Can men go on business trips abroad during war in 2025?

During the war, the issue of business trips abroad for men of draft age remains one of the most difficult. Find out who has the right to go on business trips, whether a permit from the CCC is required, what documents border guards check, what changes are envisaged by draft law No. 14210 in December 2025, and what to do if the rules change during a trip

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During martial law, business in Ukraine continues to operate and many companies need to send employees abroad - for negotiations, training, procurement or launching international projects. However, the rules for the departure of men aged 18–60 are significantly limited, and the procedure for crossing the border often changes.

We analyze in detail whether reserved employees can go on business trips, what restrictions are in force now and what will change in December 2025.

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Do reserved employees have the right to go on business trips during war?

The rules for men's travel abroad are regulated by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 57, which stipulates that:

- The grounds for a business trip abroad are directly defined only for employees reserved for state bodies and local self-government bodies (paragraph 214).

- For all other persons (including those booked at enterprises), the general rule applies - departure is allowed to military conscripts who are not subject to mobilization, that is, those who have a valid reservation (clause 26).

Do I need permission from the territorial recruitment center for business trips abroad?

No, the Law does not require obtaining a separate TRC permit for traveling abroad.

The final decision is made by the State Border Service, not the TRC. Border guards check:

- Purpose of the trip;

- Compliance of documents;

- Availability of grounds for crossing the border;

- Truthfulness of data.

Important! Even a complete package of documents does not guarantee a pass, because the decision is made on the spot.

When can the border service refuse to travel abroad on a business trip?

Most often, border guards refuse to travel abroad on a business trip if:

1. The purpose of the trip is not confirmed;

2. The documents raise doubts;

3. There are signs of involvement in document forgery (Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

4. The attempt to cross is qualified as illegal (Article 204-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses or Article 332-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

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Which employees can officially go on a business trip?

Resolution No. 57 establishes a separate list of categories of employees who are allowed to go on a business trip, including:

- Heads of state unitary enterprises and their representatives.

- Heads and members of executive bodies of economic companies where the state owns ≥50% of the capital.

- Heads and members of executive bodies of economic companies where 100% of the capital belongs to state-owned companies, including subsidiaries.

Important! For all other employees - both private enterprises and state-owned ones - the general rule applies: departure is possible if there is a valid reservation + confirmed purpose of the trip.

Can those who have booked a trip go on vacation abroad?

Yes, they can - provided that the purpose of the trip and documents are fully confirmed.

However, this is not directly stipulated by law, so the decision is always made individually at the border.

What to do if the exit rules have changed during a business trip?

Such situations have already happened, so businesses need to be prepared for them. If the exit rules have changed during a business trip, then at the time of crossing the border in the return direction, the person must have current documents that comply with the current rules. In case of differences between the rules at the time of departure and at the time of return, the current ones apply.

Important! A citizen of Ukraine cannot be restricted in the right to enter Ukraine (Article 1 of the Law "On the Procedure for Exiting Ukraine..."). Even if questions or administrative consequences arise, they can be appealed.

What new restrictions may come into effect in December 2025?

On November 14, 2025, Bill No. 14210 was registered, which proposes to tighten the rules for the departure of men booked as critical infrastructure workers if there are violations of military registration.

What does Bill No. 14210 propose?

- Temporarily ban employees with reservations from traveling abroad for 45 days if they are found to have violations of military registration.

- Expand the list of reasons for which a person will be banned from crossing the border.

- Strengthen control so that reservations are not used for vacations or unofficial trips.

Will it be possible to leave after eliminating the violations?

Yes. After updating the data and receiving a new reservation, the restrictions will be lifted.

Why are the changes proposed?

The parliament emphasizes: if an employee has the status of critical, he must perform his functions in Ukraine, and not leave without urgent need.

Read more about draft law No. 14210 in this article.

What documents do reserved men aged 18–60 need to cross the border?

The final package of documents may vary depending on the purpose of the trip, but the basic ones are:

1. Passport of a citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad (foreign biometric passport) - the main document for crossing the border.

2. Order of the enterprise on a business trip - without such a document, the purpose of the trip is considered unconfirmed.

3. Military registration document with current data - a new paper document with a barcode or an electronic military registration document in the Reserve+ application.

4. Employee reservation - an extract from the "Oberig" register (the document must confirm the validity of the deferral from mobilization).

5. Documents confirming the purpose of the trip – invitation letter from a foreign company, contract/agreement/invoices, travel documents, confirmation of accommodation booking, travel plan.

6. Employer documents – employment certificate, copy of the company’s statutory documents, confirmation of the company’s activities.

7. Medical insurance.

Find the rules for men’s departure from Ukraine at the link: which categories have the right to cross the border, what documents are required and how to prepare for the trip.

Important nuances that men going on a business trip abroad should pay attention to

- The validity period of the reservation must cover the entire time of stay abroad.

The postponement must be valid until the day of actual return to Ukraine. If the reservation expires earlier, border guards have the legal right to refuse departure.

- The relevance of the reservation is checked through the “Oberig” register.

If the data in the register is missing, not updated or not confirmed, this is considered a reason for refusing to cross the border.

- A business trip or vacation order is a mandatory document.

A valid reservation in itself does not confirm the purpose of the trip. If there is no order from the enterprise, the border guard will not let even a booked employee through.

- The purpose of the trip must correspond to all accompanying documents.

If there are any discrepancies between the person’s explanations and the content of the documents, border guards may recognize the trip as unfounded and refuse to cross the border.

Read also: which categories of men can freely leave Ukraine and what documents are required for this.

Booked employees can travel abroad, but only with a full package of documents and a confirmed purpose of the trip. Border guards make decisions individually, so it is important to monitor the relevance of the reservation and the correspondence of all data. If Bill No. 14210 is passed, the rules may become stricter, so businesses should closely monitor updates and comply with military accounting requirements.

When traveling abroad, every detail matters – especially when it comes to safety. Medical insurance is a mandatory document for crossing the border and guarantees financial protection in unforeseen situations:

- Coverage of medical expenses in case of illness or injury;

- 24/7 support abroad;

- Fast online policy issuance;

- Acceptance of the policy while crossing the border.

To make your trip stress-free, arrange reliable insurance in advance – this will minimize risks and allow you to focus on your work.

Take care of your safety – arrange an insurance policy before your trip!

Reminder! In wartime, men’s travel abroad is significantly limited, but certain categories of persons can still do so. Men who have a deferment and can prove it also belong to such categories. Find out in which cases you can travel abroad with a deferment and how to do it.

Photo – Freepik

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