Departure from Ukraine by men permanently residing abroad: 2025 rules

The rules of departure for men with Ukrainian citizenship who permanently reside abroad have undergone drastic changes. Even having a permanent residence permit no longer guarantees the right to cross the border. Find out more about the current restrictions and requirements in 2025

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With the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, travel restrictions were imposed on men aged 18 to 60, but there were previously some exceptions for people permanently residing abroad. Until 2024, they were able to cross the border with the relevant documents and passport stamps. However, as of 1 June 2024, the situation has changed, and now even those who have a permanent residence abroad (permanent residence) cannot leave Ukraine.

What changes have taken place and what rules apply in 2025 are described below.

Could men with permanent residence leave Ukraine earlier?

Until 1 June 2024, men with permanent residence were able to leave Ukraine provided that they:

- They had a stamp in their passport about permanent residence in another country or a certificate of consular registration.

- Not registered for military service in Ukraine (before leaving, they were deregistered from military service in the MCC).

- Officially registered their departure for permanent residence.

If a person had only a residence permit in another country but did not go through all the necessary procedures for leaving Ukraine, he or she could not leave.

Why can men with permanent residence no longer leave from 1 June 2024?

Under the new rules, the Ukrainian government has completely cancelled the exception for men with permanent residence abroad. Now, the presence of relevant marks in the passport about permanent residence outside Ukraine is no longer a reason to leave. Similarly, consular registration with Ukrainian diplomatic missions does not provide any advantages when crossing the border.

In addition, Ukrainian law does not recognise dual citizenship, so even those who hold a passport of another country are still considered Ukrainian citizens with the corresponding responsibilities.

A particularly important aspect of the changes is that men who had previously been removed from military registration due to moving abroad for permanent residence are now required to personally report to a territorial recruitment centre and re-register. In fact, this means that after fulfilling this requirement, they will no longer be able to leave the territory of Ukraine.

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Can men permanently residing abroad leave Ukraine in 2025?

As of 2025, leaving Ukraine for men aged 18 to 60 is subject to new strict restrictions.

Basic rules in force:

- It doesn't matter whether a person has permanent residence or consular registration - departure is prohibited.

- Even if a man has a passport of another state, he is considered exclusively as a citizen of Ukraine.

- If a man has previously been removed from the military register due to leaving for permanent residence, he must register again with the MCC.

- After fulfilling this requirement, the person will not be able to leave the territory of Ukraine.

Thus, even those who previously lived abroad and had no military obligations are now subject to the general rules of mobilisation. This means that any trip to Ukraine for such persons will involve the inability to cross the border to leave.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to understand the issues of leaving Ukraine or changes in migration legislation, you should contact a specialist. Migration lawyers of Visit Ukraine will help you to understand in detail the current rules of border crossing, provide comprehensive advice on paperwork and explain what legal options may be available in your case.

Do not put off the question for later - book a consultation now!

Just to remind you! The law on mobilisation in Ukraine provides for certain peculiarities in the rules for men crossing the border. Read here to find out which men have the right to travel abroad in 2025 and what documents they need to have.

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