Main checkpoints on the border between Ukraine and Poland: what do you need to know?

Main checkpoints on the border of Ukraine and Poland: what you need to know?

The Polish-Ukrainian border was defined on August 24, 1991, when Ukraine declared independence. Since then, people have been prohibited from crossing it illegally, so border control is carried out. In this article, we will tell you about the conditions for crossing the border between Ukraine and Poland, which is the most convenient road route to Europe due to the large number of checkpoints, high-quality roads and developed infrastructure. It is through this transit country that our buses travel from Ukraine to the Czech Republic on theKyiv-Cheb routeand in the reverse directionCheb-Kyiv(or Cherkasy-Cheb and Cheb - Cherbasi).

Main
border crossing points between Ukraine and Poland

The border between countries is a legally established boundary that separates the territory (land, underground, water and air) from the territory of a neighboring state. After demarcation, the border crossing from both sides is carried out in accordance with the established regime and customs rules.
Control over their observance takes place at special points. Ukraine borders Poland in the west. The length of the border is 535 km. Today, 9 automobile border crossing points operate along this line. Conditions at the crossing points vary. Below we will consider the 5 most convenient ones.

Kraków— Korchów

The Kraków checkpoint is one of the most popular. Opening hours: 24/7. It allows passenger and freight vehicles. There is a checkpoint for pedestrians. Its identification number is 460600. It was opened by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 743-r dated 22.12.97. The conveniently located checkpoint has a high throughput capacity. It is located on the Ukrainian international highway M10, which begins in Lviv and is part of the European road route E40, connecting Ukraine with the countries of the European Union. On Polish territory, it includes the A4 highway and national road 94. It has a developed infrastructure. Registration and checking of documents and luggage is carried out quickly thanks to the well-equipped area. In 2025, a new bus terminal for disembarking passengers was opened on the territory, capable of passing about 30 buses per day. This is the same checkpoint through which our flights No. 074 and No. 513 pass, which can be joined at any stop provided for in the schedule. For example, you canget from the Czech city of Plzen to Cherkasy.

Yagodyn — Dorohusk

This point is the busiest. Opening hours: 24 hours a day. Passes passenger and freight vehicles, but may temporarily not work for cars.
Identification number 71200. Opened by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 544-r dated 19.09.02. To the auto terminal at the checkpoint, transport goes along the Ukrainian highway M07, the famous "Warsaw", which begins in Kyiv. From the Polish side, the point is reached by national road 12. It is a fragment of the European highway E373 (Kyiv - Kovel - Yagodyn - Lublin), which in turn is part of the transport scheme connecting Eastern Europe with Western Europe. The railway checkpoint Yagodyn (Dorohusk) is also located 8 km from the border.
The point is equipped with the necessary equipment, there are shops, gas stations. While waiting for your turn, you can use convenient recreation areas. Simplified document processing is in effect.

Rava-Ruska— Hrebenne

Identification No. 460500. Operates 24/7, allows passenger and freight vehicles. There is a pedestrian checkpoint. Small border traffic is allowed with a MPR card within the established territory. Opened by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 544-r dated 19.09.02.
The checkpoint is located on the border line at a distance of 11.3 km from the city of Rava-Ruska, on the international highway M 09, which begins in Lviv and is a fragment of the European route E372. The infrastructure of the checkpoint consists of zones for checking documents and areas for rest.

Hrushiv — Budomierz

Identification number 460000. It allows passenger cars with a load of up to 3.5 tons and pedestrians to pass through 24 hours a day. It was established as a result of an exchange of diplomatic notes. Opened in 2013. Located on the territory of the Republic of Poland under joint control.
From the Ukrainian side, the point is reached by the territorial road T 1403 (in the Lviv region), which continues along the Polish highway 866. A compact facility with a small throughput capacity is located near the village of Hrushyn, 70 km from Lviv. It differs from more popular points in its average level of traffic and fast customs clearance due to joint control.

Shehyni — Medyka
Shehyni crossing has identification number 460800. It operates around the clock, allowing passenger and freight vehicles. There is a pedestrian connection. Opened by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 544-r dated 19.09.02. Located on the border in the Lviv region. The point is reached by the international highway M 11, which begins in Lviv. It continues on the territory of Poland along highway 28.
There is a separate lane of traffic intended specifically for pedestrians. This speeds up customs and passport control. The infrastructure consists of modern recreation areas, shops, etc.

Types
of checkpoints: automobile, pedestrian

If you travel by bus, you can cross the border between Ukraine and Poland at two types of checkpoints:

• Automobile. Such points have an automated zone with equipment for scanning documents and inspecting cars. Separate lanes are provided for different categories of transport, which usually have canopies in the control zone. The territory has service buildings for customs workers and border guards, as well as facilities for storing detained cargo, and platforms for transport.
• Pedestrian. Often arranged on the territory of automobile checkpoints in the form of a separate lane for pedestrian traffic. Usually there is a closed pavilion equipped with customs control equipment, a zone for simplified passage, etc.

Traffic lights, road signs, barriers, and barriers are used to regulate traffic at the checkpoint. The configurations of the territory may vary depending on geographical and climatic conditions in order to create the best conditions for checkpoint workers and for persons crossing the border .

Rules
and requirements for crossing the border with Poland

Border control is formed from measures that are intended to determine the legal grounds for crossing the border by vehicles and persons, as well as for transporting goods from the territory of one state to another. The main stages of the procedure:

1. Upon arrival at the checkpoint, registration of motor
transport by employees of the State Border Service of Ukraine.

2. Lane determination according to
vehicle, cargo or pedestrian crossing characteristics.

3. Verification of identification, freight and
shipping documents.

4. Inspection and customs control of transport and cargo
by customs officers.

5. Confirmation of permission and physical border crossing.

Vehicles may be inspected selectively in a manner deemed appropriate based on the results of the risk management system. The inspection shall not exceed the parking time specified in the schedule. All procedures shall be deemed completed when the customs officer has made the necessary entries in the documents. Oral permission may also be granted (in cases specified
by law).

To speed up inspections, it is better for both drivers and passengers of the vehicle to prepare in advance the documents that must be shown to the authorized customs officer, namely:

• biometric passport without a visa or a passport
  without an electronic chip, but with a visa;
• a health insurance policy with coverage of at least 30,000
  EUR for a stay in the EU;
• a completed customs declaration or cargo documents (if
  necessary).

In addition, drivers must show a driver's license that meets international standards, an international insurance policy "Green Card", a vehicle registration certificate (technical passport, including in Latin letters), and a Ukrainian (UA) identification plate on the vehicle.

Children under the age of 16 must travel with their parents. If one or both parents are not present, a notarized consent from the parents and a birth certificate must be provided. The child must have a biometric international passport. According to Polish law, a child under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

If you have a passport with biometric data and your trip to Poland for tourist, business or personal purposes will not last more than three months, then a visa is not required. If you need to stay in Poland for more than 90 days, you should apply for a national visa D for a long-term stay, the basis for which may be an
employment contract, study, business activity, etc. In a situation where the temporary protection status is used, you can live, receive social support and find work in Poland without additional permits.

Border guards may also ask to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover the costs of your stay in Poland and your return to Ukraine. Currently, it is officially required to have EUR 70 or more per day if the trip lasts 4 days or less, and EUR 18 per day if the person stays in Poland longer. Cash and other valuables up to EUR 10,000 per person are not subject to declaration. It is worth knowing that the import of canned food, meat and dairy products into Poland is prohibited.
You can only import 1 liter of alcoholic beverages and 40 cigarettes.

Working hours and waiting times at checkpoints

All checkpoints operate 24 hours a day. We recommend crossing the border at night and on weekdays, when there is less traffic compared to weekends and holidays. To check the queues, you can view information on the official website of the State Customs Service of Ukraine or other convenient online services. Information on queues for exit and entry is provided in real time.

Additional recommendations for passengers and drivers

To make your trip easy, without long delays at checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border, we recommend:

• plan your trip in advance, choose a checkpoint taking into account a convenient route and average waiting time;
• make sure that the border crossing rules have not been updated, read the requirements for baggage and goods that are allowed to be transported;
• check the documents and validity period of the passport, visa (if required), and permits before departure;
•  Book your round-trip bus tickets in advance to secure the best seats and get a discount on the return trip 

We offer two optimal bus routes from Ukraine to the Czech Republic via Poland 

Conclusions

Crossing the border between Ukraine and Poland is quick and easy if you use the services of an experienced carrier, such as SVD Trans. We provide comfort, safety, and predictability on the road.

Back in 2013, we launched our first route from Kyiv to Plzeň via the Krakovets–Korczowa border checkpoint. Today, you can use these connections to travel directly to Prague, or get off in Poland and reach the Czech capital by an alternative route. Whichever you choose, you can still return on our Prague–Kyiv bus and enjoy a 20% discount on your return ticket. Whatever your travel plans, we invite you to experience our premium, modern Scania Irizar buses, fully equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and multimedia entertainment! 

FAQ:

Which border crossing points on the border of Ukraine and Poland are the most popular?
The most popular are Krakovets and Yagodyn.

Is it possible to cross the border on foot through the checkpoints?
There are automobile checkpoints where pedestrian crossing of the border is allowed: Kraków — Korchów, Hrushiv — Budomierz, Shehyni — Medyka, Rava-Ruska — Hrebenne.

How can I find out how long it takes to cross the border at a specific point?
Information is available on the official website of the State Customs Service of Ukraine .

Is it possible to transport food across the border between Ukraine and Poland?
Yes, but there are restrictions that should be clarified before leaving. Today, it is prohibited to import canned food, meat and dairy products into Poland. The maximum number of food products that can be transported has also been determined.

How can you check the congestion status of the crossing point in advance?
We recommend visiting the official website of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, which has an interactive map with markers indicating the approximate waiting time.

What documents are needed to cross the border with Poland?

It is necessary to have a foreign passport (biometric without a visa, or a passport without an electronic chip with a visa), a health insurance policy, a declaration of valuables and cash exceed 10,000 Euros or in the case of transporting goods. Men of draft age must additionally have a military ID, a VLK certificate or other documents that give the right to travel.