Travelling abroad for men: changes from July 1

In July 2025, as well as after July 17, 2024, a mandatory condition for men to travel abroad (if they are citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 years and have grounds for crossing the border) is the presence of a military registration document.

This is provided for by the law on mobilization, which came into force last year on May 18.

Traveling abroad for men: who has the right
Traveling abroad for men: what documents are needed
Requirements for a military ID card for travel abroad
Reasons for refusal to leave the country
New border crossing rules for men under 25
New rules for men carrying humanitarian and medical supplies
New rules for men from the cultural and information spheres
Travel of booked men abroad on vacation: conditions

Traveling abroad for men: who has the right

As the State Border Service emphasizes, the list of categories of persons who, in accordance with the Rules for crossing the border by citizens of Ukraine, are allowed to travel abroad, has not changed at the moment .

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The right to travel abroad is granted to :

reserved for the period of mobilization:
recognized by the military medical commission as unfit for military service due to health reasons;
men who are supporting three or more minor children;
single fathers;
those who have a child (children) under the age of 18 and a husband (wife) serving in the military in one of the types of military service;
other categories of persons defined by Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization.

Traveling abroad for men: what documents are needed

Now men can only travel abroad if they have a military ID.

Military registration documents, together with an identity document (passport), must be presented by conscripts at the request of a border guard in the border zone, controlled border area and at checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine.

Requirements for a military ID card for travel abroad

A military ID can be in either paper or electronic form.

The military registration documents of men who have a deferment from conscription or who have been excluded from military registration due to health reasons must contain information about receiving such a deferment or exclusion from military registration or a certificate in the form specified in Appendix 6 of the Procedure for the conscription of citizens for military service during mobilization, for a special period, approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated May 16, 2024 No. 560.

Travelling abroad for men: changes from July 1 Photo 1

Reasons for refusal to leave the country

The grounds for refusal to leave the country are:

lack of military registration document;
information in the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Persons liable for Military Service and Reservists on the submission of a person to the wanted list of the National Police.

If such information is found in the register, a police officer is called to the scene for administrative detention and delivery to the nearest territorial recruitment and social support center.

New border crossing rules for men under 25

On December 31, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine amended the Rules for crossing the border for men aged 18-25 during martial law.

The changes apply to men aged 18-25 who served under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine or intelligence units of the Ministry of Defense and, prior to signing the contract, did not undergo full military service other than basic training.

These persons may cross the state border if they have :

certificates from a military unit or the head of a territorial recruitment center (the document must contain information about the concluded contract);
military registration document confirming military service.

New rules for men carrying humanitarian and medical supplies

On February 27, the government amended the Rules for crossing the state border, defined by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 57 of January 27, 1995, for certain categories of Ukrainian citizens.

Now, during the period of validity of the legal regime, men aged 18 to 60 years old, transporting humanitarian and medical supplies, will cross the border on a general basis.

Thus, the rule will no longer apply when the decision on the departure of this category of persons was made by the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine or military administrations and carried out registration in the Shlyakh system.

New rules for men from the cultural and information spheres

On March 4, the government, by its Resolution No. 244, amended the Rules for crossing the state border in relation to citizens from the sphere of culture, strategic communications, media and the information sphere.

Now men aged 18 to 60 from these areas will be able to travel abroad, provided that they comply with the rules for crossing the state border and have:

letters from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications or the Ministry of Digital Development to the State Border Service administration regarding the details of the trip;
invitations from a foreign organization (with translation into Ukrainian);
military registration document with the corresponding marks of territorial recruitment and social support centers or a military registration document in electronic form.

If the purpose of the trip is not confirmed, exit will be denied.