Recently it became known that Germany will not issue documents for Ukrainian men to travel abroad. Find out how this will affect their status in the country, what human rights activists advise, and what alternatives to obtaining documents exist

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Germany's recent decision regarding male Ukrainian refugees with expired passports has caused a significant stir. The German federal state of Hesse was the first to officially announce that it would not issue German replacement passports to Ukrainian men of military age if their Ukrainian passports have expired. This decision could have serious consequences for many Ukrainian refugees. What are the consequences of the lack of documents, is it possible to travel outside Germany in this case, and what are the alternatives - we will tell you further in the article with reference to DW.

Which German states are accepting Ukrainians in August 2024? For up-to-date information on the camps, follow the link.

Hesse's decision to issue documents to refugees

The German federal state of Hesse was the first in the country to officially announce that it would not issue German passport replacements to Ukrainian men of military age. Hesse's Minister of the Interior Heike Hoffmann said that the general rule that will be applied by the foreign affairs offices in the various communities of Hesse will be that Ukrainian men have the opportunity to travel to Ukraine to obtain a passport and perform military service.

Reaction of officials and the German government's position on Ukrainian men

This approach of Hesse was supported by politicians from both the government and the opposition. Social Democrat MP Joe Weingarten called the decision "reasonable," noting that Ukrainians should fulfill their duties. Thorsten Fry of the opposition CDU/CSU added that "Ukraine needs these men" and that issuing replacement passports in Germany is not necessary.

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In what cases can Ukrainians obtain a German travel document?

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has explained that a replacement passport can only be issued if a citizen of another country is unable to obtain a document in his or her own country if the acceptable conditions are met, including military service.

What are the consequences of an expired passport for refugees in Germany and what are the alternatives?

In a commentary to the publication, the Ministry emphasized that an expired passport does not affect temporary protection under paragraph 24 of the Migration Act, as the protective status is not lost due to an expired passport.

The human rights organization ProAsyl, which defends the rights of refugees, also provided an explanation to DW, noting that an expired passport does not threaten the loss of the right to live, work and travel in Germany if a citizen has already received temporary humanitarian protection. However, they need a valid passport to travel outside Germany.

It is also noted that problems may arise if a person decides to register a marriage in Germany.

Human rights activists advise men who desperately need a document and are not ready to return to Ukraine to obtain a passport to ask the German authorities for a replacement document and, if they refuse, to try to achieve this through legal means.

By the way, Visit Ukraine lawyers are always ready to help citizens with migration issues of any complexity. An individual approach of professionals will help to deal with all the pitfalls in this difficult topic. You can order a specialist consultation by following this link.

We remind you! Ukrainians with temporary protection in Germany can visit Ukraine, however, in order not to lose their benefits, they must comply with the rules regarding the duration of the trip and some other requirements. Read what steps you need to take before leaving to preserve your social benefits and residence status in our previous article.

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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.