Can men with deferment leave the country: rules, documents and risks of refusal

Having an official deferment from mobilisation does not automatically grant permission to leave the country. Men with this status may cross the state border only under specific conditions defined by current legislation. The Border Guard Service carefully checks military registration, the presence of relevant documents and the actual reason for the trip. If there are doubts about the authenticity of the data or if necessary confirmations are missing, departure may be refused.

Legal expert and lawyer Maksym Koloshkin detailed the nuances of leaving the country for deferred citizens in 2026.

Main grounds for departure for deferred employees

The procedure for crossing the border during martial law is regulated by laws on mobilisation and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 57.

The most impeccable ground for a trip abroad is considered to be an official business trip. In this case, the purpose of the trip must logically correspond to the employee's professional duties and the sphere of activity of their enterprise.

If the information in the documents raises questions or does not match the actual circumstances, border guards have the right to initiate an additional check. Without proper evidence of the right to leave, a citizen may be prohibited from crossing the border.

Also, certain categories of deferred employees have the right to leave the country on leave if they have permission from their employer and the relevant documents. At the same time, additional restrictions exist for some positions, and the legislative regulation of such trips is less clear compared to official business trips.

Categories allowed regular foreign trips

For representatives of certain professions, international trips are an integral part of the work process. These categories include:

• railway transport employees involved in international transport;
• crew members of Ukrainian and foreign vessels;
• aviation personnel;
• drivers performing international freight transport.

Particular attention should be paid to the transport of humanitarian aid and cargo critically necessary for meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It is important to understand that belonging to a profession alone does not guarantee unimpeded departure. For each of the listed categories, specific requirements for documents and mandatory confirmation of the performance of official functions are in force.

Specifics of departure with temporary 45-day deferment

Particular questions arise regarding employees who have received a temporary deferment for 45 days.

In accordance with Law No. 4630-IX, such deferment is granted to employees of defence industry complex enterprises that are critically important for meeting the needs of the Defence Forces.

Obtaining a temporary deferment is possible even in the presence of problems with military registration data. This applies to cases where an employee is not registered, has incorrectly filled documents, has not clarified personal data, or is being sought for violations of military registration rules.

Within 45 calendar days, the employee has the opportunity to resolve these issues, after which the employer will be able to process deferment on general grounds.

Currently, there is no separate ban in legislation on leaving the country solely due to the presence of a 45-day temporary deferment. However, unresolved problems with military registration data may complicate the document verification procedure at the border crossing point.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada is considering bill No. 14210, which provides for the introduction of additional restrictions on departure for persons who have received temporary deferment in the presence of military registration violations.

As of 23 October 2026, this document is at the stage of processing in the parliamentary committee, so the restrictions proposed by it have not yet entered into force.

The lawyer advises resolving all problems with military registration data and, if possible, processing deferment on general grounds before planning a foreign trip.

Required package of documents for crossing the border

Before the trip, a conscript needs to check the currency of their data in the "Reserve+" app and the "Obereg" registry. Particular attention should be paid to the validity period of the deferment and the presence of marks indicating possible violations of military registration rules.

Maksym Koloshkin recommends preparing the following set of documents:

• A valid passport of a citizen of Ukraine for leaving the country.
• A military registration document (in paper or electronic form) with current information about the deferment.
• A certified copy or extract from the employer's order regarding a business trip or leave.
• Documentary confirmation of the enterprise's status as critically important.
• A letter from the employer confirming the purpose, duration and conditions of the foreign trip.
• An invitation from foreign partners, documents about participation in a conference or other evidence of an official visit.
• Form OK-5 or OK-7 certificate to confirm employment relations and insurance record.

It is worth noting that some of the listed documents are of an auxiliary nature and are not mandatory for every deferred person in a universal order.

The key is the proper drafting of the letter from the enterprise. It is advisable to indicate the employee's position, the country of destination, the duration of stay abroad and the travel route. If necessary, information about purchased tickets and accommodation can be added.

The presence of a complete set of confirmations significantly reduces the risk of problems arising during border control. The final decision on permission to cross the border is made by the authorised officials of the State Border Guard Service, taking into account current legislation and the specific circumstances of the trip.

As previously reported, having a deferment from mobilisation does not always guarantee the right to leave the country. The key factors remain the ground for obtaining the deferment, the status of the conscript and the proper processing of all necessary documents.