Which man doesn't need a deferment before leaving the country?

After the start of the full-scale war, men's travel abroad was severely restricted. Find out who can cross the state border in 2026 without applying for a deferment from mobilization, what documents are needed, and what border guards pay attention to

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After the start of a full-scale war in Ukraine, the rules for men to travel abroad have become much stricter. During martial law, most male citizens aged 18 to 60 are subject to military service, so their travel abroad is limited.

At the same time, the legislation provides for a number of exceptions. There are categories of men who do not need to apply for a deferment from mobilization to travel abroad, or who can cross the state border on general grounds.

In this article, we will look at who exactly can travel from Ukraine without a deferment in 2026 and what border guards pay attention to.

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Which men do not need a deferment to travel abroad?

Men under 23

One of the categories that has the right to travel without a deferment is young men aged 18 to 22 inclusive. As of 2026, the Ukrainian government has allowed this age group to cross the border without special permits or a deferment from mobilization.

To travel abroad, it is usually necessary to have a foreign passport and a military registration document (military card or electronic document in the application).

It is important to note that this rule is valid only until the age of 23. After that, a man moves to the category of conscripts, for whom general restrictions on leaving apply.

Also read: which women are prohibited from leaving Ukraine in 2026 and whether their mobilization is possible.

Men over 60

Another category for which there are no restrictions on leaving is men who have reached the age of 60. After reaching this age, citizens are not subject to mobilization and are not considered conscripts, so they can cross the border on general grounds, like other citizens of Ukraine.

To travel abroad, in this case, a passport and other standard documents that may be required to enter a particular country are usually sufficient. This category of citizens is not required to present a military registration document when crossing the border.

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Men from 18 to 60 years old, excluded from military registration

A separate important category is citizens officially excluded from military registration. Such men can travel abroad without a deferment if their military registration documents contain a corresponding official note.

Exclusion from military registration can occur for various reasons, including:

- Recognition as unfit for military service due to health;

- Reaching the age limit for registration;

- Other legal grounds stipulated by law.

In such cases, border guards check the military document and pay attention to the correctness of the record of exclusion from registration. In particular, it is important that information about unfitness and exclusion from registration is entered into the “Oberig” register and reflected in the Military registration document.

If the mark is drawn up in accordance with the requirements, the man can cross the state border.

Special cases for men aged 23 to 60

According to the Rules for Crossing the State Border No. 57, men aged 23 to 60 who are subject to military service may travel abroad on certain grounds, even without a document on deferment from mobilization, if they have:

- a person with a disability;

- accompanying a wife with a disability;

- accompanying a mother, father, mother-in-law or father-in-law with a disability;

- accompanying a person with a disability of groups I–II;

- accompanying a person in need of constant care;

- accompanying a child with a disability under 18 (by a parent, guardian, custodian);

- accompanying an adult daughter or son with a disability of groups I–II;

- accompanying incapacitated persons (guardians);

- other special situations (sailors, pilots, cultural figures, etc.).

An important nuance: among the documents required to cross the border in these cases, confirmation of the issued deferral is not indicated. That is, at first glance, these men can leave without a deferral. However, there is a risk that by the time the man actually crosses the border, he may be stopped by the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center and mobilized if he is a conscript and does not have a deferral.

Special rules for people with disabilities continue to operate in Ukraine during mobilization. Read the link to find out what rights people with disabilities and their accompanying persons have.

This article describes who can accompany a person with a disability when crossing the border and the features of departure.

Separate category of persons who do not need a certificate of deferment

According to the amendments to the Rules for Crossing the State Border by Citizens of Ukraine, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated January 27, 1995 No. 57, certain categories do not need to have a certificate of deferment from conscription to travel abroad during mobilization, in particular, this group includes:

- Women and men whose close relatives (husband, wife, son, daughter, father, mother or brother or sister - full or half-brother) died or went missing during the anti-terrorist operation.

- Women and men whose close relatives died or went missing under special circumstances during measures to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter armed aggression of the Russian Federation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as during martial law.

- Family members (husband, wife, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister) of persons who were posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine for civic courage, patriotism and heroic defense of the constitutional principles of democracy during the Revolution of Dignity (November 2013 - February 2014).

For these persons, a certificate of deferment is not required; documents confirming the specified circumstances are sufficient.

Who is restricted from traveling abroad?

Despite the existence of exceptions, restrictions remain in force for most men.

Most often, traveling abroad is prohibited for citizens:

- aged from 23 to 60;

- who are on military registration;

- do not have legal grounds for crossing the border.

In such cases, border guards may refuse to travel, even if the person has a foreign passport or other documents. Therefore, before planning a trip, it is important to check your military registration status and make sure that you have legal grounds for departure.

The situation with men traveling abroad during martial law remains complicated, as most citizens aged 18 to 60 are considered military conscripts. At the same time, the legislation provides for a number of exceptions: young men under 23, men over 60, persons excluded from military registration, as well as certain categories of persons accompanying people with disabilities or who are family members of fallen heroes.

To avoid the risks of refusal at the border or misunderstandings with the territorial recruitment and social support center, it is important to check your status in advance, the availability of the necessary documents and the legal grounds for departure.

If you have any doubts or are planning to travel abroad in 2026, consulting an experienced migration lawyer will help you understand your rights and prepare all the documents correctly. Our specialists will help you check whether you need a deferral, what documents you should have, and will also advise on legal ways to leave without the risk of violating the rules. Contact our lawyers and crossing the border will become safe and legal.

Let us remind you! New rules for reserving workers from mobilization come into force in Ukraine from February 2026. We have already told you what the minimum salary for reserving is, how the procedures will be expedited, and what risks should be considered.

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