Men Aged 18–22 Traveling Abroad: Answers to Key Questions
фото: ДПСУ
Since August 28, men aged 18 to 22 have been allowed to travel abroad during martial law in Ukraine. State Border Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko explained the required documents, the crossing procedure, and whether this group of citizens is experiencing any concerns.
Andriy Demchenko confirmed that the new regulation came into effect on the morning of August 28. According to him, the first men aged 18–22 have already exercised their right to leave and crossed the state border. To do so, it is sufficient to have a foreign passport and a military registration document, which can be either in paper form or in electronic form through the “Reserve+” application.
He added that men up to and including 22 years of age are allowed to cross the border, and even those who are about to turn 23 can still leave.
The spokesman emphasized that border guards do not keep separate statistics for this age group, but no large-scale influx of applicants has been recorded. According to him, there are no queues at the border, and there is no heightened excitement regarding the new rules. Border guards began allowing citizens to cross at six in the morning, and the process is proceeding as usual.
At the same time, Demchenko clarified that the new rules do not apply to civil servants and officials, who can only travel abroad on official business trips, not at their own request.
As noted, the decision to allow men aged 18–22 to travel abroad was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on August 26, with the changes coming into effect on August 28. Previously, only certain categories of citizens had the right to cross the border, including students, parents with multiple children, and those accompanying people with disabilities.
The new resolution represents another step in liberalizing travel rules during martial law. The Verkhovna Rada is simultaneously discussing raising the age limit to 24. There have also been talks about allowing women deputies to leave, but this provision has not yet come into effect, as the resolution has not been officially published.
The first days of the decree’s implementation indicate that the border crossing process for young men is operating smoothly. The Border Guard Service emphasizes that the most important requirement for this category of citizens is to have a valid international passport and a military registration document confirming their entry into the reservist database.
As a reminder, Ukraine has officially published a government resolution that allows men aged 18 to 22 years old to leave during martial law. At the same time, the document establishes several restrictions and exceptions, in particular for officials and reserved employees.
However, to travel abroad, men aged 18 to 22 will need to have a military registration document. The changes will not apply to persons holding positions in state authorities, state bodies, and local self-government bodies. Travel abroad for this category of persons can only be carried out on a business trip.
Subsequently, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine clarified the conditions for crossing the border for men aged 18 to 22. In addition to a foreign passport, citizens of this category will need to have military registration documents with them — in paper form or in digital format through the “Reserve+” application.
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