---
title: "Ukraine's MFA clarifies which document women need for temporary protection in the EU under the new rules"
description: "The Consular Service of Ukraine's MFA clarified which documents confirm a lawful departure from the country for women applying for temporary protection in the EU. The main proof is a stamp in the passport or an SBG certificate, and the departure date must not exceed 90 days."
date: 2026-09-15T10:34:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-mfa-clarifies-border-crossing-document-for-temporary-protection-in-eu
tags: [ukraine, eu, temporary-protection, border-crossing, migration, mfa-ukraine, reserv-plus]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukraine's MFA clarifies which document women need for temporary protection in the EU under the new rules

![Woman with a child and luggage at a station: Ukrainian women seeking temporary protection in the EU and the documents required to cross the border](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/15/mid-ukrainy-podtverzhdenie-peresecheniya-granicy-vremenaya-zashhita-es/mid-ukrainy-podtverzhdenie-peresecheniya-granicy-vremenaya-zashhita-es-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The main proof of a lawful departure from Ukraine is a stamp in the passport or an SBG certificate on an official form with a digital signature
- For first-time applicants for temporary protection, the border crossing date must not exceed 90 days before submitting the application
- The new rules do not apply to those who, as of 30 July 2026, already had a status or had submitted an application in the EU
- After the entry into force of the EU Council decision of 30 July 2026, the MFA received around 20 official appeals from citizens

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.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Ukrainian women in the EU are advised to have proof of border crossing: which documents are needed](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayinkam-es-radyat-mati-pidtverdzhennya-1789466948.html) - Первичный источник. Содержит полный текст разъяснения консульской службы МИД: штамп в паспорте, справка ГНСУ, правило 90 дней, исключение для тех, кто был в ЕС на 30.07.2026, около 20 обращений.
- [Ukrainian women may face problems obtaining protection in the EU: which document is needed](https://24tv.ua/law/ru/vremennaja-zashhita-es-dlja-ukraincev-kakie-dokumenty-podtverzhdajut_n3142494) - Подтверждает необходимость документа о пересечении границы и возможные проблемы при оформлении.
- [Ukrainian women in the EU are advised to have one more document: what may be needed for temporary protection](https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/ukrainkam-v-es-sovetuyut-imet-esche-odin-dokument-chto-mozhet-ponadobitsya-dlya-vremennoy-zaschity-3168923.html) - Согласуется с основной темой: дополнительный документ для подтверждения законности выезда.
- [Ukrainian women now need proof of border crossing for temporary protection: which one exactly](https://24tv.ua/zakordon24/ru/podtverzhdenie-peresechenija-granicy-dlja-ukrainok-kakie-dokumenty-neobhodimy_n3142499) - Подтверждает необходимость документа о пересечении границы и возможные проблемы при оформлении.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is the main document that confirms a lawful departure from Ukraine for processing temporary protection in the EU?
**A:** The main proof is a stamp in the passport document confirming departure from Ukraine. If there is no stamp, you can obtain a border crossing certificate by submitting an electronic request to the Main Centre for Processing Special Information of the SBG — it is issued on an official form with a digital signature.

### Q: What to do if there is no departure stamp in the passport?
**A:** 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 on an official form, certified with a digital signature, is issued, which is accepted by EU competent authorities.

### Q: Does the 90-day rule apply to everyone processing temporary protection?
**A:** The 90-day rule applies to those applying for temporary protection for the first time under the new rules. The date of the confirmed border crossing must not exceed 90 days before the day of submitting the application. The new rules do not apply to those who, as of 30 July 2026, were already in the EU and had a status or had submitted an application.

### Q: Is it possible to lose the temporary protection status?
**A:** Yes. 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. Upon a renewed application in the EU, the new verification criteria will apply.

### Q: Where to turn if EU authorities make unlawful demands?
**A:** To the nearest Ukrainian consular institution. You can also contact the competent EU services, which have the ability to independently verify the data through information databases.