Obligations of foreigners and document checks during martial law

This page is for Turkish citizens located in Ukraine during martial law (воєнний стан). Martial law gives authorities additional powers, such as identity checks, curfews, and movement restrictions. Below you will find the legal basis for these powers, when the police may request documents, which documents you should carry, border-zone rules, and an important rule for dual citizens. This page conveys official rules; consult a lawyer or a Republic of Türkiye mission in a specific matter.

• The legal basis is the Law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law" (Закон «Про правовий режим воєнного стану», 389-VIII). The text on the official portal is dated 4 March 2026.
• Under Article 8 of the law, military command and military administrations may, when necessary, take the following measures:
  • impose a curfew (комендантська година) and blackout
  • establish a special regime for entering and leaving the country; restrict the freedom of movement of citizens, foreigners, and stateless persons, as well as vehicle traffic
  • check people's documents; and, when necessary, search belongings, vehicles, luggage, and homes (subject to the limitations in the Constitution)
  • prohibit peaceful meetings, rallies, and demonstrations
  • restrict the choice of residence and place of stay in the martial-law area
  • confiscate communication devices, video and audio equipment, and computers in cases of violations of martial-law rules
• Under Article 21 of the law, the legal status of foreigners in Ukraine during martial law is determined by the Constitution, laws, and international treaties to which Ukraine is a party.
• Curfew hours and restrictions vary from region to region. Follow announcements from the military administration of the city where you are located.

• Under the National Police Law (Закон «Про Національну поліцію»), the police may request your identity document or a document proving a right in the following situations (Article 32):
  • if you resemble a wanted or missing person
  • if there are sufficient grounds to suspect that you have committed or are about to commit an offence
  • if you are in an area subject to a special regime or in a place where special police supervision is being carried out
  • if you have a weapon, ammunition, drugs, or another item requiring a permit
  • if you are at the scene of an offence, traffic accident, or other emergency
  • if your appearance, vehicle, or conduct provides sufficient grounds to believe that you are connected with an offence
• According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, checks during martial law must be based on a justification and must not be conducted indiscriminately.
• When addressing you, a police officer must state their surname, position, and rank and, if requested, show their service ID (Article 18). The special badge (жетон) must be visible on the uniform.
• During martial law, the police may also request military registration documents from men aged 18–60 (Article 32/2). Under the martial-law law, the obligation to carry this document applies to Ukrainian male citizens (Article 20). If you are a foreigner, show your passport and residence card.

• Your original passport. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminds people to carry an identity document when going outside.
• Your residence card (посвідка), if you have one. If you have added your card to the Diia app, its digital version is also valid (see U7.2).
• If you are staying visa-free, the passport page showing your date of entry into Ukraine. See U1.1 for the 90-days-in-180 rule.
• Your tax number and employment contract, if you are working.
• A photocopy or photograph of your passport and residence card, kept separately.
• If you will show a digital document: the Ministry of Internal Affairs reminds you that your phone must be charged, the internet must work, and you must be able to show the document during a power outage. Carry a backup power source.

• During curfew hours, only people with a special permit may be on the streets and in other public places.
• There are two exceptions to being outside without a permit:
  • going to the nearest shelter (укриття) during an air-raid alarm (повітряна тривога)
  • going to "Points of Invincibility" (Пункти Незламності) or heating points when there is an emergency in the energy sector
• The curfew applies both to walking and travelling by vehicle.
• No services are provided at Migration Service units during an air-raid alarm.
• For shelters and alarm applications, see U0.3.

• The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine amended the border-regime regulations by Resolution No. 1292 of 7 December 2023.
• The border strip (прикордонна смуга) is an area approximately 5 km wide from the state border. Settlements and public recreation areas are not included in the border strip.
• Entering, staying, residing, or working in the border strip requires a permit from the relevant unit of the State Border Guard Service (Державна прикордонна служба, ДПСУ).
• Those who do not need a permit include:
  • people entering the area to cross the border at an official border checkpoint
  • people whose journey begins and ends outside the border strip and who use state highways or railways that pass through the strip
• The Border Guard Service decides on an application within no more than 10 business days.
• Video recording, filming, and photography in the border strip also require a permit (see U9.2).
• Foreigners may enter and stay in the broader "controlled border area" (контрольований прикордонний район) with identity documents.
• Border Guard Service hotline: 1598.

• Under the Law of Ukraine on Citizenship, a Ukrainian citizen who also acquires the citizenship of another country is considered, in their legal relations with Ukraine, solely a Ukrainian citizen (Article 2). A foreigner who acquires Ukrainian citizenship is likewise considered solely a Ukrainian citizen in relations with Ukraine.
• The Border Guard Service announced on 23 September 2026:
  • Foreign citizens are not checked for military registration in Ukraine when crossing the border.
  • The Border Guard Service does not carry out mobilisation procedures at border checkpoints.
  • In the case concerned, it was discovered that the person was also a Ukrainian citizen and was wanted in military-registration records; the person was handed over to the police.
• According to the Border Guard Service, during martial law, the departure abroad of Ukrainian male citizens aged 18–60 is restricted; there are exceptions to the restriction. Under the citizenship-law rule, this restriction also applies to Turkish citizens who hold Ukrainian citizenship.
• If you have Ukrainian citizenship in addition to Turkish citizenship, consult the Ukrainian authorities and a Republic of Türkiye mission about your situation before travelling.

• Exceeding your permitted stay, failing to comply with address rules, or staying without documents may result in a fine, removal, and an entry ban (see U2.4).
• Knowingly using a forged document is a crime. Under Article 358/4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the penalty is a fine, supervised release for up to two years, or restriction of liberty.
• Sharing the location and movements of military units is a crime carrying a severe penalty (see U9.2).
• If you are detained, ask that the Republic of Türkiye mission be notified and call the mission.

• Ukraine: police 102; Ministry of Internal Affairs hotline 1536; Border Guard Service hotline 1598. For other numbers, see O2.1.
• Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Kyiv
  • Address: 22 Panasa Myrnoho Street, 01011 Kyiv
  • Telephone: +380 44 281 07 50 (consular services: weekdays 14:30–17:30)
  • Duty / emergency: +380 63 211 47 65
  • Email: embassy.kiev@mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Odesa
  • Address: 5 Leontovycha Street, 65014 Odesa
  • Telephone: +380 48 722 79 11, +380 48 722 79 39, +380 48 720 72 00
  • Duty / emergency: +380 93 711 00 24, +380 93 711 00 26
  • Email: consulate.odessa@mfa.gov.tr
• Consular Call Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye (24/7): +90 312 292 29 29

• Leaving your passport at home and going out with only a photocopy.
• Relying only on a digital document on your phone without accounting for charging and internet outages.
• Going outside at night without learning the curfew hours.
• Staying outside instead of going to a shelter during an air-raid alarm.
• Moving around or filming in the border strip without permission.
• Assuming that Ukrainian rules will not apply because, as a dual citizen, you entered Ukraine using only your Turkish passport.
• Handing over documents without confirming that the person conducting the check is a police officer. You have the right to ask to see their service ID.

• Can the police request my documents without cause? According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a check must be based on a justification and must not be conducted indiscriminately. The law lists the situations in which documents may be requested.
• Is a digital residence card sufficient? Digital documents in Diia have the same legal force as plastic documents. Carry your passport as well in case of outages.
• What happens if I am caught outside during curfew? You may be outside only with a permit or while going to a shelter during an air-raid alarm. Learn the curfew hours from the administration of the city where you are located.
• Can foreign men leave Ukraine? The departure restriction applies to Ukrainian male citizens. According to the Border Guard Service, foreigners are not checked at the border for military registration.
• I am both Turkish and Ukrainian; which rule applies? In your relations with Ukraine, you are considered solely a Ukrainian citizen.
• What should I do if I am detained? Ask that the Republic of Türkiye mission be notified and call the Embassy's emergency line. Contact a lawyer for legal assistance.

• Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law (full text in Ukrainian)
• National Police Law (full text in Ukrainian)
• Law of Ukraine on Citizenship
• Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine – Movement during curfew
• Border Guard Service – Border-strip permit
• Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Kyiv – Notice to citizens in Ukraine
• Consular appointment system of the Republic of Türkiye