Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 1.4 million Ukrainian men aged 18–64 have traveled abroad to EU countries and are still there under a special status of “temporary protection,” according to Eurostat . This status allows men from Ukraine to stay in any EU country for more than 90 days a year, unlike the usual “visa-free” status.
Thus, in the same Germany, there are now over 312 thousand Ukrainian men with the status of “temporary protection”, which is currently the largest indicator among European countries. Next are Poland and the Czech Republic, which have also accepted a significant number of Ukrainian citizens, including men liable for military service, including those who illegally crossed the state border of Ukraine.
Read also: How many Ukrainians have temporary protection in the EU: Eurostat data in 2026
Receiving services by men at the consulate and embassy of Ukraine abroad
In general, according to the same European Statistical Center, the number of men who used temporary protection increased by more than 15% over the year. Given the significant periods of stay of men abroad, the issue of further legalization in the EU and obtaining consular services abroad, including through a “DP document” such as obtaining a new passport or applying for its issuance, arises.
Until 2026, the procedure for submitting documents for military servicemen to obtain a passport abroad was as follows: the man only had to present the Reserve+ application with a valid QR code suitable for scanning. After that, he could pay the state fee and receive a passport or use other services of consulates, embassies, or the State Enterprise “Dokument” abroad.
New changes coming in 2026
Today, according to the statement of the Speaker of the Media Council Oleksandr Musienko , it became known about possible first steps to introduce checks on all men of draft age who are abroad and apply to consular or diplomatic institutions of Ukraine abroad to receive consular or other services , including the extension or receipt of a passport and other documents.
“For those who apply to the Ukrainian institution and want to renew their documents or receive other consular services (abroad). Check their military registration. At least like this: “Are you on military registration?”, “Why didn’t you come to Ukraine” if there is an explanation (work, left legally, and so on) “okay” no questions. If there is no explanation, then please do not provide services, consular services are not provided. Please return to Ukraine, work for our state” – comments Oleksandr Musienko
According to the speaker, this will be smoothed out in such a way that the recruiters of the defense forces, at the entrance to the premises of the consulate, embassy or SE “Dokument” will be able to check the compliance of military men with the rules of the envelope and the legality of crossing the border, clarify the reasons for leaving. If there are no violations, services will be provided. In case of violations, in the provision of services, they will be asked to return to Ukraine.
Read also: How checkpoints are set up and summonses are served in Kyiv and Lviv: legal analysis
Result
Currently, there is no publicly available document that would introduce such a rule, so far these are only proposals from individual representatives of the defense forces. We will see what the further development of events will be later, but for now there are only statements about possible steps to introduce restrictions and checks on the legality of departure and military service for men who are abroad.
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