New border crossing rules for male media workers: what will change in 2026
24 November 12:35
The government has approved a new procedure for men working in the media, strategic communications, and information sector to travel abroad. Starting January 1, 2026, the State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting (SCTRB) will be responsible for issuing letters of approval instead of the Ministry of Culture.
The relevant changes are envisaged by the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 1509, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Who is affected by the changes
The new rules apply to men aged 23-60 who:
- officially work in the media,
- are engaged in the field of strategic communications,
- involved in the creation of information products,
- perform tasks that require traveling abroad.
What documents should be submitted at the border
To cross the border, you need to provide a package of supporting documents, among which the key one is a letter from the State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting addressed to the State Border Guard Service Administration.
The letter must specify
- the purpose and name of the event in which the media person is participating
- the planned date of departure
- estimated date of return;
- type of vehicle;
- the specific checkpoint through which they plan to cross.
Without this letter, the border guards will not allow the departure.
Who can receive a letter of assistance
The State Committee will issue such letters to employees of organizations that:
- Are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture (based on an application from the Ministry of Culture).
- Are subordinated to the State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting or where the committee owns the corporate rights of the state.
- Belong to the communal property of territorial communities (local media, municipal broadcasting companies, etc.).
Are legal entities or individual entrepreneurs working in the areas of:
- strategic communications
- media and news production,
- creation of information content.
In these cases, the letter is issued upon submission of regional or Kyiv city military administrations.
When the rules will come into force
The new rules will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
Until the end of 2025, the Ministry of Culture will be responsible for issuing letters of support for media professionals, as it is now.
What about artists and the cultural sector?
Nothing is changing for cultural representatives, actors, artists, and creative industry workers:
their letters of support will continue to be the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture.
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