Ukrainians under the age of 24, who receive deferments due to studying abroad, are afraid to return to Ukraine, according to members of parliament. Therefore, they propose to change the laws and thus improve the demographic situation.
A group of members of parliament proposed draft bill №12361, which provides for allowing certain categories of conscripted men to travel abroad. If the bill receives support in the Verkhovna Rada, citizens who are students of foreign educational institutions in 2025 will be able to travel. The bill also clearly specifies the documents that need to be presented when crossing the border. The bill, initiated by 21 deputies, is published on the parliamentary portal.
Travel abroad — draft bill on students under 24
The draft bill №12361 proposes amendments to four laws: "On Military Duty", "On the Procedure of Exit from the Country", "On Military Status", "On Education". The proposed changes pertain to students of foreign educational institutions studying in full-time or dual forms. They will be allowed to travel freely abroad while the deferment from basic military service is in effect (i.e., until 24 years of age).
The draft bill specifies two additional conditions that will allow students under 24 to travel abroad:
The citizen was admitted to a foreign educational institution within a year after finishing school (i.e., after receiving complete secondary education) or after completing a technical college; As of January 1, 2025, the citizen is already a student of a foreign educational institution.Documents that will be sufficient for crossing the border under the above conditions:
A document confirming the fact of study (this can even be a student card); A military registration document in electronic or paper form.In justification of the proposals, deputies noted their concern for Ukrainians younger and older than 18 years. They stressed that, on one hand, minors go abroad where they enroll in foreign universities. On the other hand, there are young people over 18 studying abroad who also do not return to Ukraine, fearing they will not be allowed back. This, according to deputies, leads to the weakening of ties with their home country and worsening of the demographic situation, which is why they proposed a solution to this problem.
Draft bill 12361 was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on December 26, and initially, it should be reviewed by the relevant committee on foreign policy and interparliamentary cooperation. Then it will be analyzed by other committees, after which the deputies’ initiative may be considered in parliament.
On the Facebook page of the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on International Affairs, Oleksandr Merezhko, there are currently no comments regarding the draft bill on students of foreign universities traveling abroad.