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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
For Ukrainians planning a short trip to Germany, be prepared for additional document checks. In addition to a biometric passport, border guards may ask about the purpose of the trip, place of residence, financial means, and plans to return. At the same time, the widespread claim about mandatory 45 euros per day of stay requires clarification.
The conditions for visa-free entry are described in information from the German Embassy in Kyiv. Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports may stay in Schengen area countries without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The passport itself must remain valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen area. The German federal police also note that the document must have been issued within the last ten years.
What border checks may include
The biometric passport is the main document for visa-free entry. However, having it does not by itself guarantee unconditional passage across the border.
Border guards may ask to confirm the purpose and conditions of the trip. This may require return tickets or onward travel tickets, hotel or other accommodation bookings, invitations from friends or relatives, documents proving participation in a conference, education, or another event. If a person is visiting, it is also advisable to have the address and contact details of the person hosting them.
The German federal police separately note that third-country nationals who do not have a residence permit may be asked to demonstrate sufficient financial means. Such evidence may include cash, a bank card, a document on taking on financial obligations, or proof of paid accommodation. For short trips, a return ticket may also be checked.
Is it really necessary to have 45 euros per day
There is no single statutory amount of funds per day required for entry into Germany itself. Border guards assess the situation individually, taking into account the duration and purpose of the trip, the availability of paid accommodation or the possibility of staying with friends or relatives, and meal costs.
The amount of 45 euros per person per day is used as a guideline in cases where the foreign national cannot document the circumstances of the trip or adequately explain the conditions of their stay. Therefore, the claim that every Ukrainian must show, for example, 315 euros for a seven-day trip is incorrect.
Proof of financial solvency can be provided not only in cash. The German side accepts international debit and credit cards, checks, guarantee deposits, a letter of obligation from the inviting person, and other prescribed methods. If necessary, the validity of a bank card may be checked by border control.
Is medical insurance required
On the official page of the German Embassy in Kyiv, it is stated that third-country nationals who travel under visa-free arrangements must have a medical travel insurance policy during their trip.
Germany maintains border control on land borders
Although Germany is part of the Schengen Area, there is currently temporary border control on its land borders. According to the European Commission, the current period of checks runs from 16 March to 15 September 2026 of the year at the borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
Germany has already informed the European Commission about the next period of control—from 16 September 2026 of the year to 15 March 2027 of the year. Therefore, during a trip, for example by car or bus from Poland or the Czech Republic into Germany, documents may also be checked at the internal Schengen border.
In addition, from 10 April 2026 of the year, the EU-wide Entry/Exit System (EES) fully started operating, which electronically records the entries and exits of citizens of non-EU countries during short trips across external borders of countries using the system. It involves, in particular, recording your document data, facial images, and fingerprints.
Thus, before traveling to Germany, Ukrainians should have not only a valid biometric passport but also documents that, if necessary, will allow them to confirm the purpose of the trip, place of residence, financial provision, and ability to return. At the same time, the requirement for mandatory 45 euros in cash per day for all travelers is not established by official German rules.
As a reminder, Germany began considering new conditions when reviewing Ukrainians' applications for temporary protection. For male citizens who arrived after the entry into force of the corresponding EU decision, the status under §24 of the Residence Act is no longer automatically considered unconditional. In certain cases, the applicant may be asked to prove that they left Ukraine legally or have fulfilled or are not subject to military service.
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