A woman you met online says she lives in Donetsk, Luhansk, Horlivka, Makiivka, Alchevsk or another occupied city. She claims that she needs money to obtain or renew a Ukrainian passport before she can meet you.

Can a resident of occupied territory legally receive a Ukrainian passport?

Yes. A Ukrainian citizen from an occupied part of the Donetsk or Luhansk region can apply for a Ukrainian ID card or an international passport. Living in occupied territory does not cancel Ukrainian citizenship or the right to obtain Ukrainian documents.

However, the applicant must be identified and confirmed as a Ukrainian citizen. When earlier records are unavailable or the person has never received a biometric document, this verification can take considerably longer than ordinary passport production.

A private agent cannot legally bypass identity verification or issue a biometric Ukrainian passport remotely without the applicant’s participation.

Ukrainian passport application through the State Migration Service — Ukrainian passports are issued through the State Migration Service and authorized service centers after the applicant’s identity is verified.

Quick Answer

A resident of occupied Donetsk or Luhansk can apply for:

a Ukrainian passport in the form of an ID card;
a Ukrainian passport for travel abroad;
replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged Ukrainian passport;
exchange of an old passport booklet for an ID card;
replacement of a passport after a change of name or other personal information.

The procedure generally follows the same legal rules that apply to other Ukrainian citizens. The main additional difficulty is establishing the applicant’s identity when records were created or stored in an office that is now located in occupied territory.

Which Ukrainian Passport Does She Need?

The word “passport” can refer to two different Ukrainian documents.

Document	Purpose	Can it normally be used for international travel?
Ukrainian ID card	Internal proof of identity and Ukrainian citizenship	No
Ukrainian passport for travel abroad	International travel and visa procedures	Yes, subject to the destination country’s entry and visa rules
Old passport booklet issued under the 1994 format	Older internal identity document	No

If a woman says that she needs a passport to travel to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or most European destinations, she normally means a passport for travel abroad.

An internal ID card or old Ukrainian passport booklet does not replace an international passport.

Read our detailed explanation of the old Ukrainian passport booklet and its validity.

Can a Person from Occupied Territory Remain a Ukrainian Citizen?

Yes. Residence in a territory occupied by the Russian Federation does not automatically terminate Ukrainian citizenship.

A person may continue to be a Ukrainian citizen even if she:

currently lives in an occupied city;
uses a locally issued or Russian-format phone number;
has difficulty accessing Ukrainian government institutions;
has not received a biometric Ukrainian passport;
possesses an old Ukrainian passport booklet;
has received documents imposed by the occupying authorities.

Citizenship and passport eligibility must still be confirmed through the official Ukrainian procedure.

Where Can She Apply?

Current State Migration Service guidance allows Ukrainian ID cards and international passports to be processed through:

working territorial offices of the State Migration Service of Ukraine;
centers of the state enterprise “Document”;
authorized administrative service centers, commonly known as CNAP offices.

Passport services are generally available regardless of the applicant’s registered place of residence.

The applicant should use the official State Migration Service electronic queue or contact an authorized service center directly.

Static lists of office addresses can become outdated because offices may relocate, suspend operations or change their contact details. The applicant should select a currently operating office through the official DMS website.

Does She Have to Leave Occupied Territory?

Ukrainian passport documents cannot normally be issued inside a city where Ukrainian government institutions do not operate.

The applicant generally has to reach:

Ukrainian government-controlled territory;
an authorized Ukrainian passport center abroad, where the requested service is available; or
a Ukrainian consular institution if applying outside Ukraine under the applicable consular procedure.

Travel from occupied territory can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming. However, the cost and route should be evaluated separately from the official passport fee.

A large payment described simply as a “passport fee” may actually combine transportation, accommodation, private assistance and other expenses. Each item should be explained and independently verified.

Is Personal Attendance Required?

For an adult applicant, the passport application is generally submitted personally.

Personal participation is required because the authorized officer may need to:

confirm the applicant’s identity;
take a digital photograph;
capture the applicant’s signature;
collect fingerprints where required;
compare the applicant with previous records and photographs;
ask questions needed for identity verification;
issue the completed document to the correct person.

A private intermediary cannot lawfully complete these identity and biometric procedures instead of the applicant.

Special procedures may be available when a person cannot move independently because of a serious health condition. In such cases, authorized DMS employees—not an informal private agent—may arrange an official visit.

Why Identity Verification Is Required

The State Migration Service cannot issue a passport solely because a person provides a name, photograph or old document.

Before approving the application, officials must establish:

that the applicant is the person she claims to be;
that the personal data are correct;
that the person is a citizen of Ukraine;
that there is no conflicting identity in state records;
that the documents submitted have not been altered or misused.

The final decision to issue or refuse the passport is made after identity and citizenship checks are completed.

How Is the Identity of a Resident of Occupied Territory Established?

The main method is checking information in the Unified State Demographic Register. This register contains information about people who previously received:

a Ukrainian ID card;
a biometric Ukrainian passport for travel abroad;
other documents issued through the demographic register.

If the applicant’s information is already present in the register, identification is usually easier.

If the information is absent, the State Migration Service may use:

archived paper files;
other Ukrainian state registers;
civil-status records;
tax and social records where legally available;
previous passport photographs;
documents and personal information supplied by the applicant;
information about parents, children or other relatives;
witness interviews when other methods are insufficient.

When witnesses cannot safely or practically appear in person, Ukrainian authorities may conduct the identity-establishment procedure through videoconference under the applicable rules.

Which Documents Can Help?

The exact list depends on the type of passport and the applicant’s situation. Useful evidence may include:

an old Ukrainian passport booklet;
a previous Ukrainian international passport;
a Ukrainian ID card, including an expired one;
a birth certificate;
a marriage certificate;
a divorce certificate or court decision;
documents confirming a change of surname;
a Ukrainian driver’s license;
education documents;
employment records;
a taxpayer identification number;
documents belonging to the applicant’s parents or children;
copies or photographs of previously held Ukrainian documents;
any other official record containing the applicant’s photograph and personal data.

No single unofficial list guarantees approval. The State Migration Service evaluates all available information and determines whether the person has been reliably identified.

What If She Has No Original Documents?

The absence of an original passport does not always make documentation impossible.

The applicant should still provide all available information, including:

the exact name used in previous documents;
date and place of birth;
previous registered addresses;
passport series and number, if known;
the name of the office that issued the previous passport;
information about parents and children;
copies, scans or photographs of old documents;
details of relatives who may participate as witnesses.

If the person cannot be identified through registers, archives and other submitted information, the DMS may begin a formal identity-establishment procedure involving witnesses.

Why the Process Can Take Up to Two Months

Standard passport production periods do not always include the time required for additional identity verification.

The process may take up to two months when:

the applicant provides only an old passport booklet issued in occupied territory;
she has no valid biometric passport recorded in the demographic register;
the original paper archive is inaccessible;
different records contain inconsistent personal data;
official requests must be sent to several institutions;
witnesses must be interviewed;
citizenship requires additional confirmation.

In such cases, paying the higher fee for urgent passport production may not significantly shorten the total process. The document cannot be produced until identification has been completed.

Official Passport Fees in 2026

The following fees apply when documents are processed through State Migration Service offices in Ukraine. Passport Service centers and consular institutions may charge additional service or consular fees.

Document	Official processing period	2026 administrative fee	Approximate USD equivalent
First Ukrainian ID card	According to the applicable first-document procedure	Free	$0
ID card exchange or replacement	Up to 20 working days	618 UAH	About $14
Urgent ID card exchange or replacement	Up to 7 working days	988 UAH	About $22
International passport	Up to 20 working days	1,147 UAH	About $26
Urgent international passport	Up to 7 working days	1,787 UAH	About $40

The dollar equivalents are approximate and change with the exchange rate.

These official amounts do not include:

travel from occupied territory;
temporary accommodation;
translations or notarization where required;
fees charged by Passport Service centers;
consular fees outside Ukraine;
legal assistance in an unusually complicated citizenship case.

An online contact should clearly distinguish the official government fee from her personal travel and living expenses.

Can an Agent Obtain a Ukrainian Passport Without Her?

A private agent cannot legally issue an ordinary biometric Ukrainian passport without the applicant’s participation.

Be cautious when a woman claims that an intermediary can:

issue the passport without her visiting an authorized office;
avoid biometric data collection;
skip identity verification;
create a passport in one or two days;
insert her information into the government database for an extra fee;
activate a passport after it has been produced;
remove a supposed travel restriction from the passport;
guarantee approval before the authorities review her identity.

A lawyer may provide advice or help prepare supporting documents. A travel assistant may help arrange transportation. Neither person can replace the State Migration Service or guarantee issuance of the document.

Common Passport Scam Stories

Requests involving passports are common in international dating scams because foreign men rarely know the actual Ukrainian procedure or official fees.

“I Need $1,500 for an Urgent Passport”

The official Ukrainian administrative fee for an international passport is far lower. A larger amount may include travel and accommodation, but these costs must be itemized and supported by verifiable evidence.

“The Agent Will Make It Without Me”

A normal biometric passport application requires personal participation. A private person who promises to bypass this requirement is a serious warning sign.

“I Must Pay to Confirm My Citizenship”

Identity and citizenship checks are part of the official process. A vague private payment for “access to the citizenship database” or “archive activation” should be treated with caution.

“The Passport Is Ready, but It Must Be Activated”

Ukrainian passports are not activated through a private transfer to an agent, customs officer or bank employee.

“The Office Requires Proof of Funds”

Proof of personal funds is not an ordinary government fee for issuing a Ukrainian passport. Visa applications and border entry requirements are separate matters.

“A New Fee Appeared After Every Payment”

A typical scam may progress through payments for:

identity confirmation;
the passport application;
urgent processing;
archive access;
travel to the office;
delivery of the completed document;
activation or release of the passport.

The appearance of a new undocumented fee after each payment is a high-risk pattern.

How to Verify Her Passport Application Story

Before sending money, ask for specific and verifiable information.

Identify the document. Is she applying for an ID card or a passport for travel abroad?
Ask where she will apply. Obtain the exact name and address of the DMS, CNAP or Passport Service center.
Ask whether she has attended personally. A real application should involve personal participation.
Request the application date. The timeline should remain consistent.
Separate official and travel costs. The government fee should be clearly distinguished from transportation and accommodation.
Check the payment recipient. Determine whether money is being paid to an official service, the woman or an unexplained third party.
Review the receipt. Check the institution, amount, date, payment details and purpose.
Ask about identity verification. A person without biometric records may face a longer procedure.
Check the status independently. Use the official DMS document-status service where the required application details are available.

The official DMS document-status service can show stages of passport production after a real application has been accepted.

What a Receipt Does Not Prove

A receipt or application screenshot can be edited, fabricated or connected to another person.

A document image does not independently prove:

that the woman submitted the application;
that the application concerns the passport she described;
that the receipt amount is an official passport fee;
that the passport will be issued;
that the identity in the application matches the woman in the photographs;
that the passport is needed for the travel plan she described.

The receipt, identity, application office and complete story should be checked together.

Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Verification

the requested amount is many times higher than the official fee;
she cannot identify the passport office;
the money must be paid to a private agent;
she claims that no personal attendance is required;
the agent guarantees the passport before identity checks;
the document will allegedly be produced in one or two days;
she refuses to separate travel expenses from government fees;
she sends only cropped or blurred receipts;
the applicant’s name is missing from the documents;
the issuing office or payment recipient cannot be verified;
another fee appears after each payment;
the passport story contradicts her earlier statements about her identity or location.

What Is Not Automatically Suspicious?

Some circumstances can be legitimate:

the procedure takes longer than the standard passport-production period;
the applicant is asked for additional documents;
relatives are involved as witnesses;
officials conduct a video interview with witnesses;
the applicant travels to another region to submit documents;
the total personal cost exceeds the administrative fee because travel is required;
the applicant is unable to provide an old biometric passport;
the old passport booklet was issued by an office now located in occupied territory.

These details should be verified, not automatically accepted or rejected.

Can a Newly Issued Passport Still Be Used in a Scam?

Yes. A genuine Ukrainian passport does not prove that the relationship or financial story is honest.

A real document may be used while:

the woman lies about her marital status;
another person writes the messages;
the passport photograph was copied from the real owner;
the woman participates in a coordinated romance scam;
the travel plan is fabricated;
the ticket, visa or medical documents are fake;
payments are directed to unrelated people.

Passport authenticity and the honesty of the complete relationship are separate questions.

Read our guide on verifying a dating story involving Donetsk or Luhansk.

Ukrainian Passport Verification

If the woman has already sent a passport image, our Ukrainian passport verification service can assess the document.

The examination may include:

document type and format;
personal-data layout;
passport number logic;
issuing authority information;
photograph integration;
fonts, spacing and printing characteristics;
machine-readable data where applicable;
visible signs of digital alteration;
consistency between the passport and the woman’s story;
whether further identity investigation is necessary.

The price is €90, approximately $102 at the exchange rate applicable when this article was updated. Currency equivalents may change.

Results are normally prepared within 24 hours after payment and receipt of clear document images.

Verify a Ukrainian Passport – $90

Full Verification of the Woman and Her Story

If the concern involves more than the document, use our full verification of a Ukrainian or Russian woman.

The full investigation can include:

her real identity where it can be established;
full name and date of birth;
comparison with the photographs she sent;
phone number and email research;
social media and dating-profile searches;
passport and document assessment;
analysis of her claimed location;
verification of payment recipients;
review of the passport application and travel story;
comparison with known romance scam patterns;
a clear written conclusion about the risk.

The standard price is $195. Results are normally prepared within 24 hours.

The investigation is confidential. We do not contact the woman or tell her that a verification was requested.

Verify Her Identity and Passport Story – $195

Final Answer

A Ukrainian citizen from occupied Donetsk or Luhansk can legally obtain a Ukrainian ID card or international passport.

The application must be processed through the State Migration Service or another authorized center. The applicant normally participates personally, and her identity and citizenship must be confirmed before the document can be issued.

When biometric records and accessible archives are unavailable, identification can take up to two months. This delay can be legitimate, but it does not justify unexplained private fees or a promise that an agent can bypass official checks.

Before sending money, verify the exact document, application office, official fee, payment recipient, receipt, processing status and connection between the applicant and the identity being used online.