FAQ sul confine con Німеччина

To enter Germany you need:

Basic documents:

• Biometric passport (valid at least 3 months after entry date, issued no more than 10 years ago)
• Visa-free entry — Ukrainian citizens have the right to visa-free entry to Schengen for up to 90 days within 180 days

Additional documents:

• Proof of purpose of travel — invitation from Germans, hotel booking, travel voucher
• Proof of financial means — cash, bank statement (minimum 45 USD per day)
• Health insurance (recommended) — international policy with coverage of at least 30,000 EUR
• Return or onward ticket (desirable)

For drivers additionally:

• Vehicle registration certificate and technical passport
• Driver's license (recognized in Germany and EU)
• International insurance (Green Card) — mandatory
• Country sticker (UA) on the car
• First aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle

For children:

• Biometric passport — separate for each child
• Notarized consent from parents — if the child is traveling without one or both parents

Important for December 2025:

• EES already active at the Poland-Germany border since October 12, 2025
• First entry requires more time due to EES registration

Yes, Ukrainian citizens can cross the German border with a biometric passport without a visa.

Visa-free conditions:

• Stay period: maximum 90 days within any 180 days
• Purpose: tourism, visiting relatives, short work, study, treatment
• Passport validity: at least 3 months after entry date and issued no more than 10 years ago
• Clean record: no marks about non-compliance with previous stay conditions

Important: The stay period is calculated for all Schengen countries together, not just Germany.

EES (Entry/Exit System) — automated EU system for registering biometric data of foreigners.

At German borders and airports:

• EES launched from October 12, 2025 in phases
• Launch priority: Düsseldorf Airport → Frankfurt Airport → other airports → sea borders
• At Poland-Germany crossings: Phased launch (approximately 10% of points as of December 2025)
• Registration is FREE
• First time requires more time (10–20 minutes)
• Repeat entries are faster — automatic recognition

What is recorded:

• Facial photograph
• Fingerprints of all 10 fingers
• Passport data
• Date and time of entry

Important to know:

• Children under 12: Photo, but no fingerprints
• Children 12+: Full registration like adults
• No pre-registration required — everything at the border

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) — electronic travel authorization system for Schengen.

When will it launch:

• Expected start: end of 2026 (delay from original plan)
• Currently ETIAS is NOT required — You can travel with simple visa-free status

Who will need it:

• Citizens of visa-free countries for Schengen (including Ukraine after launch)
• Stays up to 90 days within 180 days

Cost and validity:

• Price: €7
• Validity: 3 years or until passport expires
• Application: online before travel

Reminder for December 2025: ETIAS is not yet launched.

Green Card — international third-party liability insurance for entering Germany by car (mandatory).

When required:

• When entering Germany by car (mandatory, fine without it: 200–2000 EUR)

How to get:

• In Ukraine: Contact an insurance company (Ukrgazbank Insurance, PJSC «INGO», UNIXInsurance and others)
• Online: Can order through insurers' websites
• Issue time: 1–2 hours, online — same day
• Validity: depends on term (15–365 days)
• Cost: 70–500 UAH depending on vehicle type and term

Short answer: Yes, if the car is registered to another person.

If the car is registered to a Ukrainian:

• You need a notarized power of attorney
• Cost: ~200–400 UAH

If the car is registered to a company:

• You need an order-certified power of attorney with director's stamp and signature

If the car is foreign (German registration):

• Letter from owner in English or German + notarized translation

Insurance: The car must be insured in the name of the person who will be driving when entering.

4 main border crossing points:

Average waiting times:

Optimal days and times:

Day of week:

• Best: Tuesday–Thursday (low traffic)
• Medium: Monday, Friday morning
• Avoid: Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday

Time of day:

• Best: 10:00–15:00
• Acceptable: 7:00–9:00 (morning)
• Avoid: 17:00–20:00 (evening)

Choosing crossing by queues:

• Świecko-Frankfurt — popular, longer queues (60–150 min)
• Zgorzelec-Görlitz — medium queues (40–120 min), modernized
• Gubin-Guben — acceptable queues (30–90 min)
• Zasieki-Forst — shortest queues (20–60 min), but limited hours

Important for 2025: EES adds 5–15 minutes on first entry.

Speed limits in Germany:

Important about Autobahn:

• Germany is famous for having no mandatory limit on highways
• Recommended speed: 130 km/h
• Insurance: Typically covers up to 130 km/h; above — problems may arise
• Bad conditions: In rain, snow, fog — limit 80–100 km/h
• Trucks: Have a limit of 100 km/h

Fines for speeding (VERY strict!):

Outside cities:

In cities (even stricter):

Important:

• 8+ points = License confiscation
• Fines must be paid quickly, otherwise the amount increases

Short answer: NO vignette for passenger cars!

For passenger cars (up to 3.5 tons):

• Vignette NOT required — German highways are completely free!
• Only exceptions: 2 toll tunnels in the north (rarely used)
• Warnow Tunnel (Rostock): €3.60–4.40
• Herren Tunnel (Lübeck): €2.10

For trucks (7.5+ tons):

• Distance-based toll (LKW-Maut): €0.09–0.26/km
• Registration: Online at https://www.tolls.eu or at the border

Comparison with other countries:

• Poland: NO (free)
• Austria: YES (€9.60/10 days)
• Switzerland: YES (CHF 40/year)

Conclusion: Germany — the most advantageous country for car tourists!

Mandatory equipment in the car:

Mandatory rules:

• Seat belts — mandatory for all passengers
• Hazard lights in case of breakdowns
• Phone — prohibited while driving (fine €100–200)
• Alcohol: Up to 0.05% (very strict!)

Cost and travel time to Berlin:

Option 1: Taxi / Ride-sharing

• Cost: €80–150 (~2700–5000 UAH)
• Time: 1.5–2 hours from Świecko-Frankfurt
• Services: Uber (available in Berlin), local taxis

Option 2: Bus (Flixbus, EuroLines)

• Cost: €20–50 (~700–1700 UAH)
• Time: 1.5–2 hours
• Companies: Flixbus, EuroLines, Ecolines

Option 3: Train (recommended)

• Cost: €15–35 (~500–1200 UAH)
• Time: 1–1.5 hours from Frankfurt/Oder
• Operator: Deutsche Bahn (DB)

Option 4: Own car

• Fuel: ~€20–30 (~680–1000 UAH)
• Time: 1–1.5 hours
• Vignette: Not required

Gas stations in Germany:

Where to find:

• AvD (ADAC) — largest network
• Shell, Esso, Aral, Jet, OMV — main networks
• Highways: Stations every 30–40 km

Fuel prices (December 2025, approximate):

• Gasoline E95: ~€1.50–1.70/liter (~50–57 UAH)
• Gasoline E98: ~€1.70–1.90/liter (~57–64 UAH)
• Diesel: ~€1.40–1.60/liter (~47–54 UAH)

Comparison with Poland:

• Germany is slightly more expensive than Poland
• Fuel quality is higher

How to refuel:

• Self-service (typical): Select fuel → Insert card → Refuel → Pay
• Cashier: Tell pump number at cashier → Pay in advance

Required documents:

• Veterinary passport (Pet Passport)
• Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)
• Rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel)
• Veterinary certificate (inspection 10 days before entry)
• Health declaration (in some cases)

Approximate cost: 450–900 UAH total

Short answer: Allowed at some crossing points.

Points with pedestrian crossings:

• Świecko-Frankfurt — Allowed
• Gubin-Guben — Allowed (separate pedestrian lane)
• Zgorzelec-Görlitz — Allowed
• Zasieki-Forst — Cars only

Documents for pedestrians:

• Biometric passport
• Proof of purpose (invitation, hotel booking)
• Proof of funds (cash or card)

Waiting time: 15–45 minutes (usually faster than cars)

In short:

• Special DPSU permit required to leave Ukraine
• Exceptions: foreigners, refugees, people with disabilities, parents with 3+ children, etc.
• Without permit — exit prohibited

Contact DPSU for permit: https://dpsu.gov.ua

Temporary Protection:

• Automatic status for Ukrainians who arrived after February 24, 2022
• Valid until: March 2026
• Allows:
• Working without additional permit
• Studying
• Receiving social assistance
• Free movement in the EU

Important: Temporary protection is automatically transferred when moving freely in the EU (Schengen).

Official requirements (Schengen):

• Minimum per day: 45 USD (~1600 UAH)
• Per week: 315 USD (~11200 UAH)
• Per month: 1350 USD (~48000 UAH)

How to prove:

• Cash
• Bank card with balance
• Bank statement
• ATM receipt

In practice: German border guards rarely ask about money, but better to have documents.

Practically: For a short trip, 100–200 USD is sufficient.

Allowed to export:

• Personal belongings
• Alcohol: up to 1 liter of spirits
• Tobacco products: up to 200 cigarettes
• Food products: non-living, packaged
• Cash: up to 10,000 EUR without declaration

Prohibited:

• Jewelry without certificates
• Antiques without permission
• Fresh meat/dairy products
• Plants without phytosanitary certificate
• Works of art without permission

German Immigration Service (Ausländerbehörde):

• Website: https://www.bamf.bund.de
• Phone: +49 (0) 911 943-0
• English: Available on the website

Embassy of Ukraine in Berlin:

• Website: https://germany.mfa.gov.ua/
• Address: Kurfürstendamm 68, 10707 Berlin
• Phone: +49 (30) 88671-0

State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (DPSU):

• Website: https://dpsu.gov.ua
• Hotline: +38 (440) 2000

Nakordoni service for live queues:

• Live queues PL-DE: /en/stat/2/18 — updates every 15 minutes

Quick algorithm:

• Stay calm — nervousness complicates the situation
• Know your rights:
• You have the right to remain silent until a lawyer arrives
• Communication language can be English
• Contact the embassy:
• Embassy in Germany: +49 (30) 88671-0
• DPSU (Ukraine): +38 (440) 2000
• Document everything: Officers' names, time, reason for refusal

Requirements for Russian citizens 🇷🇺:

• ⚠️ Schengen visa REQUIRED
• ✅ Valid passport
• ✅ Official invitation or booking confirmation
• ✅ Travel insurance (€30,000 coverage)
• ✅ Proof of financial means

⚠️ CRITICAL — Temporary controls!

• 🔴 Intensified checks at all 9 borders
• 🔴 47,000 people denied since September 2024
• ⚠️ Thorough document verification

⚠️ Important: Since 2022, obtaining a Schengen visa for Russian citizens has become significantly more difficult. Many EU countries refuse tourist visas.

Requirements for Ukrainian citizens 🇺🇦:

• ✅ Visa-free — 90 days within 180 days
• ✅ Biometric passport (valid 3+ months after entry)
• 🟡 EES registration (gradually until April 10, 2026)
• ✅ ETIAS (from late 2026, €7, valid 3 years)

⚠️ CRITICAL — Temporary controls!

• 🔴 ALWAYS CARRY PASSPORT — checks at all 9 borders!
• ⚠️ Symmetric checks PL-DE from July 7, 2025

Recommended documents:

• Proof of purpose (hotel booking)
• Proof of funds (€50/day — one of the lowest!)
• Travel insurance (€30,000 coverage)

Routes to Germany:

• 🚗 Via Poland: UA → PL → DE (⚠️ double control!)
• 🚗 Via Czech: UA → SK → CZ → DE
• ✈️ Flight: Kyiv → Berlin/Frankfurt/Munich

✅ YES! Germany is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD without a general speed limit on autobahns!

Official rules:

• ✅ Autobahns: NO LIMIT (recommended 130 km/h)
• ✅ Rural roads: 100 km/h
• ✅ Urban areas: 50 km/h

⚠️ But there are limits on some sections:

• 🚧 Construction zones
• 🏫 Near cities and schools
• 🌧️ In bad weather (recommended 80 km/h)
• 📍 Some fixed sections (signs)

💡 Tip: About 70% of autobahns have no limit. Watch the signs!

🚗 Recommended speed: 130 km/h — insurance companies may reduce payouts for accidents at higher speeds.

Germany has 9 land borders — the most in the project!

Waiting times with temporary controls (December 2025):

🔴 Busiest: Walserberg (trucks to Italy), Świecko (120,000 commuters)

🔴 From July 7, 2025, Poland introduced symmetric checks at the German border!

Reason:

• Germany refuses migrants at the border
• Even those seeking asylum can be rejected!
• Poland responded with symmetric measures

Duration: Until April 4, 2026 (extended from 30 days)

Impact:

• 🔴 Double control — checks from BOTH sides!
• ⚠️ +10–20 minutes additional to German checks
• ⚠️ 120,000 daily commuters affected

Crossings under double control:

• Świecko–Frankfurt (Oder) — A2
• Olszyna–Görlitz — A4
• Kołbaskowo–Pomellen — A11

💡 Tip: Plan +30–60 minutes at the Poland–Germany border!

🔴 CRITICAL: From September 16, 2024 to March 15, 2026+ Germany has temporary controls at ALL 9 borders!

Covered borders (all 9!):

1. 🇵🇱 Poland
2. 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
3. 🇦🇹 Austria
4. 🇨🇭 Switzerland
5. 🇫🇷 France
6. 🇧🇪 Belgium
7. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
8. 🇳🇱 Netherlands
9. 🇩🇰 Denmark

⚠️ Intensified from May 2025:

• Fixed checkpoints (not just mobile!)
• Checks within 30 km of border
• Trains, buses, trams — all checked!

Impact:

• 🔴 47,000 people denied entry since September 2024!
• ⚠️ +5–20 minutes at each border
• ⚠️ 120,000 daily commuters (Poland–Germany) affected

⚠️ ALWAYS CARRY PASSPORT/ID — even EU citizens!