New Border Crossing Regulations for Men in Odesa Region
Starting November 1, 2025, new simplified border crossing rules will be in effect for men aged 18 to 60 living in the border areas of the Odesa region, namely Odesa, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Izmail, and Bolhrad. This decision was made following a meeting of the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on September 26, 2025.
The primary goal of these changes is to facilitate and expedite the movement of Ukrainians through the transit section of the road passing through Moldova. Now, the process for obtaining a permit is faster and more convenient, with its validity extended to one year.
Key new features include:
- The application review period has been reduced to three days;
- The permit is now valid for up to one year (previously only six months).
Furthermore, in case of disputes, decisions will be made on-site, and for individuals in higher-risk categories, escort by border patrols is provided.
It is noteworthy that the Odesa-Reni route, particularly its transit section across Moldova, is the only way to the southern part of the region. An alternative route that used to cross a bridge over the Dniester Liman was damaged due to Russian missile strikes. Crossing the border at Palanka poses special challenges for men, as border guards require a special permit, which necessitates prior application submission to the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi border guard unit.
