Well, we all have to lose our virginity sooner or later don't we?

Apart from one very bizarre border crossing a few years ago (Don't ask), I've never actually had to cross a border before. Sure, there are the little offices at the Euro tunnel or ferry, but that's the extent of my experience as I've never travelled out of the EU on a bike or car before. I always fly.

I'm tempted to go to Ukraine for a bit, didn't quite make it that far last year. So after doing some googling I'm concerned with the border crossing and hope you can offer some advice.

I have read that green card insurance is a bit hit and miss, so I'll just try my luck. If they let me in, great, if not, I'll buy it from a little hut just outside apparently) and apparently I need to get a tourist visa rather than a transit one as a transit one means I need to use the same border crossing when coming home.

However what is the actual procedure for crossing the border? I have visions of queues miles long, spending hours in them and all that malarkey. However I've also heard that bikes sometimes just push up to the front, is there any sort of method/etiquette etc?

Yes, I know I'm over thinking all this and it'll all be straight forward at the time, but since I'll be on my own again I get a little anxious with silly things like this.

Thanks.

Bring your green paper (int insurance) and the rest of the paper for the bike, passport and driving licence and off you go. I allways try to get in front of a long Q at any border, but do it with grace

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Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run

Don't worry about this border too much, Modman, it should be relatively easy. Just make sure your bike papers are in order, and ask for the free 90-days tourist visa (if you're European).

Our green card wasn't valid in Ukraine but we persuaded the officer that we'd buy local insurance once across the border. And that's what we did, there's indeed a hut on the parking lot of the first gas station.

Oh yeah, with a motorbike you can ride past the long queue of trucks, they won't mind...

Relax, and have fun!

Cheers chaps. Sounds easy enough. I don't have a green card, do they even issue them anymore? Anyhow I double checked my insurance and it doesn't cover Ukraine at all, so 3rd party from the hut will have to do.

Happy days! Thanks - Dan

Just remember technically you should have the V5 and paper copy of your license.

I take colour copies incase they want a copy.

When you get there just chill. Those people have a tedious job. What works for us at any border is to just relax smile, look like you have all the time in the world. Normally you can get them to have a laugh.

Choose a small crossing if you can. That has one risk thou. There may be no insurance sales if you need it.

Dan

Thanks for this. Bike is almost sorted with new tyres going on it Wednesday (Let's see if these Anakee 3's are any good)

Now, just need some nice weather