The Government of Ukraine approved amendments to the resolution that, in February 2022, introduced a temporary procedure for extending the validity of international passports and adding children’s information to them.
🔘 This resolution was adopted on the fifth day after the full-scale Russian invasion, when Ukraine’s passport system was disabled and the issuance of new passports became impossible.
As an exceptional measure, a temporary procedure for extending international passports and adding children’s information to them was introduced.
🔘 After the system was restored, Ukrainian embassies and consulates resumed issuing passports.
Additionally, Ukrainians can now submit documents through branches of the State Enterprise “Document” abroad (branch addresses: pasport.org.ua/centers).
🔘 The legislation of most countries allows border crossing only with valid (usually biometric) passports valid for no more than 10 years.
Therefore, traveling with “extended” documents and children registered on them creates problems at the border.
❗ Ukrainian citizens whose passports are about to expire must contact their embassy/consulate or one of the branches of the State Enterprise “Document” to obtain a new biometric passport for themselves and their children.
💬 Answers to the most frequently asked questions
❓What do the approved changes mean?
Ukraine is returning to international passport document issuance standards.
Now:
1️⃣ The validity period of a passport for persons aged 16 and over is a maximum of 10 years;
2️⃣ The validity period of a passport for children under 16 is a maximum of 4 years;
3️⃣ Each citizen must have a separate international passport.
❓I am in an EU country and urgently need to return to Ukraine with an extended international passport or registered children, but I am not being allowed in.
What should I do?
Contact the nearest Ukrainian embassy or consulate and obtain a certificate of return to Ukraine.
❓How quickly is a “white passport” issued, and how much does it cost?
A certificate of return (with proof of identity and citizenship) is issued on the same day of application.
Free for children under 16.
For children 16 and older, the established consular fee applies.
❓I am in Ukraine and trying to travel to the EU with an extended passport, but I am not being allowed in.
What should I do?
You must contact any State Enterprise “Document” office, Administrative Service Center, or territorial division of the Migration Service, regardless of your place of registration, to obtain a new passport.
❓If I have an extended passport and am flying, for example, from the US or Canada to the Schengen area, will the airline allow me to board?
According to international ICAO standards, airlines are only allowed to accept passengers with valid (non-extended) passports valid for up to 10 years.
📌 As a reminder: Ukrainian law allows for two passports.
ℹ Details are available on the official website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine: