New international passport: what obligations do Ukrainians in Slovakia have after replacing their document?

Replacing a foreign passport abroad is often perceived as a technical action related only to obtaining a new Ukrainian document. However, for citizens of Ukraine who are in Slovakia on the basis of temporary protection or a residence permit, such a change also has migration consequences. After issuing a new passport, a person must update information in the Slovak system of registration of foreigners in a short time, since the old details remain in the databases of the migration police until the owner of the document reports about the replacement.

What has changed for Ukrainians after obtaining a new passport

According to the requirements of Law No. 404/2011 “On the Stay of Foreigners” (Zákon o pobyte cudzincov), as well as information posted on the explanatory resources of state bodies of Slovakia, after issuing a new foreign passport, Ukrainians residing in Slovakia must transfer this information to the migration police department at their place of residence. This obligation arises because the residence permit, temporary protection registration, entries in state databases and further use of migration documents are linked to specific passport details, and after replacing the passport, this information already needs to be updated.

This means that the new passport cannot simply be kept as a valid travel document and at the same time use Slovak documents with the previous data. The established period begins from the moment of receiving the new passport, during which the police must be notified of the change.

In Slovakia, a clear deadline has been set for this – five working days from the date of receiving the new passport. The requirement applies to changing the data in the travel document and replacing the document itself, so after issuing a new passport, it is impossible to delay the notification, even if the person already has a valid residence status and legally resides in the country.

Who must notify the migration police

This requirement applies to Ukrainian citizens who are in Slovakia with the status of temporary protection Dočasné útočisko, as well as those who have a residence permit. For both categories, replacing a foreign passport affects the information contained in the migration registers, which is why the police must receive updated data within the time limit prescribed by law.

The practical significance of this rule is especially noticeable for those who regularly use Slovak documents when crossing the border, applying to state institutions, obtaining services or confirming their status in the country. Any discrepancy between the old passport data in the system and the new valid document creates unnecessary difficulties during the check.

How to notify about a new passport

There are several ways to transmit information to the migration police, which are used depending on the circumstances and technical capabilities of the particular applicant. The most common option involves a personal application to the police department for foreigners at the place of registration, where a copy of the new passport is submitted and, if necessary, further actions regarding residence documents are clarified.

A separate postal method is used, in which a copy of the new passport is sent by registered letter to your migration police department. This option is convenient because it provides confirmation of shipment and allows you to certify that the person has fulfilled their obligation within the established period.

In some cases, the message is also transmitted in electronic format – through official electronic services, e-mail or the contact form of the relevant department, if this channel is accepted for such applications. Before sending an electronic message, you should make sure that the selected department really uses this method of communication to update passport data, since in practice the procedure for interacting with departments may differ.

What documents need to be submitted

To notify about the replacement of a passport, a copy of the new document is usually used, primarily the page with a photo and personal data. When applying in person to the migration police department, such a copy is submitted in printed form, and when sending by mail or electronic channel, an appropriate image or scan is attached.

In this procedure, it is important that the copy is of high quality, with readable details, date of issue and document number, since the migration police makes changes based on the information it receives from the applicant. If the data on the copy is not clearly visible or part of the details is cut off, such an application may cause a delay in updating the information.

Why notification should not be postponed

A delay in notification creates a problem primarily due to the discrepancy between the actual document used by a person and the data that remains in the state registers. For external verification, such a situation looks like a discrepancy, since the system may contain an old passport, the validity of which has already expired or which has lost its validity after replacement.

Such discrepancies complicate border crossing, renewal of residence cards, confirmation of temporary protection status and use of certain electronic services. For a person, this turns into a series of small, but tangible difficulties that can be avoided by simple timely notification.

Failure to notify the migration police about the replacement of a passport is considered an administrative violation in the field of stay of foreigners. Such a missed deadline may result in a fine, as well as additional difficulties during document verification if old passport data remains in the state system.

In addition to financial consequences, violation of this obligation creates practical risks for those who use temporary protection status or a residence permit, since any subsequent renewal of documents requires coordinated and up-to-date information in the registers. Because of this, the problem usually manifests itself not on the day of receiving a new passport, but later – when applying to state authorities or during a trip.

What to do after updating data in the police

After the migration police receive a notification about a new passport and make changes to the database, it is worth checking whether your own Slovak documents need to be additionally updated. For those who use temporary protection, this is of particular importance, since the relevance of the data affects the further use of the confirmation of stay and related services.

In such cases, it is advisable to make sure that the status is displayed correctly and the residence documents contain already updated passport details. If after replacing the passport, a Slovak document retains old data, it is better to solve the problem immediately so that it does not arise during the next check.

Therefore, obtaining a new international passport for a Ukrainian living in Slovakia entails a separate migration obligation related to updating data in the police. Within five working days, you must notify the migration police department about the replacement of the document by submitting a copy of the new passport in person, by mail or electronically, if such a channel is available for a particular unit.

Timeliness is crucial in this procedure, as it determines the relevance of records in the state system, the continued validity of residence documents, and the absence of difficulties when crossing the border and contacting Slovak institutions. For a person who has already received a new passport, this is one of the first steps that must be taken without undue delay.