The rules for crossing the border with underage children have changed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Find out how to leave Ukraine with a child in 2024 and what documents you need to have

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The martial law regime introduced in Ukraine has simplified the rules for children traveling abroad. In particular, in 2024, minors can cross the border with one parent without the other's notarized consent. However, other permits may be required for travel. Here's what documents you need to have and when you need them to cross the border with children

Read here how to get a passport for a child and how much it costs in 2024 .

What documents are needed to cross the border with a child in 2024

Children travel abroad on the basis of the child's passport (if available) or birth certificate.

Also, citizens of Ukraine, including children who have reached the age of 14, can travel to Turkey and Georgia using a passport of a citizen of Ukraine containing a contactless electronic medium (ID card).

Rules for men raising one or more children on their own: list of documents for crossing the border.

Permission for a child to travel abroad - when is it needed?

Is a child's travel permit required in 2024? As noted on the SBGS portal, for the period of introduction of the martial law regime in Ukraine, the provisions of paragraph 13 of clause 2-3 of the Rules apply, according to which:

Children under the age of 16, accompanied by one of their parents, grandparents, adult brother, sister, stepmother, stepfather or other persons authorized by one of the parents in a written statement certified by the guardianship and custody authority, may leave Ukraine, is carried out without the notarized consent of the other parent and in the presence of a passport of a citizen of Ukraine or a child's birth certificate (in the absence of a passport of a citizen of Ukraine)/documents containing information about the person on the basis of which the State Border Guard Service will allow crossing the state border.

Do I need a parent's permission for my child to travel abroad in 2024?

Do I need a power of attorney for mychild when crossing the border? Currently, a power of attorney from the other parent is not required for a child without one of the parents to travel abroad. That is, if a child travels abroad with one of the parents or guardians under martial law, which has been in effect in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, to this day, the notarized consent of the other parent is not required. At the border, it is enough to present the child's original birth certificate.

Departure of men with many children from Ukraine in 2024: answers to questions.

List of documents for obtaining a notarized consent for a minor to cross the border

To obtain a notarized consent, the following documents should be provided to the notary

- original passports of the parents;

- registration numbers of the parents' taxpayer registration cards;

- the child's birth certificate.

The document is drawn up in the form of a statement on which the authenticity of the parents' signatures is notarized. Notarized consent prevents the child from being illegally taken out of Ukraine.

Accompanying persons with disabilities abroad: who is eligible and what documents are required in 2024 - read here.

Is it possible to prohibit a child from crossing the Ukrainian border?

A parent may prohibit a child from leaving Ukraine during martial law. In this case, the question of whether a child needs a permit to travel abroad during the war may be addressed from a different angle.

However, it is not possible to prohibit a minor from crossing the border just by words. To do this, you need to apply in writing to the Administration of the State Border Guard Service and attach a notarized form of disagreement with the child's departure.

If there are reasonable grounds that the child's travel abroad may harm him or her, the authorized judicial authorities may issue an order to the State Border Guard Service to prohibit the travel of certain persons.

In other words, if the State Border Guard Service receives an order to ban a certain person (child) from leaving Ukraine, the data on that person is entered into the relevant databases. If a person who is prohibited from crossing the border tries to do so, the State Border Guard Service may take measures provided for by law and not let the person (child) go abroad.

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What to do if the parent does not give permission for the child to travel abroad

To reiterate: during the period of martial law in Ukraine, a child under the age of 16 may travel abroad with the consent of the parent with whom he or she is crossing the border. Traveling abroad with one of the parents does not contradict the current legislation of Ukraine.

The same rules apply to cases when a child leaves Ukraine with a third party, and the child may travel abroad with the consent of only one of the parents.

Please note! Before the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, crossing the border with a child was possible only with the consent of both parents. The consent was notarized and the child was not allowed to leave the country without it.

And if, for example, the father did not give permission for the child to travel abroad, the mother was forced to resolve this issue personally with the child's father, or to go to court to obtain permission for the child to leave without the consent of the other parent. The latter option has always taken a long time.

Today, taking a child abroad without the parent's consent is a common practice.

Is it possible to cross the Ukrainian border without a foreign passport in 2024? Find out here.

Traveling abroad without parents

Pursuant to Article 313 of the Civil Code of Ukraine, a person who has reached the age of 16 has the right to travel freely outside Ukraine on his or her own. That is, after reaching this age, a child does not need any permits or accompaniment to leave.

Thus, the answer to the frequently asked question of whether it is possible to travel abroad at the age of 16 during the war will lie in this vein, according to the current legislation of Ukraine, which allows it.

In itself, traveling abroad after the age of 16 without parents during the war does not require the preparation of a large package of documents. However, when planning your trip, do not forget to take care of a health insurance policy, including for children and other family members, which will protect you from unforeseen expenses abroad and ensure the provision of high-quality medical care, which is especially important when traveling with young travelers.

Traveling abroad accompanied by a parent or other authorized persons

The problem of traveling arises when a child is under 16 years of age, as he or she may leave Ukraine only with the consent of parents (adoptive parents), guardians and accompanied by them or other authorized persons, except as provided by law.

During martial law, a statement of authorized persons certified by the guardianship and custody authority is a mandatory requirement of the Border Guard Service. At the same time, children under the age of 16 accompanied by one of their parents, grandparents, adult brother or sister, stepmother, stepfather or other persons authorized by one of the parents may travel abroad without the notarized permission of the other parent. Therefore, for example, a child may travel abroad with his or her grandmother based on these requirements. In this case, it is enough to present a passport of a citizen of Ukraine or a birth certificate (if there is no passport), or other identity documents, on the basis of which the State Border Guard Service will grant permission to cross the border.

Traveling abroad by orphans: what do you need to know?

In order for orphans or children deprived of parental care to cross the border, their legal status must be taken into account. Namely:

1. Children in health care or educational institutions may travel abroad with the notarized consent of the head of the institution and accompanied by a person authorized by him/her.

2. Children in foster families cross the border with the original or a notarized copy of the foster care agreement and accompanied by the foster parents or one of them.

3. Children from family-type children's homes can leave on the basis of an agreement on the organization of the family-type children's home and accompanied by foster parents.

4. Children under guardianship or custody established by the guardianship authorities leave with the original or a notarized copy of the decision on guardianship and accompanied by the guardian.

5. Children under court-ordered guardianship cross the border on the basis of a court decision or a notarized copy thereof and accompanied by a guardian or custodian.

6. Children placed in foster care leave on the basis of a foster care agreement certified by the local authorities, accompanied by a foster caregiver.

7. If one of the parents is a foster parent or caregiver, departure is carried out with the notarized consent of the other parent, if he or she is not present at the border.

Can I travel abroad at the age of 17 during the war?

A person who is 17 years old can cross the border independently without parental permission, as the Civil Code of Ukraine provides for the right to travel freely outside the country from the age of 16.

As for the process of employment abroad from the age of 17, the laws of the country where the work is planned should be followed, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with its labor legislation.

Traveling abroad by men raising children on their own

It is known that during martial law, men of military age cannot travel abroad, but there are exceptions that apply to men who are raising a child under 18 years of age on their own. Such men have the right to cross the state border.

To do so, they must provide the border service with the child's birth certificate and confirmation that the man is the sole caregiver.

Such confirmations may include:

- A death certificate of the mother;

- A court decision to deprive the mother of parental rights;

- A court decision declaring the mother missing;

- A court decision declaring the mother dead.

Please note! In some cases, the court may decide to take the child from the mother without depriving her of parental rights.

Remember! Therules for crossing the border by citizens of Ukraine during martial law, including children, children with disabilities, sick, orphans or those deprived of parental care, are established by paragraphs 21-25 of the Rules for Crossing the Border, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 57 of January 27, 1995 (as amended).

Ukrainian parents are very caring, and they are accustomed to visiting doctors at the first signs of a cold in their children. Therefore, when traveling abroad with a child, the issues of health and medical services in a particular country become particularly acute. This is a crucial part of planning a trip abroad and Visit Ukraine offers to cover this issue with health insurance. Thus, you get access to high-quality European medical care, anytime and anywhere. Our policy covers a wide range of medical services, including medical consultations, hospitalization, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Protect yourself and your children from unexpected events right now. Choose a policy on our website and receive an insurance document to your email in just a few minutes.

Just a reminder! The European Union has hosted more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Despite the large number of IDPs, EU countries continue to accept citizens in need. Read more about which countries still provide temporary residence on their territory and what conditions they offer in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can get legal advice on migration law. Our lawyers will answer all your questions and, if necessary, help you collect, submit and receive the documents you need. You can order a specialist consultation or full legal support by following this link.