The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution on a simplified procedure for entry into Ukraine for foreigners and stateless persons carrying out journalistic activities on the territory of Ukraine. Prior to the signing of this normative act, foreigners and stateless persons, including persons who carried out journalistic activities on the territory of Ukraine on a professional basis, depending on the country of citizenship/citizenship of the latter, could enter Ukraine without a visa for up to 90 days stay in Ukraine, if international agreements determined such an entry procedure or on a general basis - subject to obtaining permission to enter Ukraine (visa to Ukraine) for the period specified by the visa. And after the end of the period of stay in Ukraine, provided for by a visa-free or visa-free entry into Ukraine, a foreigner or stateless person was required to leave Ukraine for 90 days or obtain a new short-term visa (for countries with a visa-free entry to Ukraine), or obtain a long-term visa for basis of professional activity, and subsequently a short-term residence permit in Ukraine (residence permit).
On May 27, 2022, this issue was partially resolved. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 627 “Some Issues of Staying on the Territory of Ukraine of Foreigners and Stateless Persons Who Arrived in Ukraine to Work as a Correspondent or Representative of Foreign Mass Media”:
"1. Establish that for the period of martial law and within 30 days after its cancellation or termination to foreigners and stateless persons who arrived to work as a correspondent or representative of foreign media and in the prescribed manner were accredited by representatives of the media during the legal regime of martial law , restrictions on the duration of temporary stay on the territory of Ukraine, established by paragraph 2 of the Procedure for extending the period of stay and extending or reducing the period of temporary stay of foreigners and stateless persons on the territory of Ukraine, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated February 15, 2012 No. 150 (Official Gazette Ukraine, 2012, No. 17, article 612).
That is, if for the period of martial law and for 30 days after its cancellation, foreigners and stateless persons who were in Ukraine to work as a correspondent or representative of foreign media will not be subject to restrictions on the duration of temporary stay on the territory of Ukraine . To do this, foreign journalists will need to pass the accreditation of media representatives in the prescribed manner during the legal regime of martial law.
But, unfortunately, this normative act was not sufficiently worked out and, accordingly, left many unresolved issues of this Decree. Namely: restriction when using current accounts in Ukraine, purchasing vehicles, receiving various administrative services, as well as using many other rights. They can only be obtained by foreigners and stateless persons who arrived in Ukraine on the basis of a long-term visa - D 11 - carrying out journalistic activities, and subsequently received a residence permit in Ukraine.
