Some Ukrainians urgently need to change their foreign passports: what is the matter and who is affected?

Ukraine has abolished the temporary procedure for extending foreign passports and adding information about children to them. Find out who is affected by the changes and how to urgently replace an ‘extended’ passport to avoid problems at the border

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At the end of October, new rules for issuing foreign passports came into force in Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announced that the temporary procedure for extending the validity of foreign passports and adding information about children to them would cease to apply. This means that thousands of Ukrainians who use ‘extended’ documents are now required to apply for new biometric passports.

The temporary changes were introduced back in February 2022, immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion. At that time, due to damage to the document processing system, Ukrainians could not be issued new passports. To enable people to travel abroad and apply for visas, the state allowed the validity of existing passports to be extended and children to be included in them.

Now that the passport system is fully operational, Ukraine is returning to international standards. Most countries only accept biometric documents with a validity period of up to 10 years, so travellers with ‘extended’ passports often faced refusals at the border or when registering for flights.

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What has changed

From 29 October 2025, new rules will apply:

— foreign passports will be issued for a period of 10 years for adults (aged 16 and over) and 4 years for children under 16;

— every citizen must have their own passport; children can no longer be included in their parents' documents;

— Ukrainians can have two valid foreign passports at the same time.

All citizens whose passports have been extended under temporary rules must replace them with new biometric ones. This is especially important for those who frequently cross the border, apply for visas or travel to the EU, the US, Canada and the UK.

Air carriers are guided by the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and only accept documents issued for the full term of validity. Holders of ‘extended’ passports may not be allowed to fly.

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What to do if you have an ‘extended’ passport

If your passport is about to expire or you have been denied entry when crossing the border, you must apply for a new document:

— abroad — at the embassy, consulate of Ukraine or a branch of the State Enterprise ‘Document’;

— in Ukraine — at any Administrative Service Centre or branch of the State Migration Service.

If you are abroad and cannot return to Ukraine with an ‘extended’ passport, you can obtain a return identity card (‘white passport’) at the consulate. This document is issued on the day of application and is free of charge for children under 16 years of age.

What to do if you are not allowed to enter the EU

If EU border guards refuse you entry with an extended passport, contact the Ukrainian embassy or the nearest branch of the State Enterprise ‘Document’ to apply for a new biometric passport. Only such documents guarantee unhindered border crossing and recognition abroad.

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Reminder! During martial law, it is still possible to leave Ukraine, but the rules for crossing the border vary depending on gender, age and purpose of travel. Border guards carefully check documents, and new biometric procedures may affect the speed of passing through control. Learn more about the current requirements for leaving Ukraine in 2025.

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