Despite the independence of Ukraine, which was proclaimed twenty years ago, many Ukrainians still live in Russia. A significant part of them, as well as Russians who need to visit this country on business issues, want to travel to Ukraine from time to time.
The main document that a citizen of the Russian Federation needs when entering any state, even a visa-free one, is a passport. You can get it at the office of the Federal Migration Service at your place of residence. To do this, you need to fill out a special questionnaire, certify it in the personnel department and pay a state fee.
Take care of obtaining a passport in advance, as it will take at least a month.
You will also need documents for submission to the consulate, since Russians need to obtain visas to enter Ukraine. To obtain a transit visa (suitable for those who stay in the country for no more than five days), you need to provide confirmation of transit - the availability of visas and tickets for departure to another state.
For a short-term visa, which is suitable for both travelers and those with relatives in Ukraine, you need to present an invitation letter from a private person or organization, a document of blood ties with Ukrainian relatives, or a tourist voucher indicating the route. This information will confirm the purposes of your stay in the country for the consular staff.
There is also a long-term visa. It takes longer and harder to get. You also need an invitation to receive it. For example, if you are a future student of one of the Ukrainian universities, then you will need to provide a letter of admission to the university. Also, if necessary, you may be required to provide documents confirming your financial stability and the ability to live independently in Ukraine.
Also from the documents you will need a receipt for the payment of the fee. In 2011, the amount of the fee ranged from two to five thousand rubles, depending on which visa the person applies for. You can pay the required amount directly on the territory of the consulate.
To travel to Ukraine, you will also need a ticket for one of the modes of transport: plane, bus or train. If you want to save money, it is better to buy tickets in advance.
