Gabi895

Does anyone have experience driving into the Ukraine from Hungary? We have been told that the border crossing can be problematic- specifically, that the border guards demand bribes and that passengers sometimes have to wait several hours to enter into the Ukraine.

thursdaysd

I was driven into Ukraine from Romania - although not Hungary, perhaps may be relevant. The border guards were very thorough - even checking that the car's VIN matched its documentation. I saw no bribes (the driver and other passenger were both Romanians) and we didn't have a long wait - but there were few other vehicles crossing.

rs899

Just because you didn't see any bribes doesn't mean there weren't any. Just kidding, but the country runs on bribes (BLAT is the word in Russian). I never crossed the border going in that direction, but I witnessed many official transactions performed by my Ukrainian wife in country and all were accompanied by a gift. When I left the country the first time, the immigration or customs guy was looking for a bribe to let me take 10 tins of sardines (sprats) OUT. I just played stupid and he let me go.

rs899

Oh and I recall the second or third time we flew into Kiev or Odessa and I didn't have some sort of stamp or invitation ( I did have a visa) and my wife who was behind me sort of misplaced a $50 bill in her passport....

Dukey

An extra pair of GENUINE (although these days who knows what Asian country they are actually made in?) Levis works wonders.

thursdaysd

So when were you last in Ukraine, rs899 & (especially) Dukey?

rs899

I was there in 1997, 1999 and 2006. I tend to think corruption was on the wane when the idealism of the Orange Revolution was in vogue, but I sense that it going more towards business as usual now that Yanukovich in in control.

Quote from Transparency International
"....fewer than 1 in 10 respondents in Argentina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,Hungary, Lithuania and Ukraine considered government anti-corruption efforts to be effective. "

tower

In '08 crossed from Belarus into Ukraine...not a problem..didn't need visa for Ukraine, but did for Belarus..nothing "bribeable" as far as we could tell at either border. I have traveled all of the former Soviet Bloc countries, never was asked for bribe money or gifts of any kind. One time, trying to drive from Bulgaria into Romania in the early 80's, the Romanian border guards took our passports and went off to a little shack. Not another soul at the border...fifteen minutes went by, and I got out of the car and walked over to the shack...they were playing ping-pong
..figured this was bribe time, but no..they soon finished their game and calmly walked back with passports, stamped and in hand. The closest I ever came to thinking a bribe was necessary..other than that...never.

stu t.

thursdaysd

I had to pay a bribe crossing into Transnistria from Ukraine on the way to Moldova ('06), but that was a well-documented affair (several posts on thorntree). Since the country isn't recognized and doesn't have embassies, I looked on it as an informal visa. No problems elsewhere in Eastern Europe.