The Polish border without the queues: how we cross it and what to prepare
Our VIP minibuses cross the border without waiting in the general queue. Here’s how checks work on the Ukrainian and Polish sides, which documents to bring and what you can’t take into the EU.
On most international trips the border takes up more time than anything else: coaches and cars can wait for hours to reach the checkpoint. Our passengers skip that part — our Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VIP minibuses cross the border without waiting in the general queue. Here’s how it works on our services to Warsaw and Kraków, and what to prepare so the checks go quickly.
How we cross the border
The minibus doesn’t join the general queue; it goes straight to the checkpoint. That means the only time spent is on the checks themselves: passport control on the Ukrainian and Polish sides and customs. The timetable allows about an hour and a half for this on the Warsaw route and about an hour on the Kraków route, so the arrival time on the website is realistic rather than “if you’re lucky”.
- Kyiv — Warsaw runs via Zhytomyr, Rivne and Lutsk, usually crossing at Yahodyn — Dorohusk;
- Kyiv — Kraków runs via Zhytomyr and Lviv, usually crossing at Krakovets — Korczowa.
With only 8 passengers on board, checking the whole group takes far less time than with a full-size coach.
Documents you’ll need
- A biometric passport. It must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from the EU. Ukrainian citizens can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- A return or onward ticket. You won’t always be asked for one, but it’s best to have the confirmation on your phone.
- Proof of the purpose of your trip: an accommodation booking, an invitation, or tickets to a concert or conference.
- Proof of funds. Poland’s guideline is PLN 75 for each day of your stay, and no less than PLN 300 in total. Cash or a bank card statement will do.
- Travel medical insurance. It isn’t required for visa-free travel, but treatment in the EU is expensive, so a policy is well worth having.
Exit rules for certain groups of Ukrainian citizens, including men of conscription age, may change. Check the current requirements on the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine website before you book. If you’re travelling with children, read our article on travelling with children.
How the checks work, step by step
- Straight to the checkpoint. The minibus bypasses the general queue and pulls up for inspection.
- Ukrainian checks. A border guard walks through the cabin, or the driver collects the passports and hands them over.
- Polish passport control. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully in operation at the EU’s external borders: the first time you cross, your fingerprints and a photo of your face are taken. Passports are no longer stamped. First-time registration takes a few minutes per person; later crossings are quicker.
- Customs. Passengers may be asked to get off with their luggage and hand luggage. Bags go through a scanner or are checked by hand, so pack them so they’re easy to open.
- Back on the road. The driver makes sure everyone is on board and the minibus continues.
How fast the checks go also depends on the passengers: the better prepared everyone’s documents are, the sooner the whole group is through.
What you can and can’t take into the EU
| Item | Allowance per adult |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes | up to 40 |
| Spirits (over 22%) | 1 litre, or 2 litres of weaker alcohol |
| Wine / beer | 4 litres / 16 litres |
| Cash | over €10,000 must be declared |
| Meat, salo, sausage, milk, cheese | not allowed |
The ban on animal products applies even to sausage sandwiches, so finish them before the border. You can bring medicines for personal use in their original packaging; take a prescription for anything strong.
If you’re heading to Chișinău, Istanbul or Antalya
On Kyiv — Chișinău there’s just one border, with Moldova. Ukrainian citizens can stay there visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and the timetable allows about an hour for the checks. Our Kyiv — Istanbul and Kyiv — Antalya services cross from Ukraine into Moldova, from Moldova into Romania and from Bulgaria into Turkey; there are no checks between Romania and Bulgaria, as both are in the Schengen area. At every one of these borders we also skip the general queue. Because the route passes through the EU, the same food rules apply as at the Polish border. Find out more in Kyiv to Istanbul and Antalya by minibus.
Tips for a smooth crossing
- keep your passport in a pocket or a small bag, not in the luggage hold;
- save your booking confirmation on your phone: mobile data may not work at the border;
- use the stop before the border to visit the toilet and get a coffee;
- never agree to carry other people’s bags or parcels;
- have a few złoty or a bank card for small purchases on the Polish side.
Timetables: Kyiv — Warsaw and Kyiv — Kraków, plus the return services Warsaw — Kyiv and Kraków — Kyiv. You’ll find answers to other questions in our help centre, and if anything is unclear, get in touch via the Contacts page.
