Current arrival procedure at Boryspil?

[aikorob]

The Mrs. is going back to visit family later this summer---her first visit in a few years. I know there is a new terminal at Boryspil----but she has heard that the customs procedure has changed as well. Can any recent travelers report on the new procedures in detail?

[LAman]

What new procedures??

[krimster2]

associates have recent borispol experience
some usa passports some UA

lines are longer and slower, try to get a seat at front of the plane
and get out ASAP

if you are bringing “foreign goods” you will have to go to the red line
otherwise green line
no matter what go to the green line..
otherwise open luggage, inspection
if she has Ukrainian passport then confiscation/bribes
seriously, don’t go in the red line
and don’t declare a single thing
other than your love of Ukraine

to be aware
luggage theft by terminal employees is a big borispol problem

[Nightwish]

The Mrs. is going back to visit family later this summer---her first visit in a few years. I know there is a new terminal at Boryspil----but she has heard that the customs procedure has changed as well. Can any recent travelers report on the new procedures in detail?

Since I started going there early 2014, nothing has changed.. and its the same procedure there as it is in any other airport I visited outside EU - with the exception from China that inspected every single item in everyone's luggade in security - and I mean EVERYTHING - took 'forevva' so if you ever transfer there, make sure you have at least 2-4 hours window.

Nothing strange or unusual about Ukraine, long lines yes, but never had any issues and I have gone through there on a monthly basis the last years.

[BdHvA]

Nothing strange or unusual about Ukraine, long lines yes, but never had any issues and I have gone through there on a monthly basis the last years.

We are speaking of Boryspil (KBP), not JFK or LHR. The new terminal is all very standard. I believe it is based on a Schiphol design.

At times the immigration (passport control) can be a wait and here it is a bit chaotic, but you will get through.

Collecting baggage is easy enough. As noted up thread go for the Green Lane. You might be asked how much you have in cash on you. Worst case scenario is your bags may be X-Rayed or examined.

One note if you are bused to the terminal you want to be the last in the first bus.

[LAman]

  Can any recent travelers report on the new procedures in detail?

[LAman]

One note if you are bused to the terminal you want to be the last in the first bus.

Most call it a 'shuttle' instead of bus. It has very few seats, lots of rail to hold onto and usually 4 doors , 2 on each side.

Many UIA flights use shuttle because they land in Terminal F........unless it is a large plane.

Funny you should mention this,' last in first shuttle'. Doesn't work if drop off uses doors on other side!!! )))

[krimster2]

like what,
seriously, in the green line hand in your customs form nothing to declare run your luggage through scanner, get luggage, go out exit
make sure you lock luggage, airport employees open and steal when it goes through baggage handling


when leaving you better check-in at least 4 hr before flight
because of long lines

assuming she has usa passport
if UA passport she will be searched likely

[JayH]

The Mrs. is going back to visit family later this summer---her first visit in a few years. I know there is a new terminal at Boryspil----but she has heard that the customs procedure has changed as well. Can any recent travelers report on the new procedures in detail?

The "new" terminal is great and simple to use . There is no need for concern --it   is well signposted.
As for wait time -- depending on other flights -- wait time is minimal compared to most "western" airports.Passport control is very efficient-- I try and avoid que with any children in it as that may require more examination of paperwork !
I was there a few weeks ago -- and in hire car driving out of airport inside of 40 minutes from touchdown ( I allow 2 hours -- but have consistently done it under one hour) .

The old terminals are currently being renovated for use of lower cost airlines  next year.

On the tarmac shuttle -- some airlines go straight to airbridge -- so no need to "outsmart" the shuttle !! Incidentally --even doing that and being  first or last of the plane -- waiting at immigration- chances are that you will still be waiting for bags at carousel .

[ML]

make sure you lock luggage, airport employees open and steal when it goes through baggage handling

Airport security coming and going has the right to cut-off any locks to check contents.
They do it either regularly or on random basis.

I once met up with a gal from Ukraine in Turkey.  She bought new luggage in Turkey and spent a lot of time using a screwdriver to enlarge the opening to put a padlock on.  I  told her that Borispol would cut off the lock anyway.  But since she was a FSU gal, she knew better.
Told me later that the lock was cut off when she picked it up and some items had been stolen.

[JayH]

Airport security coming and going has the right to cut-off any locks to check contents.
They do it either regularly or on random basis.

I once met up with a gal from Ukraine in Turkey.  She bought new luggage in Turkey and spent a lot of time using a screwdriver to enlarge the opening to put a padlock on.  I  told her that Borispol would cut off the lock anyway.  But since she was a FSU gal, she knew better.
Told me later that the lock was cut off when she picked it up and some items had been stolen.

At one time locks were not even allowed on many flights. For some time now -I always get my bag/s wrapped in plastic at the airport. It does not guarantee that a bag will not be molested -- but chances are an easier less obvious break in will keep contents safer.

It also helps protect the bag from handling abuse and damage -- which is just about as important as the security angle. If luggage is delayed ( temporarily lost) it is reassuring to know that it is more secure-- and dry !  Dealing with a damaged case is a pia !

The bag wrapping seems to be available at most airports - certainly coming out of Kyiv at both airports  approx UAH 60-100.

[aikorob]

OK---I got a little more detail on what prompted the Mrs. questions.............
apparently one of her Facebook friends was traveling back to Ukraine accompanied by her husband---both traveling on US passports. Passports were taken, they were led to separate rooms, and called to the passport control window 1 at a time and questioned before being allowed through security
Mrs. was concerned that maybe there were new procedure since the start of war----but after learning these further details, this particular couple must have triggered the security concern

[JayH]

OK---I got a little more detail on what prompted the Mrs. questions.............
apparently one of her Facebook friends was traveling back to Ukraine accompanied by her husband---both traveling on US passports. Passports were taken, they were led to separate rooms, and called to the passport control window 1 at a time and questioned before being allowed through security
Mrs. was concerned that maybe there were new procedure since the start of war----but after learning these further details, this particular couple must have triggered the security concern

When entering  ( & leaving)Ukraine use Ukrainian passport.
Do not allow Ukrainian officials know she holds a US passport.
Use  US passport the rest of the time  and especially leaving and entering US.

[krimster2]

never heard anything like that ever happening, ever...
were they in crimea earlier on their passsport?

[aikorob]

never heard anything like that ever happening, ever...
were they in crimea earlier on their passsport?

don't know-----he might have been one of those guys who searched for several years.....with multiple trips all over FSU
anyway..........Mrs. can calm down about this now------thanks

[krimster2]

my family and I are going to Russia and to Krim soon...
already have our visas
after that I would expect some hassle, if I made another trip to Ukraine
like Odessa
when I checked in, kinda like your friend
I suspect he had a recent trip to Krim
well good to know this..

[LAman]

my family and I are going to Russia and to Krim soon...
already have our visas
after that I would expect some hassle, if I made another trip to Ukraine
like Odessa
when I checked in, kinda like your friend
I suspect he had a recent trip to Krim
well good to know this..

Are you serious or just talking again??
Can you explain to me how anyone would know if some visited Crimea?
When exactly were you last in Ukraine?

[krimster2]

if it's stamped on your passport
it is on mine
i haven't myself been since takeover
but my friends/associates who have - informed me
that travel to Krim will get you a RUSSIAN visa stamp
and some hassle next time you're in Ukraine

[LAman]

if it's stamped on your passport
it is on mine
i haven't myself been since takeover
but my friends/associates who have - informed me
that travel to Krim will get you a RUSSIAN visa stamp
and some hassle next time you're in Ukraine

Just so you know, you get stamp from whichever airport to arrive in Russia. Currently, no one can arrive in Crimea directly from international flight. So tell me how you get a 'stamp' showing you were in Crimea???

I have dozens of Russian stamps in my passport and have been many times in Ukraine....... sometimes flight out of Russia to Ukraine( with one stop). Just did that this past summer. Apparently your 'friends' don't know very much.

[krimster2]

I agree exactly with what you're saying
and yet a friend who goes several times a year to Simferopol sometimes gets "stamped" from Moscow to Simferopol upon arrival
with no explanation
but there it is...
he has a Ukrainian passport though, so maybe they're "jerking his chain", or by accident, I have no idea
I was once stamped from Kyiv to Simferopol, same deal
if it's important to you I could scan it for you

I have no future plans for Ukraine travel
so not worried about what Ukrainians think about my Russian visa

if that's what this is...

[LAman]

>>and yet a friend who goes several times a year to Simferopol sometimes gets "stamped" from Moscow to Simferopol upon arrival
with no explanation
but there it is...


What gets stamped??? His passport? For what? No one getting off plane a couple weeks ago got stamped...none of the 200 or so passengers. So tell me why your friend got stamped?

[LAman]

>>> I have no future plans for Ukraine travel
so not worried about what Ukrainians think about my Russian visa.


 For 4 years Ukrainians have thought NOTHING about my Russian visas.

[krimster2]

since you go by Russian rules...
if you're registering your visa in Simferopol, you WILL get a visa registration stamp WITH location!
so yeah you might get your visa stamped this way to with a Crimea location if you're not careful
and not just at the airport upon arrival

[LAman]

since you go by Russian rules...
if you're registering your visa in Simferopol, you WILL get a visa registration stamp WITH location!
so yeah you might get your visa stamped this way to with a Crimea location if you're not careful
and not just at the airport upon arrival

Dude, you don't know what you are saying. You DON"T register your visa. Your immigration card is registered if staying more than 7 days in one city. If you visit another city you get another 7 days. The stamp is on your immigration card where you registered. YOUR VISA HAS NO STAMPS ON IT.

YOU ARE SPREADING BS now

[krimster2]

"So tell me why your friend got stamped?"

as I said, no explanation, but it's happened to him multiple times
and happened to me once with no explanation either
that's just arrival

registering Russian visa requires getting a visa registration stamp which will have location
so you could get it this way as well