Ukraine urges citizens seeking EU temporary protection to get border exit stamp

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has advised Ukrainians traveling to EU countries to seek temporary protection to obtain an exit stamp in their international passport, saying it may help prove that they left Ukraine legally.

The recommendation was first published by the Ukrainian Embassy in Belgium on Aug. 20.

"To avoid potential difficulties when applying for temporary protection in EU countries, we advise all Ukrainian citizens, regardless of sex or age, to obtain a stamp confirming their border crossing in their international passport from a Ukrainian State Border Guard Service officer when leaving Ukraine," the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry said the recommendation comes amid new EU rules governing temporary protection for Ukrainians and a lack of centralized guidance on how the rules should be implemented across member states.

Under a Council of the EU decision adopted on July 30, temporary protection is to be granted to new applicants who comply with their military obligations under Ukrainian law, with proof required where applicable.

The new requirement does not apply to people who already held temporary protection in a given EU member state on or before July 30 and have continuously retained that status there.

An exit stamp in a passport can serve as evidence that a person was authorized to leave Ukraine legally. An official paper or electronic document confirming exemption from or compliance with military obligations can also be used.

Reports have emerged that authorities in some EU countries have asked Ukrainian applicants, including women, to provide information from Ukraine’s Reserve+ military registration app when applying for temporary protection.

The Foreign Ministry said it has already provided the European Commission with the relevant information from Ukrainian authorities but that EU member states have yet to receive centralized instructions on implementing the new rules.

“The reason for the current problematic situations ... is not a lack of information from the Ukrainian side, but the fact that the EU has not yet provided member states with the necessary centralized guidance on implementing the decision,” the ministry said.

The ministry added that Ukrainians who are already abroad and do not have an exit stamp can request an official certificate confirming their border crossing from Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service online.

The European Commission is expected to provide EU member states with updated operational guidance on implementing the new temporary protection rules in the coming weeks.