What is a "white passport", how to get and use it
20.04.2022The official name of the “white passport” is the person's certificate of return to Ukraine. This document is issued to Ukrainian citizens and foreigners who have the right to reside in Ukraine, who are outside the country and do not have documents allowing them to enter Ukrainian territory.
In normal times, this document was issued to residents of Ukraine who, while abroad, lost, expired or damaged documents. You need to understand that the only document that allows you to cross the Ukrainian border with the EU countries is a foreign passport of Ukraine. However, the Russian-Ukrainian war, which began on February 24, 2022, made adjustments.
A huge flow of refugees had to be urgently passed through the border. Therefore, both the Ukrainian side and the EU did not require foreign passports. Refugees were let through on the basis of Ukrainian internal passports and ID-cards, and sometimes even without these documents. Now the situation has stabilized, the work of the border guards is returning to normal. If a resident of Ukraine does not have a valid foreign passport, he will need a Certificate of Return to Ukraine to enter his country. This is a white document, often referred to as a "white passport".
These certificates are issued by the diplomatic missions of Ukraine abroad. The Ukrainian embassy in the Netherlands is located in The Hague at: Zeestraat, 78 ; телефоны: +31-703-62-60-95; +31-703-60-72-18.
The usual term for issuing a document is 1 day, the maximum is 5 days from the date of transfer of all necessary documents to the consulate. If the issuance of a "white passport" requires sending a written request, the processing time may be extended up to 30 days.
Persons who have reached the age of 16 are issued a personal Certificate of return to Ukraine. Children who have not reached this age fit into the document of one of the parents.
List of required documents
An applicant for a "white passport" must submit the following documents to the consulate:
- Completed application form. Information about children under the age of 16 is entered in the questionnaire of one of the parents.
- Documents confirming the circumstances as a result of which a person does not have documents to enter Ukraine. This may be a theft report, various certificates, etc.
- Documents that can confirm the citizenship of Ukraine or give the right to enter the country (if any). This may be a passport, a residence permit for a foreigner, documents confirming the refugee status assigned by Ukraine.
- Certificate of registration by a Ukrainian citizen of a child born from citizens of Ukraine abroad, and a document confirming the fact of birth. Foreign birth documents must be accompanied by a notarized translation into Ukrainian.
- A document confirming the identity of the legal representative, and documents giving him the right to represent the interests of the guarded person (if the documents are submitted by the representative).
- A 10 x 15 cm color photograph. The photo is scanned and a digitized image is inserted into the document.
- Receipt of payment of the consular fee (equivalent to 30 USD).
Validity of the Certificate of return to Ukraine
"White Passport" is valid until the moment of entry into Ukraine, but not more than 30 days. If a person who has received a Certificate of Return cannot enter Ukraine within 30 days due to circumstances (illness, etc.), the document can be extended by the consulate for a period not exceeding 30 days. To extend the validity of the Certificate, you must submit an application to the consulate.
