Can I travel with an extended Ukrainian passport?

In order to travel abroad, Ukrainians in most cases need to have a passport with them. There are cases when Ukrainians decide to extend the validity of their passport instead of applying for a new one. Find out if you are allowed to enter the EU with such a passport

Legal counselling on migration issues

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Ukrainians planning to travel abroad need a valid passport. However, the question sometimes arises whether it is possible to use an expired document by extending its validity instead of applying for a new passport. The message published on the Facebook page of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Austria explains in which cases an extended passport is suitable for entry into the Schengen countries and in which cases it is not.

💡 Do you have any questions about applying for a passport?

If you have any questions regarding the preparation or extension of documents, including a passport, please contact professional migration lawyers. Get advice and avoid risks!

Is an extended passport suitable for travelling?

According to the embassy, an extended passport is not a valid document for entering the Schengen area in accordance with the new border crossing rules.

The only exceptions are those third-country nationals (including Ukrainians) who:

✅ Are residents of one of the Schengen countries (i.e. have a valid residence permit).

✅ Hold a long-term visa (e.g., study, work) issued by a Schengen country.

It is important to bear in mind that even for these categories, entry with an extended passport is not guaranteed. It depends on the decision of a particular border guard or airline representative, who may not recognise the extended passport as a full-fledged document.

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Do I need to get a new passport?

The Embassy emphasises that citizens who are residents of Schengen countries or hold a long-term visa are advised to obtain a new passport either directly in Ukraine (before returning to the country of their residence) or at the consular sections of Ukrainian embassies abroad or at authorised consulates of Ukraine.

It is also important to know that if a person residing in Ukraine wants to obtain a Schengen visa for a tourist or any other trip, the embassies of the Schengen member states located in Ukraine will most likely not accept an extended passport. In other words, in the vast majority of cases, a valid ‘biometric’ or unexpired passport without any extension stamps is required to apply for a new visa.

How to extend the validity of a passport

Extension of a passport is a separate consular service, which, according to the Ukrainian diplomatic missions, is provided free of charge and only on a first-come, first-served basis during reception days and hours (usually from 09:00 to 12:30).

According to the current legislation of Ukraine, you can extend your passport:

🔻 no earlier than 2 months before its expiry date;

🔻 the extension is carried out by means of a special mark that the consular officer puts in the existing passport - this extends its validity for another 5 years.

To extend your passport, you must submit the following documents to the diplomatic mission:

1. A valid passport (which you want to extend) and a copy of it.

2. A completed application form (the form can be obtained at the consulate or on the website in advance).

3. if the child's passport is being extended, the child's birth certificate and a copy of it.

We remind you! In 2025, Ukraine will introduce new rules for women travelling abroad and mobilisation under martial law. We told you which women cannot leave the country and which categories are subject to restrictions.

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