Men abroad have access to passports under new rules: what has changed
1 April 18:42
Ukrainian men living abroad will now be able to obtain passports without presenting military registration documents after the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine changed its policy aimed at simplifying access to consular services in wartime. This was announced on April 1 by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko on his official Telegram channel, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The updated regulation, which came into force at the end of March, abolishes the requirement for men aged 18 to 60 to physically present a military ID when applying for a domestic or foreign passport at Ukrainian consular offices or authorized external branches of the state enterprise Document.
Previously, men of this age group were required to present proof of military registration – usually a call-up notice or military ID card – as part of the application process. The lack of such documents in many cases prevented applicants from extending the validity of expired passports or applying for a new passport while abroad.
According to the new protocol, passport officers abroad will conduct an automatic check through the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Persons Liable for Military Service and Reservists of Ukraine. If the applicant is not found in the system, his or her personal data will be entered into the database, effectively putting him or her on the military register without the need for a personal medical examination or appearance at a military registration and enlistment office.
Ukrainian officials said the reform is necessary to balance national security interests with the practical needs of citizens abroad.
“This measure ensures the continuation of military registration, while eliminating bureaucratic obstacles for Ukrainians outside the country,” a government official said.
The policy change comes amid ongoing efforts to digitize Ukraine’s military and administrative systems, accelerated by a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Ukrainian lawmakers and defense officials have been pushing for more efficient ways to manage conscription, especially for citizens who have lived abroad for a long time or left the country before the current mobilization rules were introduced.
Read also: Passports will be issued to Ukrainians abroad again, but with one condition
In April 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs temporarily suspended the provision of consular services to men of military age, which drew criticism from human rights activists and Ukrainian diaspora organizations. Critics said that these restrictions left thousands of citizens without access to basic services, including renewing their documents and registering the births of their children.
The abandonment of this policy in early 2025 and the introduction of automated military registration now allows Ukrainians abroad to re-establish their legal ties to the state without fear of being excluded from basic services.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has stated that military registration through remote data entry will be equivalent to personal registration. Individuals entered into the military register in this way will have the same legal obligations as those registered in Ukraine, although officials explained that this step does not constitute a mobilization order or restriction on movement.
Further reforms are expected in the coming months, including the full rollout of “Reserve,” a digital platform designed to facilitate military registration and update the status of conscripts, reservists, and volunteers online. The mobile application is being developed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Western partners have praised Ukraine’s use of digital tools in public administration. However, challenges remain in ensuring compliance with legislation and maintaining secure data flows between agencies, especially when integrating records from international jurisdictions.
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