Applying for a passport through the State Enterprise “Dokument”: in which countries can Ukrainians receive the service
The issue of documenting Ukrainian citizens who are abroad remains one of the most acute during the full-scale war. Hundreds of thousands of people left Ukraine without a complete set of documents or with passports that have expired long ago. Often, at the time of crossing the border, a person had only an internal passport, a child’s birth certificate or their copies. After the stabilization of life in the host country, a logical question arises: how and where to issue a new foreign passport, if returning to Ukraine is currently impossible.
Consulates as a classic channel for issuing a passport
Considering the scale of departure and the number of applications for document production, Ukraine has gradually adapted its services to work in conditions abroad. Currently, Ukrainians can issue a foreign passport in two ways: at diplomatic institutions of Ukraine or at specialized service centers for citizens of the state enterprise “Dokument”. Each of the options has its limitations, procedure features and territorial specificity.
Embassies and consulates of Ukraine traditionally perform the functions of issuing foreign passports. This option remains the main one for Ukrainians in most countries where there are no Dokument centers. At the consulate, you can apply for a passport, check your data, take a biometric photo and submit your fingerprints. However, appointments are limited and reservations are required. Electronic entry is often the biggest hurdle — registration is open once a week or less, and all slots disappear within minutes of opening.
A separate problem is the burden on the staff. Many consulates are understaffed and the number of applications is constantly increasing. As a result, wait times are often two to four months, and sometimes longer. This creates significant difficulties for people who need a document in a short period of time — in particular, to obtain medical services, obtain a residence permit, cross the border or open a bank account.
Countries where Dokument centers operate: list and addresses
Currently, the services of the passport service of SE Dokument are available in the following countries and cities:
Spain
– metro Madrid, C. Adolfo Bioy Casares, 2
– m. Валенсія, Av. de Pius XII, 2, local 117, Campanar
– m. Barcelona, Av. of the 21st Century, 6, 08840 Viladecans
Italy
– m. Mіlan, Via Eugenio Curiel, 25, Rozzano
Germany
– m. Berlin, Am Treptower Park 14
– metro station Cologne, Händelstraße 25–29
– m. Munich, Heinrich-Wieland-Straße 5
Poland
– m. Krakow, Pawia 5, 31-154 Kraków
– m. Gdansk, Aleja Grunwaldzka, 415
– m. Wrocław, Plac Grunwaldzki 22, 50-363
– m. Warsaw, Al. Jerozolimskie, 179
Slovakia
– м. Bratislava, Mlynské nivy 5A
Czech Republic
– м. Prague, Michelská, 1552/58
Bulgaria
– m. Varna, bul. Vladislav Varnenchik 186, Varna Mall, 9009
Great Britain
The launch of a passport service for Ukrainians in Great Britain is also being prepared in 2025. Details of this project will be made public in the near future through official channels.
How these centers work and what the applicant needs to know
All these offices work in the format of service centers. Here you can issue:
– foreign passport of a citizen of Ukraine;
– ID card (in some centers);
– get advice on documentation.
Reception is conducted by prior appointment, which is carried out through the website of SE Dokument. Centers have a fixed cost of services, which is determined in accordance with current legislation, but it may differ from prices in Ukraine due to logistics and service costs.
The passport is produced in Ukraine. That is, after submitting the documents abroad, the data is sent to Ukraine, where the polygraph factory produces the document and sends it to the foreign service center for issuance. The waiting period is from 30 to 90 days or more, depending on the download.
What is required to issue a passport at the “Document” center abroad
To issue a foreign passport, you need:
– have a valid internal passport or a document confirming identity;
– in case of replacement, provide the old foreign passport;
– for children – birth certificate and documents of parents;
– pay the cost of the service according to the tariffs;
– have an identification code with you (if available);
– be ready to take pictures and take biometric data.
In case of loss of passport or change of data, it is necessary to provide additional documents confirming the identity or a statement of loss. In some cases, the procedure requires additional verification.
What Ukrainians planning to submit documents should consider
The service is paid. Unlike consulates, “Dokument” centers work on the terms of commercial value. The price depends on the urgency, category of the applicant (child/adult), availability of additional services.
The production time is unpredictable. Although 20-30 working days are promised as standard, delays due to congestion or technical circumstances are common.
Not all centers provide all services. For example, not all cities allow you to issue an ID card or make changes to your registration data. Before your visit, you should carefully check the list of available activities on the official website.
Registration is required. All centers work by appointment only – documents are not accepted on the day of the visit without registration.
Inequality of access to passport services
As of 2025, the limited geography of the Dokument centers and the overcrowding of consular offices remain a serious problem. In France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Lithuania, Greece, Croatia and many other countries, citizens can only use the consular channel. This creates inequality in access: some are able to apply within a week, while others have to wait several months or travel to a neighboring country.
In addition, the cost of the service becomes a real barrier. For Ukrainian refugees who live on minimal assistance or try to work without full registration, the sum of 100–150 euros can be overwhelming. In the case of submitting documents by the whole family, the costs increase several times, which forces many to postpone the issue of passport registration indefinitely.
The importance of documentation in the long term
The lack of a valid foreign passport creates numerous difficulties for Ukrainians abroad. Without a document, a person cannot issue a residence permit, does not have full access to medical, educational and banking services, cannot legally cross the border, cannot apply for employment or extension of legal status. In many countries, the document is also required to open a digital ID or obtain a tax number.
In some cases, countries allow the use of an internal passport or certificate of temporary protection. However, these documents are not universal and do not cover all needs. That is why Ukrainian consular offices, specialized services and volunteer organizations emphasize: even in difficult conditions, it is worth finding an opportunity to issue a valid foreign passport.
The expansion of the network of service centers of SE “Dokument” abroad became an important step in solving the problem of access to passport registration for Ukrainian refugees. Although the service remains unavailable in many European countries, the list of cities where it already works is constantly increasing. For a large part of Ukrainians who cannot or do not want to apply to overloaded consulates, this is a real alternative.
An up-to-date list of offices, addresses, working conditions and the possibility of registration — all this is available on the website of SE Dokument. However, even in this format, issuing a passport abroad remains a procedure that requires time, money and strict adherence to instructions. Given the situation in the country, the state is trying to ensure the availability of services, but the capacity is limited and the demand is massive. In such conditions, knowledge about the available options and details of the procedure is the only real advantage that allows you not to lose the opportunity to document yourself in time.
