Government simplifies the return of young people from temporarily occupied territories

The Government is launching a one-year pilot project that will allow identity certificates for return to Ukraine to be issued to citizens born after 24 August 1991 in temporarily occupied territories, even if information about them is not available in state registers. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

According to the Prime Minister, the document can be obtained through designated Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad. Identity verification will be carried out using state registers, and where this is insufficient, confirmation from close relatives will be accepted, including via video link. The decision is aimed at people who, due to the occupation, have been left without valid Ukrainian documents and have effectively lost the ability to return legally to Ukraine.

The identity certificate will be issued free of charge through designated Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad, including those in Türkiye, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and other countries. For children under the age of 16, applications may be submitted by parents or legal guardians.

“In practice, this means that more of our citizens will be able to leave occupied territories or the territory of russia and return to government-controlled Ukraine. The state is creating a clear and accessible mechanism that will work even in difficult life circumstances,” Yulia Svyrydenko stressed.

The Prime Minister also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs team for its proactive role in developing new mechanisms and addressing this issue. Every citizen should know that the state is working to ensure that the path home remains open.