him a few hours ago is below......
Hello Simon,
ok......
It wasn't such a trek for me as it's going to be for you, I'm in Rivne (Rovno) a 3hr bus ride to L'viv.
Yes, I suggest you get to L'viv via Kiev. The Polish border is just a couple of hours away from L'viv.
Buses run from L'viv to Krakow every day, not much cost, but you'll need to find out the time this bus to Krakow runs, I got a lift to Krakow from a fellow Brit who was on his way back to the UK. I did however catch the bus back from Krakow to L'viv a couple of days later, thats when they told me that this bus runs both ways everyday. I caught it at 22.00 on a Saturday night from Krakow bus station, it pulled into L'viv the following morning at 05.55.
For Ukrainian Embassy in Krakow I took......passport [obviously] - a photocopy of passport - the little slip I was given almost 3mths previously at Ukraine border - a completed application form [in English] which I downloaded from the net and printed, 2 passport photos I had taken at a machine in a supermarket here in Rivne, and just 2 documents from a legitimate business here in Rivne, constuction company, a friend of mine introduced me to the owner, 2 days later I had my documents, both in Ukrainian language, both official with lots of blah blah blah about the company, it's tax record, and my name mentioned on them, I'm a 50% "partner" in this Business now. And this introduction cost me a quality bottle of Vodka.
I arrived at the Ukrainian Embassy in Krakow rather nervous and not knowing what to expect at 08.40 on a Friday morning back in November. They opened their doors at 09.00 and I was first up to the window, presented all my docs, they speak good English there. While he was reading through everything I stated that I was applying for a 1yr Multi Entry Business Visa, although that information was also on the completed application form he was now reading.
After he was happy, he simply asked me did I want my Visa in the standard time frame [3 working days] or did I want it expressed [same day] which would cost double, I replied expressed please, he then wrote on a piece of paper the amount [$480] a bank account number and bank address in the centre of Krakow, he passed it through the window to me, told me to pay the money into the account, get a receipt from the bank, return at 14.00 with the receipt and I'll have my Visa. I then went off, did as he instructed, grabbed myself a McDonalds too, returned to the Embassy and my Visa was waiting for me. Outside I called friends here in Ukraine and informed them I "Got it" they sang and shouted with joy down my telephone. The next night I left Krakow bound for Rivne, where I've been since.
This Business Visa can be renewed [at Ukraine's discretion] INSIDE of Ukraine, at the central office of the city you are in at the time when you need to renew, the current cost if granted a renewal is about 30rph, I understand that most are granted a renewal, eespecially if more Business docs are supplied to the central office at the time of renewal.
So, Simon, there it is, exactly my experience. Yes, you're further away from Krakow than me but, if you can get there to the UA Embassy for your Visa I would recommend it, they don't appear to be troublesome there, and you''ll have a good chance of walking away with a 1yr Business Visa, which I advise you to apply for, and multi entry too, just incase you need to go back & forth to your native country.
You have not yet a girl in Ukraine who can help you ? If not then get back in-touch with me and I'll give you my girls mob number and explain to her that you might need her assistance, I'm sure she'll be happy to call L'viv bus station for you and find out bus times to Krakow, and also she can ring when you are in L'viv and she can speak on the phone to the counter person and help buy you your ticket to Krakow.
Good luck.
Dan.
Sir Daniel
Thanks Dan for this - I owe you a beer, when you're next down in kharkov ! - have tried to contact you on PM to exchange email address, but no joy.
regards
Simon.
You can get a business visa for $50 online from solo east travel. You dont need to know anyone in Business in the Ukraine by doing this. Done 4 of them without a problem. Apply for 1 year Business visa multientry as SD suggests.
And thanks, I got your email, in-fact I got two from you now.
Your latest asks me what I think about you applying for a basic [Tourist ? ] single or double entry 6 month Visa, instead of the multi-entry 1yr Business Visa that I have and, “Gemini” too by the sound of things.
You go on to mention that you'd be keen to apply for a renewal of this basic Visa within Ukraine, and your friend is advising you to “just get any Visa”
You tell me that you don't need a Work Visa, and that you have now called the UA Embassy in Krakow, who were helpful to you on the phone, even telling you the cost of a 6mth basic Visa will be $240. [I know this is the correct cost they're telling you – my Business Visa expressed they told me would cost double, and $480 is exactly what I paid]
My advice is go for whatever fits you and your future situation. If a 6 month double entry Tourist Visa can be renewed from within Ukraine, and you are sure of this [I don't know] and you also know you'll be staying in UA longer than 6mths, then go for that, if it can't be renewed from within UA, or there's doubt if it can, do you really want another trek over to Krakow, or any other UA Embassy OUTSIDE of UA in 6mths time ? ! As for any restrictions or differences between a Tourist and Business Visa, I know of none, in the sense that holders of either Visa can go about their daily lives here in Ukraine unhindered and in the same way whichever Visa they have. “Gemini” may have further on this ?
As for me, somebody put Business Visa into my head back in late October, and the fact that it can be renewed [at Ukraine's discretion] from within Ukraine, so that's all I focused on, I closed my mind off to any other type of Visa and just focused on the Business type.
And these past 2 weeks I've been focusing on anther Visa, a Tourist Visa, for my girl, for Blighty, and on Friday 26th of this month we'll be training it over to Kiev, and to the Brit Embassy there for her application “to be heard”
She's a lovely sweet girl and I want it so much for her, just don't know how I'll explain to her the mentality of “my” Government if they refuse her application, which we've both worked so hard on.
It's a stressful and expensive old business, this Visa application lark, eh ? !
I have had tourist, cultural and business visas. The business visa is the easiest to get with the most flexibility for the longest duration. As I have always been out of country when mine expired I have never tried to renew in country.
Ukrainian visas are always an inconvenience to get so if you need one my suggestion is get one with the longest expiry. I found Budapest to be a good location for obtaining a visa as they give a 24 hr express service.
My experience is noone asks you questions about the visa they seem happy just to get the application fees. Just remember that if you get business visa fill out the reason for travel on the immigration card as business otherwise you will get questioned.
Maybe of use to someone thinking of embarking upon a similar thing......
Arrived with my girl in Kiev at 7.10am on Friday morning. Caught the train 6hrs previously from Rivne, cost was 56 grivna's for two people, one way.
Out of Kiev train station across the road and into “McFoxy” where has McDonald's gone ? Didn't like this food much.
8.00am took the Metro into the city centre, I don't remember so many people when I was last here back in July '08.
8.30am until 12.00pm walked around city centre, very cold, looked in shop windows, at monuments, at people etc.
12.00pm took a taxi to British Visa Application Centre [not embassy] many Ukrainians already there, some inside having their interview, some queuing, some still arriving. Met an Englishman who was supporting his Ukrainian mother in-laws application to go to the UK.
My girl went in at 13.10, I was not allowed in with her, it's policy, apparently. There are only Ukrainians working at this centre. She presented all her documents, including my passport, my UK mortgage statement and bank statement about my UK business. She was asked only a couple of questions, then her Biometric Data was taken [finger prints & eye scan] The whole process took around 40 minutes and cost 938.00 grivna's. She paid an extra 20 griv's for the sms service, giving her regular sms updates on the progress of her application, including the eventual decision.
Left the Visa Centre and went into the city centre, straight to a real McDonald's, her first, she liked it, I was literally “lovin it” Met an American there and we all chatted away, he was flying back to the US in three days. Walked around some more, talking about her interview etc. Then into TGI Fridays for a coffee, heard an American there, and he was reading the English version of The Kiev Post.
At 16.00 we caught the Metro to her friends flat on the outskirts of Kiev, we spent 2 hours nattering and sipping coffee. Then the Metro back to Kiev railway station, jumped on the mini-bus, destination Rivne. Cost was 130.00 grivna's for two. Arrived back at our flat around 23.40 and just fell straight into bed.
We wait a decision on my girl's UK Tourist Visa Application.
I can post that decision here once it comes, should anyone care.