Ukraine Opens New Border Crossing with Romania

18.09.2026, 15:10 visitukraine.today

Ukraine has opened the 24-hour Bila Tserkva–Sighetu Marmației border crossing for passenger vehicles and transport weighing up to 3.5 tonnes

The new border crossing is expected to improve road connections between Ukraine and Romania and provide an additional route across the Ukrainian-Romanian border.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to open the international road border crossing Bila Tserkva–Sighetu Marmației in Zakarpattia Oblast. It is located between the Ukrainian settlement of Bila Tserkva and the Romanian city of Sighetu Marmației.

The government adopted the decision on 17 September 2026. The new checkpoint will operate using temporary infrastructure while a permanent complex and access roads to the road bridge are being built.

The crossing is being established as an international road route. Passenger vehicles, including cars and other vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, will be able to cross the border there.

Read also: What should you do if you are at the border during a drone attack? Ukraine’s Border Guard Service explains

The new checkpoint will operate on a permanent basis and remain open around the clock. This means that travellers will be able to cross the Ukrainian-Romanian border at any time of day rather than only during designated hours.

Units of the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service of Ukraine will work at the crossing. They will carry out passport, customs and other types of control required by law.

At the first stage, the checkpoint will operate within the construction site. The temporary infrastructure will make it possible to start processing vehicles before the international crossing complex is fully completed.

Drivers should bear in mind that traffic arrangements, available lanes, capacity and possible restrictions may change depending on how the Ukrainian and Romanian authorities organise the crossing.

The crossing will process passenger vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. This primarily includes cars, minibuses and other passenger vehicles in the relevant category.

The new route is not intended for lorries exceeding the established weight limit. Freight-vehicle drivers should continue using border crossings authorised for their type of transport.

Before travelling, check the current border-crossing rules, the documents required for the driver and vehicle, and the latest information about the checkpoint. Once the temporary infrastructure is operational, traffic procedures may differ from those at other crossings.

Read also: How do border checkpoints operate during an air raid?

The opening of the new crossing creates an additional road route between Ukraine and Romania. This may be especially important during periods of seasonal pressure, when queues form at the main border crossings.

The new checkpoint could help distribute passenger-car traffic between several routes, reduce pressure on existing crossings, simplify travel between Zakarpattia and northern Romania, improve access to Sighetu Marmației and create another route for Ukrainians travelling to EU countries.

However, the opening of a new crossing does not mean that queues at other routes will disappear immediately. The number of vehicles processed, the speed of inspections and the checkpoint’s capacity will depend on how the crossing operates in practice.

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The idea of creating the Bila Tserkva–Sighetu Marmației border crossing was announced at the beginning of 2024. The project includes not only passport and customs-control areas but also access roads to a new road bridge across the Tysa River.

At the end of July 2026, the government said that construction had reached its final stage. It also announced plans to launch traffic before the permanent facilities were completed by using temporary infrastructure.

This approach means that authorities do not have to wait until the entire complex is finished. Passenger traffic can begin earlier, while the permanent facilities are constructed in parallel.

To cross the border, the driver must have a valid travel document, a driving licence for the relevant vehicle category and the vehicle registration certificate. If the car belongs to another person, you should also carry a document confirming your right to use it outside Ukraine.

Check that the vehicle has standard state licence plates and the UA identification sign. You should also find out in advance about Romania’s requirements concerning the vehicle’s technical condition, mandatory equipment, tyres and documents.

A valid Green Card is required for vehicles registered in Ukraine. This international civil-liability insurance certificate confirms that the car has compulsory motor insurance abroad. Without it, a vehicle cannot leave Ukraine for countries covered by the Green Card system.

For Ukrainians travelling to Romania in their own car, the Green Card remains an essential document. It is compulsory third-party liability insurance, without which leaving Ukraine by car is impossible. You can arrange the policy online through Visit Ukraine in five minutes and receive the document by email immediately after payment.

Buy your Green Card online, cross the border with confidence and check your documents before setting off.

Before departure, check the operating status of the new crossing and the current entry rules for Romania. Even if the checkpoint is open 24 hours a day, this does not mean that all procedures will be completed equally quickly at every hour.

Pay attention to the validity of your passport, insurance and vehicle documents. If you are travelling in someone else’s car, prepare the certificate for international travel or another document from the owner confirming your right to use the vehicle. Additional documents may be required when travelling with children.

You should also be prepared for queues. Because the crossing will initially use temporary infrastructure, it may operate with limited capacity. Before leaving, check traffic conditions, make sure you have enough fuel and ensure that you have access to mobile communication.

If an air raid alert or another threat is announced while you are travelling towards the border, follow the instructions of border guards, customs officers and local authorities. Do not leave your vehicle in a dangerous area and avoid creating a traffic build-up near the checkpoint.

The new checkpoint may become a convenient option for people travelling from Zakarpattia to Romania or further to other EU countries. It is particularly relevant for drivers using their own vehicles, as the crossing will operate around the clock and accept passenger vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.

At the same time, drivers should not set off without checking their documents. Temporary infrastructure means that traffic arrangements may differ from those at fully equipped border crossings. During the first days of operation, technical changes, route clarifications and adjustments to procedures may occur.

Before travelling, check the current status of the checkpoint, prepare the original documents and make sure that the Green Card becomes valid before you reach the border. This will reduce the risk of delays caused by missing paperwork.

Remember! Poland is also strengthening its border with Ukraine because of the threat of drone attacks and changing traffic arrangements to prevent dangerous congestion. Find out which border crossings are affected and what this means for travellers.

Source: European Pravda

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