From April 23, 2024, diplomatic missions of Ukraine suspended the provision of consular services to men — citizens of Ukraine of military age between 18 and 60 years old. Consulates have suspended the acceptance of new applications for the issuance of international passports, however, it is allowed to draw up an international passport for applications accepted before 04/23/2024, or instead of a passport — ID card for returning to Ukraine. In essence, we are talking about suspending the acceptance of new applications for the purchase of any consular services.
Formally, the suspension of the issuance of foreign passports to men of military age is due to the need to prepare for the entry into force of new rules for the provision of consular services for this category of citizens in connection with the entry into force of the new Law on Mobilization. At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba said: «What it looks like now: a man of military age went abroad, showed his state that the issue of his survival does not concern him, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state. It doesn't work that way. There is a war in our country. In fact, Kuleba believes that a person liable for military service is obliged to return to Ukraine in order to undergo mobilization and defend the state from Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico announced earlier, on April 10, 2024, that its passport and visa systems were not working, explaining this by “technical reasons.”
It is planned that after the Law of Ukraine on Mobilization comes into force on May 18, 2023, the process of accepting and considering applications for the provision of consular services at diplomatic missions of Ukraine will resume taking into account the new requirements arising from the provisions of the law. And these requirements state that every man of military age who is temporarily stationed abroad is obliged to clarify his military registration data at the territorial acquisition center (TCC) within 60 days, including remotely through an electronic account. It is assumed that this can also be done by email or telephone. It will be necessary to clarify personal data such as residential address, telephone number, email address, etc. If a man has clarified his data and has legal grounds for obtaining consular services based on the new legislation, such services will be provided to him.
However, the head of the TCC has the right to send a person who is registered with the military a requirement to appear at the TCC in person, including to serve a summons to clarify data, to conduct a medical examination or order for mobilization. The Law specifies only 4 reasons why a citizen may fail to appear when called by the TCC: a natural disaster, illness, war in the territory of residence, or the death of a close relative. Being abroad is not on the list of valid reasons. In case of failure to appear after 7 days, the procedure for restricting evaders, including the provision of consular services, is launched. The adoption of several by-laws and additional clarifications from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and other government bodies are now expected. In particular, it would be interesting to know what other data, in addition to personal data, needs to be given to the TCC for clarification and how a person liable for military service, who has grounds for deferment or removal from military registration, has the opportunity to transfer supporting documentation to the TCC.
We do not think that all men of military age who are abroad, who clarify their military registration data, will receive mobilization notices. At the same time, many will still receive summonses. In addition, the categorical statements of Minister Kuleba, if taken literally, indicate that Ukraine intends to firmly pursue the return of potential defenders of the homeland. We are far from sure that this will work by limiting the issuance of foreign passports. Ukraine and Mr. Kuleba, as its representative, should think about increasing the attractiveness of Ukraine for returning, study and correct the reasons why citizens left the country at one time, and not explain that something is not working for him. Otherwise, the statements of the authorities «not for an hour» men of military age who are abroad are able to respond in kind.