Leave Abroad for Military Personnel in Ukraine 2026: Documents and Procedure

Traveling abroad for military personnel during martial law is possible provided that the established procedure is followed. Find out how to submit a report, what documents are required to cross the border, and how to arrange a trip for treatment

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During martial law, a serviceman may travel abroad, but only if a clear procedure is followed and permission from the command is available. The most common reason remains leave to meet with family outside Ukraine. This article provides a step-by-step algorithm for obtaining the right to travel, a list of required documents, and a separate procedure for traveling for treatment.

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How can a serviceman travel abroad in 2026?

To travel abroad during leave, a serviceman must submit a report to the unit commander no less than three weeks before the planned departure, attach supporting documents and wait for an order. Without written permission from the command and appropriate marks on the leave ticket, crossing the border is impossible.

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Who makes the decision on the serviceman's departure abroad?

The decision is made individually by the commander of the military unit - there is no single automatic permission for this category. According to the explanations of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the reason for departure may be: meeting with a family abroad due to military circumstances, or treatment of injuries received during service.

The main mechanism is a report addressed to the commander with a justification for the purpose of the trip. The commander is not obliged to satisfy any request: the decision remains with him.

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How to submit a report on traveling abroad and what to add to it?

The report is submitted no later than three weeks before the planned date of departure. The document must necessarily indicate:

- Dates of departure and return;

- City and address of stay abroad;

- Type of transport and checkpoint through which the border will be crossed.

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Documents confirming the purpose of the trip are attached to the report. In particular, for a family vacation, these are, as a rule: a marriage certificate, a birth certificate of children and a certificate of temporary protection of one of the family members abroad.

The legislation also provides for the possibility of additional days before vacation - for the trip to the place of residence and back.

After reviewing the report and attached documents, the commander issues an order, and a note on permission is entered in the vacation ticket.

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What documents are required for a military personnel to cross the border?

At the border control, the military personnel presents:

- A valid international passport;

- A document certifying the status of a military person (military card, officer's ID card, etc.);

- A vacation ticket indicating the place of residence and permission to leave from an authorized person;

- An extract from the commander's order granting leave and the right to cross the border.

The absence of any of these documents is grounds for refusal to cross the border.

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Traveling abroad for medical treatment: separate procedure

If the reason for traveling abroad is the treatment of combat injuries, the list of documents differs from the standard one. To obtain a permit, you must prepare:

- Passport of a citizen of Ukraine (foreign or domestic);

- Conclusion on the need for referral for treatment abroad;

- Letter from the Ministry of Health on the list of persons agreed with the foreign party who can be accepted for treatment by healthcare institutions of other states.

This option is a separate legal basis for travel and does not require the presence of relatives abroad.

Traveling abroad during martial law remains possible for military personnel, but requires advance preparation and compliance with the established procedure. The key point is that the report is submitted no less than three weeks in advance, and without an order from the commander and appropriate notes in the leave ticket, the border cannot be crossed. Traveling for medical treatment is issued separately and requires medical documents and a letter from the Ministry of Health.

If you have managed to arrange a vacation and are planning to travel by your own car, take care of the mandatory insurance document in advance.

The Green Card is an international civil liability policy, without which crossing the border by car is impossible. It is valid in 42 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa and confirms your insurance coverage in any country participating in the system. The guarantor of payments under the policies of Ukrainian insurers is the MTIBU.

Don't put it off until the last moment, apply for a Green Card online on the Visit Ukraine website so that the document is ready before departure.

Reminder! Visit Ukraine has launched a special program to support defenders and their families - discounts on Carpathian tours and other portal services. Travelers can climb the two-thousanders of Chornogora, rafting on Cheremosh, horseback riding and hikes to the picturesque Gorgan waterfalls. Read here about Visit Ukraine tours with discounts for the military and the conditions for obtaining them.

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Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

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