The European Parliament voted for granting Ukraine visa-free regime

The European Parliament supported the European Commission's proposal to grant Ukraine visa-free regime. The corresponding vote was held at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

 521 European Parliament voted for granting Ukraine this opportunity, against  – 75, abstentions – 36. President Petro Poroshenko has congratulated the decision of the European Parliament. After the parliamentary vote "visa-free" for Ukraine still needs to be approved by the EU Council. It is expected that the new rules of Ukrainians will come into force in early summer of 2017.

The vote of the ambassadors of the EU for visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union will be held on April 26. Visa-free regime allows Ukrainians to stay in the Schengen area for 90 days within six months. It should be noted that this does not entitle to work in the EU.

Who and how will be able to get to Europe?

Visa-free will be distributed only to holders of biometric passports. Recall, the main difference of such passports from the usual — the presence of the chip with electronically stored photo, signature and fingerprints of the owner. The European Parliament vote has caused such a stir among Ukrainians that yesterday, after just hour after approval of visa-free, the site of the municipal enterprise "Document" that issues these passports, could not stand the load and "fell". Registration of biometric passports for the month is 957 UAH, and for seven working days — 1210 UAH. However, yesterday afternoon the electronic queue showed that there is no place for the submission of documents until April 20.

But the old passports are not cancelled. For those who have an ordinary passport with a valid Schengen visa, are able to use it. However, according to experts, and here there are nuances. "Visa-free regime will not be able to travel with the passport of the old sample. Also, you can not travel, if the person at the time of obtaining the passport was refused to be fingerprinted (there are such cases). Need to apply for a new passport with chip", — explained the Deputy Director of immigration legal company "Alienorum" Elena Kozak.