Without bureaucratic hell: how to get a Ukrainian passport more easily if you are in France

Tired of waiting months for a Ukrainian passport in France? A legal alternative is to apply for a passport through ‘passport tourism.’ Find out how to simplify the passport application process if you live in France

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If you are currently in France, you have probably already encountered a harsh reality: the procedure for obtaining or renewing Ukrainian passports here remains complicated, slow, and often turns into a bureaucratic ordeal with no guarantee of a quick result, forcing people to look for alternative ways.

And there is a working solution. More and more Ukrainians are choosing so-called ‘passport tourism’, where people travel to a neighbouring country with a more efficient system to obtain their documents.

Obtaining a Ukrainian passport in the EU

In the Spanish city of Valencia, there is a fully functioning passport service provided by the Ukrainian state-owned company ‘Document’, which specialises in serving Ukrainian citizens abroad. The office is conveniently located right in the city centre, in the Nuevo Centro shopping centre.

What services are provided there:

- Issuance of ID cards for Ukrainian citizens.

- Issuance of new foreign passports for adults.

- Issuance of foreign passports for children.

- Issuance of ready-made documents that were sent directly from Ukraine.

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Do you need Reserve+ to apply for a passport? And other important details

Many people choose Valencia not only because of the speed of the service, but also because of the application conditions, which save a lot of headaches. Here are some important facts:

1. You do not need the Reserve+ app to apply for documents — the necessary registration takes place automatically during the application process.

2. If your child is under 12 years of age, you do not need to take them with you to Spain. The child's personal presence is not required.

3. You can apply for a domestic ID card and a foreign passport at the same time. In addition, the law officially allows you to have two valid foreign passports at the same time.

Important clarification regarding old documents: Traditional passport books are not renewed abroad (photos are not pasted in). Instead of the old book, you will be issued a modern plastic ID card.

Flying to another country for a passport may seem like a radical measure, but in practice it saves time.

Cheap low-cost airlines fly to Valencia from many cities in France (and other European countries). The city has a convenient electronic queue, allowing you to plan your trip so that you can fly in, quickly submit your documents and return in just one day.

How does it work in practice?

1. Gather the necessary documents.

2. Take your place in the electronic queue in advance or come in person.

3. Submit your documents to the specialists at the office in person.

Reminder! For many Ukrainians, obtaining a foreign passport outside Ukraine has become not just a convenience, but a necessity. However, in 2025, the rules for conscripts changed, and the usual procedures no longer work as before. The new requirements relate to military registration and digital data verification, which raises many questions for applicants abroad. Find out whether it is possible to obtain a foreign passport without ‘Reserve+’ and what nuances are important to consider.

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