Foreign citizens need a Ukrainian visa to enter the country. There are several types of visa an international traveler may apply for.

To apply for a tourist visa, you will need: a passport valid for six months beyond the date of travel, two recent passport-type photographs and tourist voucher with a confirmed hotel booking. Independent travelers also can apply for a private visit visa if they intend to visit someone they know in Ukraine.

At present, no letter of invitation is needed to enter the country with this type of visa for nationals of EU countries, the USA, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey and Slovak Republic. No letter of invitation is required if you apply for a business visa to Ukraine and are a national of one of these states as well. Note that the Ukrainian Government doesn't issue visas at the time of entry into Ukraine. One should obtain a visa in advance, before traveling.

If you are transiting the country, without staying there, a visa is also required. Single-entry visas are valid for 6 months maximum since the date of issue; double-entry and multiple-entry visas are valid for 6-12 months; transit visas are for 5 days for each entry. Despite the fact that Ukraine is part of Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS, Ukrainian visas are not valid in Russia, just as Russian visas are not valid in Ukraine. So if you intend to visit Russia from Ukraine, take care of your Russian visa. Travelers without visas or travelers with expired number of entries are usually denied admission to Ukraine. An exit visa is not necessary for departing the country, but for departure to take place it must be valid.

More information about VISA here

Before traveling to Ukraine, it's recommended that you contact your insurance company and find out if its policy applies overseas and which health expenses it may cover. As a rule, cover is rather limited. It's advisable to shop around and choose the most appropriate one, as prices and conditions might vary greatly.

Note that the Medicare and Medicaid programs pay for medical services only in the USA. In addition to your medical insurance you can buy Ukrainian Medical Insurance at the border. This insurance is not obligatory at all and may cost about $10-15 depending on the period of your stay. There are no vaccination requirements or other special requirements for international customers visiting Ukraine. As of medical facilities, Ukrainian standards of care are different from American or Western European standards. If you need some prescription medicine, take it with you, as only basic supplies may be available in Ukraine.

Accommodation

Choosing accommodation is one of the most important things one should do prior to getting on a plane. Information about hotels here and information about apartments here.

It's advisable that you take all important belongings in your carry-on bag. It will help in case your luggage is lost in the airport or on a train. Pack passport, tickets, itineraries, money, wallets and insurance cars in your carry-on bag. It's important that you check your documents, visas, money and other important things prior to leaving home.

If you must take any prescription drugs (or drugs you are not sure about finding in another country), keep them at hand. Do not forget to write down the generic names of your medications, as brands might vary. Also, we recommend that you take a first-aid kit, which usually contains bandage, court plaster, antiseptic wipes, cold remedies, etc. It might be as well to take needed phone numbers or other contact information of people at your destination and back at home.

If you are taking shampoos, soaps, laundry kits, shaving creams and other things like that, take travel size products. Note also that such products can be purchased in Ukrainian stores or markets. One more thing you should take is a map. It will help you much to orientate yourself in a city you have never been to.