Foreign branches of the state enterprise "Document" (Passport Service) are issuing foreign passports to draft-age men aged 18 to 60 without the requirement to physically present a military registration document. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing clarification from the Passport Service. The validity of the document is confirmed automatically: data is exchanged between the registers of the State Migration Service (SMS) and the Ministry of Defense, so neither a paper nor an electronic carrier needs to be presented when submitting the application. At the same time, the military registration document itself must be valid, as its status determines whether a passport can be issued.
How military registration is checked automatically
The key mechanism of the Passport Service's foreign centers is automatic data verification. When a draft-age man applies for a foreign passport, the system checks the relevance of his military registration record through interdepartmental data exchange between the SMS and the Ministry of Defense. This means the applicant is not required to carry a printout from the "Reserve+" app or any other document: it is sufficient for correct and valid data to be present in the state register. This approach removes the main organizational difficulty for citizens living abroad and speeds up the processing procedure.
When a passport will not be issued
The Passport Service's clarification also contains an important restriction: if the military registration document is invalid or missing entirely from the register, a foreign passport will not be issued. In other words, automatic verification does not abolish the requirement to have active military registration—it merely eliminates the need to present the document in person. At the same time, according to the SMS, if certain data is missing from the register, it can be entered automatically without undergoing a military medical commission (MMC), simplifying the situation for those whose records need updating.
The temporary requirement for a "Reserve+" printout is no longer in effect
The obligation to show a printed extract from "Reserve+" was introduced on October 2, when the "Document" enterprise temporarily suspended the acceptance of applications for passports and ID cards due to a technical failure; during that period, finished documents were issued only upon presentation of a printout. Operations resumed as early as October 4, military registration checks once again became automatic, and the temporary requirement lost its validity. Electronic queue appointments scheduled during the days of the glitch remain valid: center staff are required to contact applicants and agree on a new visit time.
Where the mandatory requirement came from
Mandatory verification of military registration when issuing foreign passports abroad was introduced in May 2024 following the adoption of the law on tightening mobilization. Since then, draft-age men can obtain a passport abroad only if they have updated military registration data. Thus, the current clarification does not cancel the rule itself, but merely clarifies the procedure for its application: the document is not physically presented, but it must be valid and confirmed in the register.
What this means for applicants
For men aged 18–60 planning to apply for a foreign passport at foreign centers of the Passport Service, the practical conclusion is simple: make sure in advance that your military registration data is up to date and submit your application without preparing printouts. If the data is outdated or missing, it can be updated automatically. It is also worth noting that consular institutions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine may have their own application procedures, so it is recommended to check current requirements on the official website of the specific representation before visiting.
