A man who is raising one or more minor children on his own has the right to leave Ukraine during martial law, but only if he confirms his status with the relevant documents. Find out what rules apply in 2024 and what you need to cross the border

Legal assistance on migration issues

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During martial law, men of conscription age (18-60 years old) cannot travel abroad, but there are exceptions in the legislation. In particular, paragraph five of Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine "On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization" defines such a category as women and men who are raising a child (children) under the age of 18 on their own. What is required to cross the border for this category of persons is described below.

The rules for leaving Ukraine for men with many children, as well as answers to the most frequently asked questions about the border crossing process, are described in detail in this article.

What documents are required to leave Ukraine?

According to the current legislation, men who are raising at least one child under the age of 18 on their own may cross the Ukrainian border. However, in order to leave the country freely, a person must provide the border service with a package of documents: a birth certificate of the child(ren) and documentary evidence that the child is being raised by one of the parents (namely, a man). Such confirmation may include:

– death certificate of the child's mother;

– a court decision to deprive the mother of parental rights;

– a court decision declaring the mother missing;

– a court decision declaring the mother dead.

In some cases, a court decision may also establish the fact that the child was taken away from the mother without depriving her of parental rights.

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Please note! If a man remarries, he is no longer considered a person who is raising a child under the age of 18 on his own.

If you need the help of a qualified specialist in migration issues, please contact Visit Ukraine lawyers. Our lawyers will provide answers to your questions, help you with solving urgent problems, collecting and submitting the necessary documents, and, if necessary, appealing against decisions.

To order a legal consultation or full legal support, please follow the link.

We remind you! The rules for crossing the border for men have not changed, but border checkpoints have begun to require additional confirmation from those who have the right to leave. Read what categories of men can freely leave Ukraine and what documents they need to have in our previous article.