Men who have not reached the age of conscription or have been removed from the military register, as well as women and children, can cross the border of Ukraine in 2024. However, from May 2024, specific restrictions on crossing the border began to apply. Learn more about who can leave Ukraine in 2024

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Ukrainians actively travel abroad to work, study, visit relatives or go on holiday. However, martial law has certain peculiarities and restrictions on border crossings.

Since the announcement of martial law and general mobilisation, certain categories of citizens have been unable to travel outside Ukraine. According to the Government's decree, children, women and the elderly are allowed to cross the state border. Under the terms of martial law, travel abroad is restricted for men of military age. However, some categories of men are eligible to travel abroad in 2024. In this article, we will look at the rules for crossing the state border during martial law.

New system of entry to the European Union

Earlier, we told you that a new system for controlling entry to the EU - ETIAS - will be launched next year. Registration in the system costs $7, but is not mandatory for certain categories of Ukrainians. In particular, this includes people with temporary protection and refugee status.

The system is focused on recognising security risks before a person posing these risks crosses the EU border. ETIAS is expected to reduce the level of illegal migration to European countries.

Registration will take place online and will be quite easy: a person fills out an online questionnaire, provides passport details and some other information, is checked through international systems (ETIAS does this automatically) and receives an entry permit.

European leaders say that the EES (Entry/Exit System) system will soon be launched in the EU. It is designed to register the entries and exits of third-country nationals who are not EU citizens across the Schengen external borders. The system will record border crossings, time spent in the territory of an EU country and provide opportunities for information exchange between countries.

The EES was scheduled to start operating on 10 November, but three European countries have reported that they are not ready to launch the control system.

What is the EES (Entry/Exit System) and what exactly will change for Ukrainians - read the previous article.

What documents are required to travel abroad?

To cross the border in 2024, the following documents are required:

1. Internal passport

2. International passport.

Persons liable for military service also need documents confirming the grounds and possibility of travelling abroad. The list of documents depends on the grounds for travelling, i.e. they will be different for men with many children, disabled persons, those travelling for medical treatment, etc.

A detailed list of documents for different categories of persons liable for military service who wish to cross the state border is available here.

For persons with special documents:

1. Diplomatic passport of Ukraine;

2. Service passport of Ukraine;

3. Seafarer's identity card;

4. Crew member's identity card.

Who can leave Ukraine by profession?

According to the provisions of the new law on mobilisation, representatives of the following professions have the right to cross the state border:

1. Ship crew members travelling to work on seagoing vessels and inland navigation vessels;

2. Aviation personnel travelling on a business trip or for training;

3. Employees of railway transport;

4. Military personnel undergoing military training abroad;

5. Servicemen going on leave (with permission from the military unit);

6. Employees of the diplomatic service who are sent on an official or long-term business trip and their family members;

7. Drivers of vehicles licensed for the international carriage of passengers and goods;

8. Coaches and athletes for participation in official competitions and training camps.

9. Employees of the cultural sector on the basis of a permit from the Ministry of Culture, an official request for travel and an invitation from the event organiser.

Also, people who provide assistance to the Ukrainian army - volunteer drivers transporting humanitarian aid, cargo for the Armed Forces and medical supplies, cultural figures (presenters, artists, showmen) for charity fundraising for the Armed Forces - can travel abroad.

We talked about the rules for crossing the border when entering Ukraine in our previous article.

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Practical tips for those planning to cross the border

Check your passport

Before planning to leave Ukraine, be sure to check your passport. Even with a valid passport, most countries refuse entry if it expires within three to six months of crossing the border.

If you do not have a passport for travelling abroad at all, apply for one at least one month before your planned departure. The application must be submitted in person to the local passport service. The document will be issued within 20 days (excluding delivery) or you can order an urgent document within 7 days (excluding delivery).

Only refugees from areas of active hostilities can cross the border of Ukraine with an internal passport.

Find out how to apply for a passport while travelling outside Ukrainein 2024 on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Who needs a visa to travel abroad?

Ukrainian citizens can travel to 146 countries without a visa. However, if you plan to work or study, a visa is required. You should apply for a visa at the consulate of the country of destination before departure. Get legal advice to find out the visa requirements for the country of your choice, depending on the purpose of your trip.

If you need to apply for a visa to enter Ukraine, we have collected the basic information on this issue in this article.

Obtaining health insurance for travelling abroad

A policy is not always required when crossing the border, but its absence can have unpleasant consequences, as the healthcare system in many countries is based on insurance. Also, medical services for foreigners abroad are usually paid for and very expensive. A health insurance policy will help you avoid unnecessary expenses abroad.

Experienced travellers advise to undergo a medical check-up and visit a dentist before travelling to avoid emergencies abroad.

If you are planning a trip to an exotic country, be sure to check the list of required vaccinations.

You canlearn more about updating military records for men permanently residing abroad here.

Information for those crossing the border by car

Documents you need:

1. A driving licence that meets international standards.

2. Technical passport with information in Cyrillic and Latin alphabets.

3. Identification mark of Ukraine on the car (UA).

4. State number plate on the car.

5. Valid insurance policy ‘Green Card’

‘Green Card is an international insurance policy for motorists. The document is mandatory when travelling abroad for all vehicles registered in Ukraine. Green card is a motor third party liability insurance policy that is valid outside Ukraine. If you have a Green Card, if you get into an accident abroad, you can expect to receive compensation from an insurance agent.

You canlearn more about the benefits of the Green Card and apply for it on the Visit Ukraine portal.

What documents do I need to cross the border with my children?

During the martial law, many formalities for travelling abroad with children were simplified. According to Ukrainian law, children under the age of 16 are allowed to travel abroad only if accompanied by an adult. Depending on the degree of kinship, a certain list of documents is required:

1. One of the parents or guardians: the notarised consent of the other parent is not required, it is enough to have a birth certificate or passport of a citizen of Ukraine for children over 14 years of age;

2. Close relatives: grandparents, stepmother, stepfather, adult brothers and sisters. For children over 14 years of age, you must have a birth certificate or passport of a citizen of Ukraine, as well as documents confirming kinship. A notarised parental consent is not required. However, a written statement from one of the parents, certified by the guardianship and custody authority, is required;

3. Non-legal relatives of the child: a birth certificate or passport of a citizen of Ukraine for children over 14 years of age, as well as relevant documents confirming the identity of the adult, are required. In addition, a written consent of one of the parents certified by the guardianship authority is required to cross the border. A notarised permission for the child to travel abroad is also acceptable. To obtain a notarised consent, you will need the original passports of both parents, their RNOCP, and the child's birth certificate.

For more information on crossing the border with children in 2024, including the necessary documents and updated rules, please follow the link.

Border crossing for persons liable for military service

The new law on mobilisation did not change the rules for crossing the border for men of military age, which are regulated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU) Resolution No. 57. Men who are not subject to conscription or have a deferment have the right to travel abroad. This right must be proved with relevant documents.

The following categories of men of military age have the right to travel abroad:

1. men whose close relatives (wife, son, daughter, father, mother, siblings, etc.) were killed or went missing during the ATO or in the course of deterring armed aggression against Ukraine during martial law;

2. Men removed from military registration for health reasons;

3. Men with disabilities of groups I, II, III;

4. Men accompanying a person with a disability of group I or II or a sick relative;

5. Men with many children who support three or more minor children. Arrears of alimony for more than three months deprive the right to deferral and border crossing;

6. Men raising children on their own;

7. Men accompanying sick children;

8. Male drivers travelling on the ‘Shlyakh’ system.

9. Men (military personnel) travelling for treatment, rehabilitation, training or official leave;

10. Men in certain professions, which we have listed above in the article.

Earlier, we reported that the new law on mobilisation, among other things, provides for some changes for Ukrainian women. Find out in more detail who the new rules apply to, whether there are any restrictions on crossing the border, and what else you need to know about the innovations.

Not allowed to travel abroad: what to do?

A citizen of Ukraine who has the right to travel in accordance with the current legislation must have original documents and, if necessary, certificates of health or marital status. Women who are not subject to mobilisation and men under 18 and over 60 years of age can travel abroad with a passport of a citizen of Ukraine only. Other men need to have the entire package of documents: a father with many children needs birth certificates of his children and a certificate that he is their dependent, or documents certifying the status of a disabled person.

If you are refused permission to leave by the SBGSU when crossing the border, you should demand a written refusal so that you can appeal against it later. Also, record the refusal by leaving a request on the SBGS hotline. Indicate the passport control point, position, surname and name of the officer who refused to allow you to leave. Describe in detail the circumstances of the situation, what documents were presented to the border control and the reason for the refusal.

You can appeal against illegal actions in court by filing a lawsuit in an administrative court against an unlawful refusal to travel abroad. In the claim, you should argue your right to travel and provide evidence of the illegality of the refusal. The court will review all the documents you provide and determine whether the border guard's actions were unlawful. With the appropriate court decision, you will be able to try to cross the border again.

We talkedabout the peculiarities of crossing the border for 17-year-olds in our previous article.

We wish you a safe journey!

Just a reminder. Persons planning to cross the border of Ukraine need to know the items prohibited for transportation. This will help to avoid problems. You can find out what items can and cannot be transported across the state border here.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

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