"When crossing the state border, the interested person can personally ask the employees of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (ДПСУ) to put the appropriate stamp about crossing the state border in the passport document," — this is the response received by the League for Human Rights from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (ДПСУ) regarding the new rules for issuing dočasné útočisko (temporary protection) for military liable men.
This clarification is key for Ukrainians planning to obtain or extend temporary protection in Slovakia, as having a recent border crossing stamp can simplify the procedure.
Why this is important for Ukrainians in Slovakia
Since August 6, 2026, new rules for obtaining temporary protection for men aged 18 to 60 have been in effect in Slovakia. One of the requirements is proof of legal exit from Ukraine. According to information from Slovakia Garant, if the passport has a Ukrainian exit stamp that is no older than 90 days, men over 23 years old can apply with it, and then documents from the “Rezerv+” app are not needed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also recommends all citizens, regardless of gender and age, to get a border crossing stamp in their foreign passport to avoid possible difficulties when applying for temporary protection in EU countries. There have already been cases where women were denied protection in EU countries due to the absence of a border crossing stamp and military registration information.
How to get a border crossing stamp
According to paragraph 3 of Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine “On Border Control,” stamps about crossing the state border are not automatically put in Ukrainian citizens’ passport documents. However, as confirmed by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (ДПСУ), you can personally ask border guards to put such a stamp. Information about the fact of crossing the border is entered into the relevant database in any case.
If the stamp was not put, but you need official confirmation of border crossing, you can contact the administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with a request and get a special certificate.
“Rezerv+” and temporary protection
If there is no exit stamp or it is older than 90 days, to confirm military registration status when applying for or extending documents, applicants must provide an electronic military document from “Rezerv+,” necessarily supplemented by an official translation into Slovak or English, or a certificate officially certified by the diplomatic mission of Ukraine.
If the document is not certified by the consulate, the applicant is obliged to personally provide migration police officers access to verify the information directly in the app on their smartphone in their presence. It is important to note that any photos, screenshots, or ordinary paper printouts of the screen are not accepted by the police and are not considered valid evidence.
