An Australian citizen travelling on an ordinary Australian passport does not currently need a visa for a short tourist visit or transit through Ukraine. You can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The exemption took effect on 1 August 2020, so older accounts describing visa applications are outdated. See [Ukraine’s presidential decree](https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/289/2020) and [Australia’s current travel advice](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/ukraine).

| Question | Answer for your trip |
|---|---|
| Can I get a visa on arrival? | You do not need one. You can enter under the visa exemption. |
| Must I apply in Australia or Romania? | Neither. No visa application is needed for this short visit. |
| How much does it cost? | There is no visa fee. |
| Single or multiple entry? | You can leave and re-enter as long as your total stay stays within 90 days in any 180-day period. Leaving does not reset the allowance. |
| Do I need an invitation? | You do not need an invitation for a visa application, since you do not need to apply. |
| Must I submit an itinerary? | You do not need to submit an itinerary for a visa. Border officers can still ask about your purpose, accommodation, onward plans and means of support. |
| Should I obtain a transit visa instead? | No. The exemption covers both transit and short visits, so uncertain hitch-hiking times do not require you to choose between a transit visa and a tourist visa. |

[Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry](https://mfa.gov.ua/en/consular-affairs/entry-and-stay-foreigners-ukraine/entry-regime-ukraine-foreign-citizens) confirms the exemption and the length of stay. The [UK government’s entry guidance](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine/entry-requirements) explains the general border requirements, including evidence of sufficient funds.

As for your bounty question, if you needed a visa for another purpose, you could apply at a Ukrainian embassy or consulate abroad. Ukraine does not require everyone to apply in their country of citizenship. Its Foreign Ministry does warn, however, that an embassy in a third country may require proof of temporary or permanent residence. Being an Australian tourist in Romania therefore does not guarantee that the embassy would accept your application. I could not verify another visa-issuing location outside Bucharest or a Romanian exception for visiting tourists. See the [official application guidance](https://mfa.gov.ua/en/consular-affairs/entry-and-stay-foreigners-ukraine/visa-information).

You also need to confirm the Ukraine-Georgia sailing directly with the ferry operator before relying on it; the visa rules do not tell you whether the ferry is running. Australia’s current advice is “Do not travel” to Ukraine because of the ongoing war. See [Smartraveller](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/ukraine).