Ukraine will stop issuing visas to foreigners at international airports on January 1, 2019. State Secretary for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Andrii Zaiats announced this in an interview with the LB.ua publication, the CFTS portal reports.
"The issuance of visas at international airports will cease on January 1 and … the use of electronic visas will be broadened," he said.
According to him, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has acknowledged that issuance of visas at airports is outdated and inefficient because some foreigners do not speak English and some do not have bankcards for paying consular fees.
About 35,000 visas were issued at Ukrainian airports in the first 11 months of 2018.
The state secretary explained that the use of electronic visas would be broadened by increasing the number of countries whose citizens can be issued electronic visas and expanding the list of reasons for issuing such visas.
"Currently, electronic visas are issued only for tourist or business trips. Medical treatment and private trips to visit relatives will be added to this list from January 1. Visas for journalists are also being added. Thus, almost all non-immigration travel will be covered by electronic visas," he said.
According to him, the cost of an electronic visa will be set at EUR 85 and the consular fee for an entry visa will be set at EUR 65 from January 1.
