Crossing the border by bus: how it works
An international bus trip almost always includes a stop at the border. Here is how the checks usually go and how to make them faster for yourself.
How the checks go
- 01
The queue at the crossing
Buses cross in a separate lane, but there can be a queue there too. That queue is the main reason a trip takes longer than the timetable says.
- 02
Exit control
First comes the border of the country you are leaving. Officers check passports — either collecting them on the bus or asking passengers to pass control in person. Then customs: sometimes luggage is checked at random, sometimes everyone is asked to step out with their bags.
- 03
Entry control
Then the same on the side of the country you are entering: passport control and customs. At the European Union border passengers may be photographed and fingerprinted.
In total the border takes from an hour to several hours, depending on the crossing point, the day of the week and the season. Carriers build this time into the timetable, but the queue cannot be predicted exactly.
Documents
A trip abroad requires an international passport, and children need their own documents. Rules for leaving Ukraine and entering other countries can change, so check the current requirements on the website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the official resources of the country you are travelling to.
What to know about your things
- When entering the EU, cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency) must be declared.
- Meat and dairy products from outside the EU cannot be brought in — even a sausage sandwich is better eaten before the border.
- The amount of cigarettes and alcohol you may bring duty-free is limited. Current allowances are on the customs services' websites.
- Carry medicines in their original packaging, and keep a prescription or a doctor's note for prescription drugs.
- Never agree to carry someone else's belongings across the border.
How to make the crossing easier
- Keep your passport and ticket at hand, not at the bottom of your suitcase.
- Take water and a snack: there may be no shop at the border, and the stop can be long.
- Dress so that stepping off the bus in any weather is comfortable.
- Listen to the driver: they will say when to get off with your luggage and when you can stay in your seat.
- If someone is meeting you, warn them that the arrival time can shift because of the border.