Ukraine
Location: Eastern Europe
Broadcast Regulators
Visas & Permits
Visa & Work Permits
Ukraine is not a Schengen area member state.
Visiting crews travelling on most Western passports can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days.
Work permits aren’t required to film in Ukraine.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry who may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
With enough money and lead time, virtually any location is possible.
Small shoots that don’t require exclusive use of public property don’t require permits. This includes shooting from a tripod.
More complicated shoots, such as those that need to control street traffic, metro stations or restricted zones, require at least a week to permit.
For productions that want to preserve several location options, since permits are often free, it’s common to reserve multiple locations until close to the shoot date.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Ukraine is an ATA carnet country.
When to Film
When to Film
Ukraine has a four season climate.
Summers run from May to September and are hot and dry. Winters run from November to March, and are bitterly cold and snow covered. The southern coast has more of a Mediterranean climate.
In Ukraine, Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the largest religion, so those holidays are observed.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Ukraine.
Costs & VAT
Ukraine is one of the most cost competitive film production centres in Europe, and is worth heading to for studio builds and locations that double as Russian scenery.
The standard VAT rate in Ukraine at the time of writing is set at 20%.
Funding & Tax Incentives
Funding
This interactive tool outlines the main EU-related support opportunities for audiovisual and news media sectors. It also covers funding streams beyond the sectoral Creative Europe Programme.
It is the first practical guide, for operators from the different sectors in the media value chain, on where to find EU support for their activities and needs.
Ukrainian State Film Agency (USFA)
Incentives
There is a 20% cash rebate for foreign producers, with an additional 5% rebate for projects that satisfy additional criteria (such as being based on Ukrainian literary IP).
Incoming producers should apply to the Ukrainian State Film Agency for a rebate request.