Living in Ukraine Longer Than 90 Days? Your Insurance Guide

Standard tourist health insurance covers stays of 3 to 180 days. For most visitors, that is enough. If you are living, working, or volunteering in Ukraine long-term, the picture changes — here is what you need to know.

When does tourist insurance stop being enough?

A tourist policy covering 180 days satisfies the legal Article 7 requirement and provides medical coverage. For most expats arriving for the first time, a 180-day Advanced plan policy is a practical starting point (€5.32 + €1.60 × 177 days = approximately €288 for 180 days).

Limitations arise when:

• Your stay extends beyond 180 days and the policy expires with no replacement
• Your employer or contracting organisation requires a specific type of health insurance documentation
• You apply for a temporary residency permit or work permit — these may require different insurance documentation than the standard border policy
• You have dependants (partner, children) who also need coverage — each person requires their own individual policy

What changes after 90 days

Under Ukrainian immigration rules, most foreign nationals on a visa-free regime must leave Ukraine and re-enter after 90 days in any 180-day period (the "90/180 rule"). Each re-entry requires a valid health insurance policy from the date of crossing.

If you hold a long-stay visa, work permit, or temporary residency permit, the 90-day limit does not apply — but insurance coverage must remain continuous for the entire duration of your legal status. A lapse in coverage while inside Ukraine is a violation of Article 7, regardless of how you entered.

Insurance for work permit and residency applications

When applying for a Ukrainian work permit or temporary residency permit, insurance requirements differ from the standard border entry requirement:

• Some permit applications require insurance covering the full requested permit duration (up to 1 year)
• The insurer must be licensed to operate in Ukraine
• Coverage of 100,000 UAH minimum is typically required; €30,000 is recommended to exceed minimum thresholds confidently
• The policy must be in an accepted format — our policies meet all standard requirements

For permit applications, start with a 180-day Advanced plan. For coverage beyond 180 days, contact us to discuss options.

Practical options for stays beyond 180 days

The most common approaches for expats needing continuous coverage:

1. Chained tourist policies. Purchase back-to-back 180-day policies with no gap between them. Simple, legal, and fully compliant with Article 7. Total annual cost for Advanced coverage: approximately €580.
2. Employer-arranged group insurance. NGOs, news organisations, international companies, and diplomatic missions operating in Ukraine typically arrange group health insurance for staff. If this applies to you, confirm that the group policy specifically meets Ukrainian Article 7 border requirements — not all corporate group policies do, and you may need a separate border compliance policy alongside employer coverage.
3. Local Ukrainian annual health insurance. Licensed Ukrainian insurers offer annual policies that can be more cost-effective for permanent residents. These require navigating Ukrainian-language processes but may better suit your long-term needs.

If your policy expires while you are inside Ukraine

Renew before expiry — do not let coverage lapse. Our website allows purchases with any future start date. Set the new policy start date to the day your current policy expires to ensure seamless continuity.

If your policy has already lapsed: purchase a new policy immediately starting today, notify any employer or host organisation of the updated document, and ensure the new PDF is accessible on your phone for any upcoming border crossings. Border officers can check insurance at exit points as well as entry.