The relevance of identity documents concerns millions of citizens. In the context of digitalization and the update of administrative procedures, many are asking: has the familiar 1994 model passport booklet lost its validity? The State Migration Service (SMS) of Ukraine has provided a detailed answer to this question, clarifying the legal status of the document and the rules for its exchange.

Legal status of the passport booklet

The main conclusion from SMS specialists is unambiguous: the passport of a citizen of Ukraine in booklet form remains a fully valid document. The country's legislation does not set a strict final date for ceasing the use of 1994 model passports. This means that citizens can continue to use them to confirm their identity and perform administrative procedures without the risk of the document being declared invalid.

However, the situation is not absolutely static. There are specific life situations where replacing the booklet with a modern biometric passport or ID card becomes not just desirable, but mandatory. In all other cases, the transition to new document formats occurs solely at the owner's discretion.

Procedure and cost of exchange

The legislation provides for the possibility of exchanging an old passport for an ID card at any time. The procedure is available to all citizens wishing to update their document. At the same time, the SMS clearly distinguishes between categories of applicants regarding the payment of administrative services:

  • Citizens receiving a passport for the first time. For those who reach the age of 14 and are obtaining the document for the first time, the service is provided free of charge. This is a support measure for young citizens upon acquiring legal capacity.
  • All other cases. If a citizen changes their passport due to loss, change of data, or simply at their own discretion (while holding a valid document), an administrative fee is charged for the service.

Thus, owners of valid passport booklets are not obliged to rush to replace them, but have the full right to do so at a convenient time for themselves, taking into account the financial aspects of the procedure.