Ukrainians living outside the country, in particular in the USA, Canada and the UK, will have a new opportunity to obtain passports issued at Ukrainian embassies and consulates. This was made possible through cooperation with VFS Global, which will act as an intermediary in the process of issuing finished documents through its network of visa and passport centers.
A project that changes access to public services
With the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, from now on, citizens who have applied for passports at foreign diplomatic institutions will have the opportunity to receive documents directly at one of the 35 centers owned by VFS Global. This service will become available from the beginning of next week, after the completion of the preparatory stages. This step is aimed at simplifying the process of obtaining passports for Ukrainians, reducing waiting time and the need for additional trips to consulates.
“We continue to systematically modernize consular services for Ukrainians abroad, making them more convenient and accessible. This is my principled position and instruction to the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, – Andriy Sybiga emphasized.
The process of obtaining passports through the network of VFS Global centers will look like this. After submitting an application for passport production at the Ukrainian embassy or consulate, applicants will be able to choose the option of receiving the document directly at the nearest VFS center. Thus, they will no longer need to visit diplomatic institutions to obtain a passport. This step will be an important step towards modernizing and simplifying access to public services, which is especially important for citizens who are far from Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that the security of documents and proper identification of the person remain in the first place. According to the new rules, a passport can be obtained only after a successful verification procedure, which will ensure the protection of personal data and avoid any abuse. The verification system ensures that documents are issued only to those who have correctly completed the identity verification procedure, which is an important step in protecting citizens’ rights.
VFS Global’s role and international practice
VFS Global is a company that provides visa, passport and consular outsourcing services to governments in over 60 countries. It accepts documents, collects biometric data and issues passports through its network of visa centers, which allows it to simplify and speed up the process. Cooperation with this company is part of Ukraine’s overall strategy to improve access to public services abroad for its citizens, as well as to develop the infrastructure for providing such services.
This project is only part of a broader strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to improve access to consular services for citizens abroad. In the future, it is planned to further optimize the document submission procedure, as well as introduce new technologies to automate the process. Already in August 2025, an automated procedure for submitting documents for notarial acts was introduced in 120 embassies and consulates of Ukraine around the world.
“We continue to work so that Ukrainians around the world have access to modern, convenient and human-oriented state services, wherever they are. Using both international passport and visa, and national postal services. This is about respect for the state, preserving the ties and unity of our people, caring for and protecting our citizens,” Andriy Sybiga noted.
The new system for obtaining passports through VFS Global allows you to significantly simplify and speed up the process for Ukrainians living abroad. This is an important step in the development of modern, human-centered services that maintain contact with citizens and provide access to necessary services regardless of their location. With the help of the new initiative, Ukrainians in the USA, Canada and the UK will be able to save time and effort, as well as guarantee the security of their documents.
