The Consular Service of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a request from RBC-Ukraine, provided a detailed explanation of which documents confirm the lawful crossing of Ukraine's border for women applying for temporary protection in European Union countries. The recommendations came against the backdrop of the entry into force of the EU Council decision of 30 July 2026, after which the ministry received around 20 official appeals from citizens complaining about difficulties in obtaining the status in certain member states. According to diplomats, having proof of a lawful departure from Ukraine helps avoid additional demands from EU competent authorities, in particular requests for military registration data from the "Reserve+" system.
Main document — stamp in the passport
The key proof of a lawful border crossing remains the stamp in the passport document confirming departure from Ukraine. The MFA emphasises that such a stamp is not always issued automatically, so citizens are advised to personally approach the officers of the State Border Guard Service at border crossing points on each trip and request that the mark be placed. This is, in essence, the simplest and fastest way to record the fact of departure, which is subsequently accepted by EU competent authorities without additional checks.
SBG certificate as an alternative to the stamp
In the absence of a stamp in the passport, the citizen or her legal representative may send a request to the e-mail address of the Main Centre for Processing Special Information of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Following the review, a certificate of crossing the state border is issued, prepared on an official form and certified with a digital signature. The MFA assured that such a document is sufficient for consideration by the competent authorities of EU countries and is equivalent to a stamp in the passport.
The 90-day rule and restrictions on the departure date
For those applying for temporary protection for the first time under the new rules, a strict time limit applies: the date of the confirmed border crossing must not exceed 90 days at the time of submitting the application. This means that if a woman left Ukraine more than three months ago and does not have a valid stamp or certificate, her application may be refused until current proof is provided. The MFA also reminds about the rules on re-entry: if a person returns to Ukraine or leaves the country of residence for a long period without notifying the relevant authorities, the temporary protection status may be annulled, and upon a renewed application in the EU the updated verification criteria will apply.
Who is subject to the new requirements and who is not
It is important to note that the new rules on verifying the lawfulness of departure and the fulfilment of military duty do not apply to those who, as of 30 July 2026, were already in the EU and had a confirmed temporary protection status or had already submitted an application for it. For this category of citizens, the conditions remain unchanged. The new requirements concern exclusively those who are applying for protection for the first time or reapplying after the annulment of their status.
What to do in case of unlawful demands
If the competent authorities of an EU country make demands not provided for by the regulatory framework, or if a disputed situation arises when processing temporary protection, Ukrainian citizens are advised to immediately contact the nearest Ukrainian consular institution. In addition, one can directly contact the competent EU services, which have the ability to independently verify the relevant data through information databases. Previously, the MFA stated in a comment to RBC-Ukraine that requests for data from the "Reserve+" system from women when processing temporary protection in the EU are of a temporary nature and are linked to the transitional period of adapting national systems to the new EU Council requirements.
