In the context of war and mass migration of Ukrainian citizens abroad, the issue of promptly obtaining international passports for Ukrainians outside Ukraine has become extremely relevant. Taking this into account, Ukrposhta, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, introduced a new service — delivery of ready international passports abroad, including to Canada.
This initiative significantly simplifies the process of obtaining documents for Ukrainians who cannot or do not wish to personally return to Ukraine to receive their passport.
General Conditions for International Passport Delivery Abroad
- The service is available to Ukrainian citizens who have applied for an international passport on the territory of Ukraine.
- Delivery is carried out exclusively to official foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine in the recipient country (for example, to the Embassy or Consulate of Ukraine in Canada).
- To order delivery, the applicant must provide a unique shipment number, assigned by the State Migration Service of Ukraine after document submission.
After the passport arrives abroad, it is issued at the relevant diplomatic institution upon mandatory personal identification (identity verification).
Delivery Cost
- The cost of delivering an international passport abroad is a fixed amount — 6 US dollars plus 10 UAH VAT, which is significantly cheaper than market rates for similar international express deliveries, currently ranging from 70 to over 100 US dollars.
- Payment for the service is made remotely through the user’s personal account on the Ukrposhta website, using an electronic QR-code postage label.
- Additional services include shipment insurance and SMS notifications about the status of the delivery.
Delivery Timeframes
- The general delivery timeframe for an international passport abroad is 3 to 14 working days, depending on the destination country, customs procedures, and the work of postal operators.
- For the USA and Canada, the approximate delivery time is 10 to 14 calendar days from the moment of shipment.
It is important to note that Canadian customs authorities may conduct additional inspections, which can occasionally affect delivery time.
Features of Passport Delivery to Canada
- Delivery is made to the diplomatic institution of Ukraine in Canada, specified by the applicant during the application process.
- After the passport is produced in Ukraine, Ukrposhta organizes its international shipment in compliance with data protection and official identity verification requirements.
- The passport is issued in Canada through a consular office, where the applicant must undergo personal identification according to Ukrainian legislation.
- In the future, it is planned to introduce direct delivery of passports to the applicant’s address, but currently, such an option is unavailable for security reasons and due to the need for mandatory in-person verification.
Passport Production Timeframes
- 20 working days — standard passport production.
- 7 working days — expedited production.
Thus, taking into account production and international delivery time, the estimated total time for receiving a passport in Canada ranges from 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the selected production speed and delivery process.
Shipment Tracking
Each passport receives a unique tracking number, allowing for shipment monitoring:
- Enter the number on the official Ukrposhta website in the “Shipment Tracking” section.
- The system displays the current status of the passport’s movement.
- SMS notifications can be activated for real-time updates.
Steps in Case of Delays
If the Passport is Delayed During Production
- Check the application status on the State Migration Service of Ukraine website using your application number.
- If the production deadline has passed, contact the migration service or the nearest consulate for clarification.
- In urgent cases (for example, planned travel), submit an official request to expedite passport production.
If the Shipment is Delayed After Production
- Check the shipment status using the tracking number on the Ukrposhta website.
- If no updates are available, contact Ukrposhta customer service for details.
- If delivery time is significantly exceeded, file an official complaint with Ukrposhta or contact the Canadian postal service to check the shipment status within Canada.
Conclusions
The new service of delivering international passports abroad is a significant improvement in access to official documents for Ukrainian citizens, especially for those who cannot or do not wish to return to Ukraine.
Ukrainians residing in Canada now have the opportunity to receive passports more quickly and securely, which is critically important for exercising the right to freedom of movement, consular protection, and legal identification abroad.
