The Western Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on 4 January that departure queues at several crossing points towards Poland—Krakivets, Rava-Ruska and Ustyluh—stretched for hours as families returned from New Year visits. Buses and private cars faced the longest waits, with some routes temporarily restricted to relieve congestion. Authorities expect the pressure to ease only after school holidays end around 10 January.
Polish logistics firms warn that prolonged delays could disrupt just-in-time deliveries for automotive plants in Silesia, which rely on components trucked from Lviv. Drivers caught in the bottleneck risk exceeding EU tachograph limits, triggering compulsory rest periods once they finally cross.
![Holiday traffic causes kilometre-long queues at Poland–Ukraine border crossings]()
For individual travellers, the practical advice is to monitor live queue trackers, carry extra provisions and confirm ticket flexibility. Ukrainian citizens returning to Polish workplaces should also ensure that their UKR-status residence documents and insurance remain valid; overstays caused by border delays are not automatically excused.
For additional help navigating evolving entry rules and paperwork checks, travellers can turn to VisaHQ’s streamlined platform (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) for up-to-date visa guidance, secure document processing and real-time status alerts—services that can minimise last-minute surprises at busy border crossings.
The episode highlights a perennial pinch-point in regional mobility: while air and rail connections between the two countries have multiplied since 2022, the bulk of seasonal movement still takes place on the road. Infrastructure upgrades at key crossings are scheduled, but funding gaps mean most projects will not complete before 2027.
Polish logistics firms warn that prolonged delays could disrupt just-in-time deliveries for automotive plants in Silesia, which rely on components trucked from Lviv. Drivers caught in the bottleneck risk exceeding EU tachograph limits, triggering compulsory rest periods once they finally cross.
For individual travellers, the practical advice is to monitor live queue trackers, carry extra provisions and confirm ticket flexibility. Ukrainian citizens returning to Polish workplaces should also ensure that their UKR-status residence documents and insurance remain valid; overstays caused by border delays are not automatically excused.
For additional help navigating evolving entry rules and paperwork checks, travellers can turn to VisaHQ’s streamlined platform (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) for up-to-date visa guidance, secure document processing and real-time status alerts—services that can minimise last-minute surprises at busy border crossings.
The episode highlights a perennial pinch-point in regional mobility: while air and rail connections between the two countries have multiplied since 2022, the bulk of seasonal movement still takes place on the road. Infrastructure upgrades at key crossings are scheduled, but funding gaps mean most projects will not complete before 2027.
