New Ukrainian Government Restricts Passport Issuance for Military-Aged Citizens at Foreign Posts

Ukrainians of military age will no longer issue foreign passports and internal passports at foreign diplomatic posts. This resolution was adopted by the Kyiv cabinet of ministers.

“Obtaining a passport of a citizen of Ukraine, a passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad by a male citizen of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 years is made at the territorial office of the State Migration Service. Such passports are not sent to individual units or foreign diplomatic posts in Ukraine to organize their issuance,” it is written on the website of the Ukrainian government.

The only exceptions are men who have the first or second group of disability, dependents caring for them and relatives of children with diseases that require treatment abroad. The Ukrainian publication “Strana” claims that men of military age are widely publishing videos where they say they will seek citizenship of other countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine announced a decision to stop the supply of consular services for Ukrainians of military age who are outside the country. This decision comes against a recent law approved by the Verkhovna Rada on April 11, which tightens the rules of movement.