You left Ukraine, but opened your international passport and discovered that there was no Ukrainian stamp about crossing the state border.
The problem often arises abroad, when the migration service, government agency or other institution asks to confirm the date of departure from Ukraine.
The absence of a stamp does not mean that border crossing cannot be confirmed.
Border-crossing information can be obtained from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine database.
Why didn't the Ukrainian border guard put a stamp?
For citizens of Ukraine, the stamp is not automatically affixed in every case.
The rules for crossing the state border provide that a mark in the passport document is affixed on the basis of a personal appeal from the citizen directly to the border guard checking the documents.
Therefore, a person could legally pass border control and leave Ukraine, but not receive the appropriate stamp in their passport.
Especially often, the missing stamp is only noticed later, when the document is needed to resolve issues abroad.
Is exit information saved without a stamp?
Yes.
The absence of a physical mark in a passport and the presence of an electronic record of border control are two different things.
SBGS maintains a database “Information about persons who crossed the state border of Ukraine, entered the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine or left such territory.”
It processes information about persons, documents, direction of crossing and system information about border control.
Consequently, even if there is no stamp in the passport, information about the relevant border crossing may be contained in the SBGS database.
How to officially confirm your departure date
To do this, you can contact the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and obtain information about your own crossings of the state border.
SBGS directly provides for the possibility of a citizen applying for such information.
In addition, the Regulations on the relevant database establish the right of each person to receive free of charge their own personal data contained in it.
The SBGS response can be used as official confirmation of the recorded fact of crossing the border. Practical overview of the procedure:how to obtain a SBGS certificate about crossing the border.
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If the person is already in Europe
Returning to Ukraine solely to obtain border crossing information is often not necessary.
The procedure can be organized through a lawyer in Ukraine.
The client provides the necessary identification data and documents, after which the lawyer prepares an application to the competent unit of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Since information about a person’s movement is confidential, special attention must be paid to the client’s consent to the lawyer receiving his personal data. More details for those who are already abroad: receiving a certificate remotely.
Is the document suitable for temporary protection in Europe?
This depends on the specific country and the specific migration procedure.
There is no uniform rule for the whole of Europe, according to which every Ukrainian is obliged to provide the SBGS certificate.
However, in situations where a foreign authority asks to confirm the date of departure from Ukraine, official information from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine may be one of the documents confirming the relevant circumstances.
Before ordering a document, it is advisable to check with the migration authority:
- which date needs to be confirmed;
- whether information is needed about one crossing or all crossings for a certain period;
- or translation is needed;
- what should be the method of certifying the translation.
This will allow you to immediately correctly formulate the request to the SBGS.
What to do if you need help urgently
If you are already abroad, it is first of all advisable to obtain from the foreign authority a clear understanding of exactly what information needs to be confirmed.
After this, the lawyer can prepare the appeal in such a way that the requested period and the content of the response correspond to the purpose of further use.
For example, instead of an abstract request for all data, it is more appropriate to define the specific period and circumstances that need to be confirmed.
Help from a lawyer
ProDefence helps citizens of Ukraine receive official information from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine about crossing the state border.
If you are abroad and your passport does not have the required stamp, please send us information about your situation and the requirements of the foreign authority.
We will determine what information you need to ask SBGS, prepare documents and arrange for an official response.
No exit stamp
Do I need to officially confirm the date of border crossing without a stamp in the passport?
Send ProDefence a description of the situation and requirements of the foreign authority - we will prepare a request to the SBGS and arrange for an official response.
Confidential. We work with clients in Ukraine and abroad.
