The new law on mobilization has changed the rules for crossing the border for men. Find out which categories of men can leave Ukraine without hindrance and what documents they need to have

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The new law on mobilization in Ukraine entered into force on May 18, 2024. He made certain changes to the system of accounting for conscripts, the procedure for passing the military police, as well as the rules for crossing the border.

Which of the men has the right to travel abroad in 2024 and what documents are required for this? We will find out further.

What rules for crossing the border did the Law on Mobilization, which entered into force on May 18, 2024, change?

From May 18, 2024, employees of the State Border Service of Ukraine will check the presence of military registration documents of persons who have the right to leave in accordance with clause 2-6 of the Rules for crossing the state border of Ukraine.

That is, when planning to leave Ukraine, from now on, most categories of men must first clarify their data at the TCC and SP and enter information about receiving a deferment in their military registration document.

For which citizens the presence of military registration documents when crossing the border is mandatory and what are the exceptions, read at the link.

Lawyers also say that according to the new law, the military registration document must have a VIN code. It is necessary to present it at the request of representatives of the TCC, police and border guards. Therefore, conscripts who have the right to travel abroad must come to the TCC and receive a military registration document with a VIN code, which is then read by border guards with special devices and thus gain access to the personal file of the conscript in electronic form.

Which men have the right to travel abroad in 2024 and what is required for this?

The provisions of the law on mobilization do not change the rules for crossing the border for men aged 18 to 60, which are regulated by Resolution No. 57 of the CMU.

Men who are not subject to conscription or have the right to deferment are allowed to leave Ukraine. Of course, if they can prove it with relevant documents.

First of all, men over 60 years of age have the right to leave Ukraine, because in Ukraine the age of conscripts is from 18 to 60 years.

Also, among the citizens of conscription age, a number of persons who have the right to leave have been approved:

1. Men whose close relatives (wife, son, daughter, father, mother, brothers or sisters, etc.) died or went missing during the anti-terrorist operation or when restraining armed aggression against Ukraine during martial law.

List of documents for departure: documents that confirm family ties and the fact of the death or disappearance of close relatives and a certificate of postponement of conscription for military service (corresponding mark in military registration documents), which is issued by the TCC or SP.

2. Men removed from military registration due to health

List of documents for departure: men of the specified category, in addition to a standard package of documents, a certificate from the TCC and a military registration document, must have a certificate of disability or a decision of the medical commission on unfitness for military service. At the same time, men with limited fitness for service cannot leave Ukraine during martial law.

3. Temporarily unfit men

List of documents for departure: certificate of disability or opinion of the military medical commission (MMC) confirming the status of temporary unfitness for military service for a period of up to 6 months.

4. Disabled men of groups I, II, III

List of documents for departure: certificate of form No. 157-1/о, certificate confirming the status of a disabled person, as well as a pension certificate or a document confirming the appointment of social assistance. At the same time, the disability document must be obtained in Ukraine. When the disability group was assigned abroad, the man will not be able to leave Ukraine.

If a man only has a mark from the TCC and SP "removed from military registration" - this is not a reason to cross the border without hindrance. Since it does not confirm the fact of disability or unfitness for military service in the HC due to the state of health. Therefore, you should contact the TCC and SP for relevant documents.

5. Men accompanying a person with a disability of the I or II group or a sick relative

List of documents for departure: a relevant doctor's opinion or a document approved by the medical advisory committee. At the same time, you can cross the border only accompanied by a sick person/person with a disability. If a man tries to cross the border on his own, even if he has all the necessary documents, he will be refused entry. These rules also apply to those who leave Ukraine to care for sick parents, spouses or children.

6. Men with many children who have three or more minor children

List of documents for departure: birth certificates of all children, marriage/divorce certificate, as well as the decision of the guardianship authority or certificate of the father of a large family.

A man who has three or more children can cross the border without children if he has the relevant documents or their notarized copies.

If a man does not live with his children, for example, he has children from different marriages, he must provide evidence that he supports them: a court decision on alimony and a certificate from the executive service confirming the status of alimony payments.

Arrears for payment of alimony for more than three months deprive the right to postponement and crossing the border.

Considering that after May 18, all men must update their personal data in the TCC and SP, therefore this category of citizens also needs to pass the VLC and get the appropriate mark in their document.

Please note! The list of required documents to confirm the right to deferral on the basis of custody of three or more children has been expanded. The new resolution additionally requires an agreement between a man and his former spouse stating that he participates in the maintenance of his minor children. Details are available at the link.

7. Men raising children independently

The list of documents for departure: the child's birth certificate, as well as the mother's death certificate, or a court decision to deprive the mother of parental rights, or a document declaring the mother missing or declaring the mother dead.

8. Men with permanent residence abroad

List of documents for departure: the husband's passport must have a corresponding mark. The presence of visas of foreign countries does not confirm permanent residence in these countries. And therefore, they do not give the right to leave to citizens of Ukraine who are conscripted into the military. Please note: Since June 1, 2024, Ukraine has abolished the “residence abroad” exception, so now this category of men is restricted in their right to cross the border freely.

9. Men (military) going for treatment, rehabilitation or training

List of documents for departure: a referral for treatment abroad and a letter from the Ministry of Health stating that a foreign health care institution accepts him for treatment. If a serviceman goes on military training, the military unit that sends him abroad informs about the package of documents necessary for this.

Read more about studying abroad for men in this article.

10. Male drivers

List of documents for departure: the company where the driver works must have a license for international cargo transportation. And information about such an organization must be entered into the information system of Ukrtransbezpeka.

11. Male volunteers

List of documents for departure: for men engaged in volunteer activities, the "Path" program for departure abroad is provided. At the same time, they can also submit documents on the transportation of goods for the Armed Forces, medical goods or humanitarian aid.

12. Male railway workers and sailors

List of documents for departure: in order to cross the border, a man must work on international flights and submit, along with a standard package of documents: an employment contract, a letter from the shipowner or operator on the intention to conclude a contract.

13. Male athletes and coaches

List of documents for departure: only according to the decision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to include participants in a sports event or competition. Or according to the minister's letter about the participation of these persons in the competition.

14. Men working in the field of culture

List of documents for departure: obtain permission from the Ministry of Culture, have an official request for departure, as well as an invitation from the organizer of the event.

Please note! To cross the border, in addition to the above documents, most categories of persons must provide a military registration document. The list of persons exempt from this obligation is here.

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Departure for students in 2024

On April 2, 2024, Resolution No. 366 On Amending the "Rules for Crossing the State Border by Citizens of Ukraine" was adopted, which allowed male students to leave:

- Whose age is from 18 to 22 years old, therefore they are not subject to conscription for military service during mobilization.

- They study full-time in higher education institutions of Ukraine of state or communal forms of ownership and obtain a bachelor's degree (master's degree in medicine, pharmacy or veterinary field).

- They are participants in educational academic mobility.

- They go to study in foreign educational institutions for 1 semester.

However, it is worth noting that this category of citizens must also update their data in the TCC and have military registration documents with the appropriate markings.

Importantly! It is the border guards at the checkpoint who decide whether or not to let a conscript pass through based on an analysis of all the person's documents.

New form of military ticket

As part of work on changes to the mobilization legislation, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a new form of military accounting document.

From now on, two forms of military tickets are provided:

- Paper version.

- Electronic document – it is formed voluntarily through a separate application of an electronic cabinet, a web portal of electronic public services or in ACTION (in the case of technical implementation). You can check the authenticity of the document using a unique QR code.

Each of these documents will have the same legal force.

Who needs to update military registration data in the TCC and how to do it, read here. Procedure for updating data for conscripts who are abroad at the link.

About new fines for violation of mobilization measures in this article.

We remind you! According to the mobilization law, which will enter into force after May 18, there will be no more people with limited fitness, so many conscripts will have to go through the VLK again.

We talked about the peculiarities of the procedure for registration of disability abroad earlier.

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

To get comprehensive information on the current rules for crossing the state border, use the legal support on our service. Our lawyers will answer all your questions and help you solve your urgent issues.

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