Ukrainians can apply for a passport abroad, but not all of them have been able to do so since recently. In most countries, the Centers of the State Enterprise “Document” or diplomatic missions will help with this issue, but some people will be denied a new passport. Here's how, where, and for whom Ukrainians are currently applying for passports in other countries.

Where to go abroad to get a passport?

When abroad, Ukrainians can apply for a passport in two ways:

1. Through a diplomatic mission of Ukraine.

2. Through the Passport Service citizen service centers in Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Prague, Bratislava, Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Valencia, Madrid, and Milan.

Also this week, a new passport service was launched in Barcelona.

Is it possible to get to Poland without a passport: the answer of the State Border Guard Service.

What has changed when obtaining a passport abroad?

The main changes in obtaining a passport by Ukrainians in other countries concerned persons liable for military service aged 18 to 60 and the timeframe for issuing passports. According to the new rules approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, when applying to a passport service abroad, employees of such a service are obliged to check the availability and relevance of military registration documents of all men of military age.

At the same time, even those men who applied for a passport before the new law on mobilization finally came into force (i.e., before July 17) will also be able to obtain a passport only upon presentation of an up-to-date military registration document and after passing a check through the relevant registers.

Earlier we wrote that a military registration document can be generated and printed from Reserve+.

Important! In May 2024, the separate subdivision of the State Enterprise “Document” in Istanbul began the process of terminating its activities in Turkey. Applications for passport documents are no longer accepted. From 25.05.2024 to 30.09.2024 (inclusive), mobile complexes in Istanbul will operate exclusively for the issuance of ready-made documents that were issued before 05.24.2024.

Read here how to apply for a passport for a child and how much it costs in 2024 .

New rules for obtaining a passport abroad for men

Starting from 24.07.2024, separate foreign branches of the State Enterprise “Document” resumed accepting applications for passport documents for men. Thus, the issuance of a passport outside Ukraine is carried out by appointment on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. And all men liable for military service now need to be verified through the Reserve+ application to confirm the availability of valid military registration documents, which is mandatory.

Thus, to receive the relevant service, men must provide a standard package of documents (defined for persons aged 16 and over) and supplement it with a military registration document of the current form.

You can apply for the documents at any of the SE “Document” offices abroad.

Please note! Earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers simplified military registration for Ukrainians abroad. Details are available here.

All other categories of Ukrainian citizens (women, pensioners, children) can submit documents to the foreign offices of the State Enterprise “Document”, which resumed accepting documents in the “live queue” as of May 22, 2024.

When do I need to apply for a passport?

Cases when you need to apply for a passport:

◦ first receipt;

◦ change of surname or name

◦ expiration of the passport;

◦ absence of free pages in the passport;

◦ damage to the passport or its unsuitability for further use;

◦ an error in the information entered in the passport.

Validity period of a passport

A passport is issued to persons under the age of 16 for four years, and to persons over the age of 16 for ten years. However, a citizen of Ukraine can apply for his or her first foreign passport at any age, starting from birth.

Will it be possible to cross the Ukrainian border without a passport in 2024? Find out here.

Earlier, we informed our readers that it is now possible to apply for a passport abroad only by prior electronic appointment: details.

Upon expiration of the passport, it will be considered invalid.

Please note! When entering the EU, Schengen countries, and most countries of the world, a passport must be valid for at least 3 months in advance.

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What documents are required to obtain a passport outside of Ukraine?

The list of documents for obtaining a passport by persons aged 16 and over:

1. A military registration document with an up-to-date VIN code for men aged 19-60;

2. Previous passport to be exchanged (if the passport is not issued for the first time) + copy of the 1st page + copy of the page with consular registration + mark of permanent residence (if any);

3. Internal passport of a citizen of Ukraine in the form of a booklet or ID-card + copy (in case of impossibility to submit an internal passport, a birth certificate is submitted) + copy;

4. A document confirming permanent residence or temporary stay abroad + a copy, as well as a document confirming the registration of the place of residence abroad.

5. Certificate of residence registration in Ukraine + copy;

6. Certificate of assignment of the registration number of the taxpayer's account card (RNOKPP; if available) + copy;

Itshould benoted that in the case of issuing a passport to replace a lost/stolen one, the application must be accompanied by a document (protocol, certificate, etc.) issued by the competent authority of the state in which the passport was lost or stolen, confirming that the owner has applied for its loss or theft. Such a document must be submitted without legalization and translation into Ukrainian.

If a passport is issued in connection with a change in personal data (surname and/or name), a document confirming such a change (marriage certificate, divorce, court decision, etc.) must be attached to the application. In this case, the issuance of a foreign passport for a new surname and/or name must be preceded by the renewal of an internal passport (ID card).

If the applicant has not previously been issued an identity document confirming the citizenship of Ukraine and/or granting the right to leave Ukraine and enter Ukraine, a certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine (unless the parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of birth of such person) is submitted when applying for a passport for traveling abroad for the first time.

List of documents for persons under 16 years of age:

1. The child's previous international passport to be exchanged (if any) + a copy of the 1st page (in case of issuing a passport for the first time, a certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine or other document confirming the citizenship of Ukraine shall be submitted);

2. For persons under 10 years of age, a 10x15 centimeter photo for scanning a digital image of the face must be submitted;

3. Child's ID card (if any) + copy;

4. Birth certificate (a document issued by the competent authorities of a foreign country must be submitted with a legalized translation into Ukrainian, certified by an Apostille stamp of the competent authority of the foreign country in which the translation was made, or by a Ukrainian notary);

4.1 If the birth certificate was issued by the Civil Registry Office of Ukraine (or by the Consulate of Ukraine abroad), and both parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of birth and this is indicated in the certificate, the original birth certificate is sufficient.

4.2 If at least one of the parents was not a citizen of Ukraine at the time of the child's birth, a certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine is required. It is issued by the SMS of Ukraine at the place of residence of one of the parents or by the consulate of Ukraine in the country of birth of the child and is withdrawn when applying for a passport of a citizen of Ukraine for the first time.

4.3. If the birth certificate or document was issued by foreign authorized institutions abroad, legalization and notarized translation into Ukrainian may be required.

4.4. If the birth certificate or document was issued by institutions in countries and regions not recognized by Ukraine (Kosovo, the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, the Autonomous Region of South Ossetia, ORDLO, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the Russian Federation), it may be necessary to apply to the court to establish the fact of birth and obtain Ukrainian citizenship.

5. Document confirming permanent residence or temporary stay abroad (if any) + copy;

6. A document proving the identity of the legal representative and a document confirming the authority of the person as a legal representative, in particular a document issued by an authorized body of a foreign state confirming the authority of the person to represent the interests of the child in obtaining a passport for traveling abroad - in case of submission of documents by a legal representative, except in cases where the legal representative is one of the parents + copy.

7. Individual tax number of the individual taxpayer (if any);

A foreign passport may be issued to a child under 12 years of age without his/her presence, provided that a color photo of 10x15 centimeters is provided for scanning a digital image of the face.

Terms of issuance and receipt of a passport outside Ukraine

Among the positive changes for those who are outside Ukraine and want to obtain a passport are the terms of issuance. From now on, the process of issuing a document is regulated and should not exceed 3 months.

We wrote about other recent changes in the process of issuing passports for Ukrainians in this article.

A foreign document prepared and delivered to the Embassy or Consulate is stored in the institution for up to 1 year, after which, if not received by the applicant, the document will be destroyed.

Remember! A national or foreign passport issued in Ukraine can be issued only in person and only by the authority to which the documents were submitted (such documents are not issued through the Embassy).

To be advised on how to obtain a passport outside Ukraine during martial law, as well as for advice on other migration issues, you can contact Visit Ukrine lawyers. Our specialists are always aware of the latest legislative changes in Ukraine and this always shortens the path to the result.

Just to remind you. Since April 2024, the State Migration Service of Ukraine has announced an increase in the cost of obtaining a foreign passport. We wrote about how much it costs to obtain a passport in Europe and the world in this article.

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

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