Ukraine may allow men under 25 to travel abroad: what is known about possible changes?

Ukraine is discussing the possibility of easing travel restrictions for men under 25. Find out what changes are being discussed, how the government explains them, and how this may affect young people and border crossing rules

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The Ukrainian parliament has begun discussing the possibility of partially easing restrictions on men traveling abroad. The idea is to allow citizens up to the age of military service, i.e. up to 25 years old, to cross the state border. So far, this is just an idea, but it has already sparked a broad public discussion.

This was announced by Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi in a commentary to the Telegraf. He noted that he had already discussed this initiative with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk. Although it is not a concrete decision yet, the very fact of such a discussion indicates possible changes in approaches to mobilization policy.

Why did you come up with the idea to allow men under 25 to leave?

The main motivation for the possible changes is the desire to maintain trust in the state on the part of young people. Lisovyi emphasizes that the goal is to create a high-quality educational environment in Ukraine, to give young people prospects so that they do not lose touch with their homeland even after temporary departure.

This issue has become especially relevant amid the growing number of high school students who go abroad. Some of them continue their education in Ukrainian schools online, while others integrate into local educational systems in other countries.

The Minister of Education notes that parents often decide to send their children abroad based on safety concerns. That is why it is important to create conditions under which these families will want to return - or at least maintain educational ties with Ukraine.

Read also: Which men are eligible to travel abroad in 2025 and what documents are required for this purpose.

Academic mobility as an example of trust

Lisovyi cited the example of academic mobility, a program that allows students to temporarily study abroad. According to the minister, most students who went on academic mobility have returned to Ukraine. This, according to the official, shows that trust is an effective mechanism that should not be replaced by bans.

At the same time, there were exceptions: in some cases, some young people did not return. But this, Lisovyi believes, is a reason for individual analysis, in particular at the level of specific universities, and not a reason for a general ban.

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Liberalization versus isolation: what will Ukraine choose?

According to the publication, the government voices two opposing approaches to the issue of youth departure. Some believe that restrictions should remain in place for everyone to keep people in the country. Others, like Lisovyi, are convinced that, on the contrary, it is necessary to show state confidence in citizens and allow more freedom.

The minister openly states that he is closer to the liberalization approach, both in terms of values and practicalities. It is possible to retain young people not by banning them, but by creating conditions: affordable quality education, transparent border crossing rules, academic opportunities and life prospects.

If the idea of allowing men under 25 to leave the country is supported, a clear legislative regulation will be needed. Today, according to the current regulations, men aged 18-60 can leave the country during martial law only on special grounds. So, until the relevant decisions are made, the current restrictions apply.

If you are planning a trip abroad, contact Visit Ukraine's migration lawyers who will help you check the legal grounds, prepare documents and explain the current requirements. This will help you avoid mistakes and undesirable situations at the border.

We remind you! The government has changed the process of issuing passports for men of mobilization age who are abroad. Now all checks are carried out automatically through an electronic registry. Read what this means and how passports will be issued to such persons in our previous article.

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