Ukraine: Information on the status of internal passports, whether they are still in use and the effect of a stamp indicating that the passport holder is mentally ill
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UKR16432.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Information on the status of internal passports, whether they are still in use and the effect of a stamp indicating that the passport holder is mentally ill, 1 February 1994, UKR16432.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac7550.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a representative of the Ukrainian Consulate in Toronto, internal passports that were issued in the former USSR are still valid and currently in use in Ukraine (24 Feb. 1994). The representative indicated that these passports are only valid for travel within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and that travel outside the CIS requires an external passport (ibid.).
The representative indicated that he was unaware of passports that provide personal information such as an individual's mental condition (ibid.). The source stated that such information could only be contained in a separate medical certificate, not in a passport (ibid.).
A representative of the Canadian-Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society in Toronto corroborated the information that internal passports are still in use in Ukraine for travel within CIS countries, and that external passports are required for travel outside CIS countries (24 Feb. 1994). He also stated that applicants for internal and external passports are still subject to subjective selection criteria by local authorities (ibid.). The same source was unaware of any passport where reference is made to mental condition of the holder (ibid.).
In addition, the representative of the Ukrainian Consulate in Toronto indicated that with the exception of diplomatic and service passports, the new Ukrainian passports are still unavailable, thus former USSR passports stamped by Ukrainian authorities are used as external passports for travel abroad (ibid.).
For further information on freedom of movement and the existence of internal passports, please consult Responses to Information Requests UKR11277 of 11 August 1992 and UKR10979 of 12 June 1992, which are available at your Regional Documentation Centre.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Canadian-Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society, Toronto. 24 February 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Consulate of Ukraine, Ottawa. 24 February 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
