What Does the Mobilisation Law Change for Ukrainians Abroad?

On 16 April, the President of Ukraine signed the mobilisation law. The law will come into force one month after its publication. Long before it was passed, Ukrainians abroad had already begun to worry about the potential changes. Since December, enormous queues — mainly of men trying to renew their documents — have been forming at passport service offices in Poland. What will change for Ukrainians abroad once the law takes effect? We break down the key provisions.

Once the law is published, men subject to military service obligations will have 60 days to update their current address of residence, contact details, and other personal data.

Men can update their records at a military commissariat, an administrative services centre (CNAP), or through the electronic conscript's portal.

What about Ukrainian citizens abroad? They can send information to the TCC (Territorial Recruitment Centre) by email, call the TCC directly, or register an electronic account and update their data there. It is worth noting that draft notices will not be sent via the e-portal for the time being.

All men without exception between the ages of 18 and 60 who permanently reside abroad are required to register for military service in Ukraine. This applies to students as well as to persons with disabilities.

Why? Citizens deemed partially fit for service are required to undergo a repeat medical examination within one year. Those who received a 2nd or 3rd disability group after 24 February 2022 (excluding serving members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) are also subject to a repeat medical examination to determine their fitness for service.

Women who are fit for service by reason of health and age and who have obtained a medical or pharmaceutical qualification at a vocational or higher educational institution are also required to register for military service.

Consular and Passport Services for Those Subject to Military Obligations

Under the new law, men subject to military service obligations will be able to access consular services at Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad only if they have updated their military registration data.

However, there will be exceptions — consular services will be provided in any case:

• when applying for a travel document for return to Ukraine,
• when performing consular acts concerning children where the other parent is a foreign national or stateless person,
• upon applications from Ukrainian citizens who have been detained or deprived of liberty abroad.

Passport documents will likewise only be issued to persons subject to military obligations if they present valid military registration documents.

In summary: the biggest change for Ukrainians abroad concerns access to consular services and the ability to obtain documents. A person subject to military obligations who fails to register and update their data may be fined under the Administrative Code and may have their driving rights suspended by court order. However, how these two penalties will be enforced against Ukrainian citizens residing abroad remains unclear for now.

To avoid state penalties, it is necessary to update your military registration data. For the time being, this can be done without returning to Ukraine.