The government is working on changing the decree that will allow Ukrainian men abroad to renew their passports that are about to expire
The issue of renewing passports for Ukrainian men who are abroad is becoming more and more urgent. In the conditions of a full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes, seeking safety in other countries. Many men have found themselves in difficult legal situations due to restrictions on the validity of their documents. The presence of a valid passport is not only a guarantee of personal safety, but also the basis for legal stay, employment, access to medical and social services. The lack of an opportunity to update an expired document complicates the life of Ukrainians, worsens their legal status and creates additional barriers.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov on March 12 announced about working on an initiative that should change the situation. In particular, we are talking about changing the resolution that will allow men who are outside Ukraine to renew expired passports. Chernyshov emphasized the absurdity of the situation when citizens of Ukraine abroad face the impossibility of obtaining a new passport due to the requirement to provide military documents.
“A man is in, say, the Czech Republic, his passport expires, he comes to the Dokument State Enterprise, and they tell him: provide military documents…” – the minister explained, adding that as a result, the citizen finds himself in the status of a person with an invalid document in another country.
Such a situation not only complicates the lives of individuals, but also creates a negative perception of Ukraine as a state that does not support its citizens abroad.
Chernyshov also noted that the current restrictions do not contribute to the return of men to their homeland:
“What will we win? We won’t win anything.”
According to him, it is important not only to unblock the issuance of already produced passports, but also to ensure the possibility of updating expired documents. This will be an important step in supporting the rights and freedoms of Ukrainians abroad.
The Minister also reported on the progress in solving the issue of issuing ready-made passports:
“I am glad that we managed to unlock all of this. Today, out of 80,000 passports, the majority have already been issued, and the rest will be received by the end of the month.”
We would like to remind you that from February 17, 2025, male citizens of Ukraine aged 18-60, who submitted documents by April 25, 2024 to the Dokument SE, were given the opportunity to pick up their passports. However, this is only the first step. The next important stage should be the complete unlocking of the possibility of issuing new documents for men who are abroad, because this is not only a matter of individual freedom, but also of the dignity and rights of every Ukrainian.
Updating the resolution and implementing new mechanisms is an important step to ensure the legal security of Ukrainian citizens. This will avoid legal uncertainty, help improve Ukraine’s image on the international arena, and demonstrate the state’s concern for its citizens. This is especially important for men who, due to the difficult circumstances of the war, found themselves abroad and want to live a full legal life.
What needs to be done to make this possible?
- Ensure the development and adoption of amendments to the current resolution that will allow men to renew their passports using a simplified procedure.
- Provide clear clarifications for foreign missions regarding the new rules.
- Cooperate with the governments of the countries where the largest number of Ukrainian refugees reside, to establish a procedure for updating documents.
- Organize information campaigns for Ukrainians abroad so that they are aware of their rights and opportunities.
Only a systematic approach to solving this issue will help ensure the rights of Ukrainians, create conditions for preserving their legal stability, and help strengthen trust in the state.
