After leaving Ukraine, it may be necessary to document the exact date of crossing the state border. Such a document may be required for migration procedures abroad, registration of temporary protection, confirmation of stay outside Ukraine, or provision to foreign government agencies.
At the same time, the foreign passport of a citizen of Ukraine may not contain a border crossing stamp.
This does not mean that departure information is not recorded.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine maintains a database of persons who crossed the state border of Ukraine. It stores information about the relevant border crossings.
Why there may not be a stamp on exit from Ukraine in the passport
Ukrainian border guards are not required to automatically stamp a Ukrainian citizen during each border crossing.
In accordance with paragraph 19 of the Rules for crossing the state border by citizens of Ukraine, a mark on crossing the state border is affixed on the basis of a personal appeal from the citizen to the authorized official conducting the document check.
Therefore, a situation where a person has actually left Ukraine, but there is no corresponding mark in the passport, is quite possible.
The very border crossing itself can be recorded in the SBGS information systems.
What information does SBGS store?
The operating procedure of the database is determined by the Regulations approved by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 614 of September 27, 2022.
In particular, the database processes:
- last name, first name and other personal identification data;
- date of birth and citizenship;
- details of the document on which the crossing took place;
- direction of crossing the state border;
- information about the checkpoint;
- system data related to the recording of the border crossing.
Personal data on this database is stored for 10 years.
What is a border crossing certificate?
In everyday life and search queries, such a document is often called a SBGS certificate about crossing the border.
Legally, this may be an official response or a letter from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine containing information from the database about the crossing of the state border by a specific person.
Depending on the content of the appeal, the document may contain information about recorded exits and entries for a certain period.
It is such an official document that can be used to confirm the fact and cross the border.
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When confirmation of border crossing may be required
The document can be useful when you need to confirm:
- date of departure from Ukraine;
- date of return to Ukraine;
- fact of being outside Ukraine for a certain period;
- absence of a Ukrainian border stamp in the passport;
- circumstances for the foreign migration service;
- actual date of movement from Ukraine.
A separate category are Ukrainians who register or confirm their migration status in European countries.
In a specific procedure, a foreign authority may require confirmation of departure from Ukraine or other circumstances of movement. The list of documents depends on the legislation of a particular country.
Is it possible to get information through a lawyer?
Such a procedure can be organized through a lawyer representing the client’s interests before the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Since information about crossing the state border relates to confidential information and personal data, an important element of the procedure is the proper documentation of the lawyer’s authority and the person’s consent to the disclosure of their information.
The lawyer prepares a request indicating the required period and client identification data, adds the necessary documents and sends it to the competent department of the SBGS.
The processing of such information is carried out, in particular, by the Main Centre for Special Information Processing of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Do I need to return to Ukraine?
In many cases, it is possible to organize the receipt of a document without the client’s personal return to Ukraine.
This is especially true for Ukrainian citizens who are in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, France, the Netherlands or other countries and need confirmation of their departure date.
Once a SBGS response has been received, its use abroad may additionally require translation of the document in accordance with the requirements of the specific foreign authority. More details: how to get a certificate while abroad , and what to do if there is no stamp in your passport .
How can we help
ProDefence lawyers can organize the receipt of official SBGS information about crossing the state border of Ukraine.
We:
- we analyze the situation and determine the required period;
- we prepare a lawyer’s request and necessary documents;
- we formalize the receipt of the client’s personal data;
- we send the appeal to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine;
- we monitor the response;
- we transfer the received official document to the client.
SBGS border-crossing certificate
Does your passport lack an exit stamp, but you need official confirmation of the departure date?
Contact ProDefence. Our lawyers will prepare a request to the SBGS, document your consent to the disclosure of personal data and arrange an official response, including remotely while you are abroad.
Confidential. No unfounded guarantees regarding a government authority’s response time.
