The Ukrainian government has changed the procedure for verifying military registration documents when obtaining consular services abroad: men aged 18–60 are no longer required to specifically generate an electronic military registration document no earlier than 72 hours before visiting an embassy or consulate.
Now, to receive consular services, it is sufficient to present an electronic military registration document that is valid at the time of the visit to the diplomatic mission, according to the Consular Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The new rules are already being implemented by Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad.
The electronic military registration document, or e-MRD, is generated via the “Reserve+” mobile app and is used by the consul to verify a citizen’s military registration data.
Previously, men aged 18 to 60 were required to present an e-VOD—generated no earlier than 72 hours before visiting a diplomatic mission—when applying for virtually any consular service. The 72-hour requirement has now been abolished. The main condition is that the document must remain valid, and the personal data it contains must be up to date.
In what cases may the consulate refuse service
A consular service may be denied if the e-VOD is invalid or if verification reveals that the data needs to be updated, if the applicant has not presented a valid document at all, or if the document lacks confirmation that the personal data is current.
However, the requirement to present a military registration document does not apply to all consular services.
An e-VOD is not required when applying for an identity certificate to return to Ukraine. An exception also applies when performing consular services for children of Ukrainian citizens if the other parent is a foreign national or a stateless person, as well as for applications from Ukrainians who are under arrest, detained, or imprisoned abroad.
What Should Ukrainians Do If They Cannot Log In to “Reserve+”?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced additional simplifications for citizens abroad who are unable to log in to “Reserve+.”
In the near future, they plan to allow these citizens to update their military registration data through Ukrainian embassies and consulates. By the end of 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, intends to introduce a mechanism for updating data through consular registration.
To do this, a citizen will need to register with the consulate if they have not already done so, or update their information at a diplomatic mission if they are already registered with the consulate.
A separate procedure is provided for Ukrainians who cannot update their information through “Reserve+” due to the lack of a taxpayer identification number. Such citizens may personally contact the nearest Ukrainian embassy or consulate to obtain a taxpayer identification number using the “e-Consul” system.
Thus, the changes do not eliminate the requirement for men aged 18–60 to have a valid military registration document for most consular services, but they significantly simplify the procedure: it is no longer necessary to regenerate the e-VOD specifically within 72 hours before each visit to the consulate.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends checking “Reserve+” before your visit to ensure that your e-VOD is valid and that your personal information is up to date.
Official clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: procedure for verifying military registration documents at Ukrainian consulates and embassies abroad. A similar clarification has been published by Ukrainian embassies and consulates in other countries.
CONSULATE, military registration, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, reserve, е-ВОД
