Ukrainian men aged 18-60 will not be able to obtain Ukrainian passports abroad

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Ukrainian government) has banned the issuance of Ukrainian passports, either internal or for international travel, to Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60. From now on, they will only be able to obtain these documents at a territorial agency or territorial unit of the State Migration Service.

Source: decree by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Quote: "Male Ukrainian citizens aged 18-60 may obtain a[n internal] passport of a citizen of Ukraine or a passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad at a territorial agency or territorial unit of the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

Such passports may not be sent to a separate unit or foreign diplomatic mission of Ukraine to be issued."

Details: These requirements do not, however, apply to Ukrainian men aged 18-60 who have the right to cross the border during martial law. 

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry noted that the state-owned passport service Document, which produces documents for Ukrainians, "is not part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs".

The ministry stressed that the Cabinet of Ministers' decree concerns changes to the issuance of passports issued by the State Migration Service of Ukraine further to applications received by the state-owned passport service Document, which is not part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the diplomatic or consular service. It is a separate state-owned company that is part of the management of the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

However, the consular service provided by the Foreign Ministry will remain unchanged.

Consular services are provided to Ukrainian citizens at embassies, consulates general and consulates of Ukraine.

Background:

• On 11 April, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) adopted the law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Certain Issues of Military Service, Mobilisation and Military Registration in second reading, which was signed by the president and published. 
• On 23 April, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed reports that consular services were being suspended for Ukrainian men who are liable for military service. 
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later stated that after the mobilisation law enters into force on 18 May 2024, "the process of accepting and reviewing applications for consular actions will continue with account of the new requirements arising from provisions of the law".

This article has been updated since publication.

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