1994 Passport Booklets Still in Use: Ukrainians Urged to Upgrade Before Deadline.

Passport Situation in Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: A substantial number of Ukrainian citizens continue to carry old-style passport booklets issued back in 1994, and many are reluctant to swap them for modern ID cards. One major reason is the cost involved in obtaining new documents, which can feel like an extra burden amid ongoing economic difficulties.

Getting an ID card in 2026 will set you back 1,638 hryvnias. For those opting for the standard process, production takes up to 20 business days and costs 618 hryvnias. If you need it faster, an expedited service—completed within 7 business days—costs 988 hryvnias. On top of that, service fees payable to the state enterprise come to nearly 650 hryvnias.

Benefits and Challenges of ID Cards

For adult Ukrainians, an ID card is valid for 10 years. Notably, citizens aged 65 and older can receive a lifetime-valid ID card, which serves as an extra incentive for seniors. Despite these advantages, many people still cling to their old passports, highlighting a certain inertia when it comes to updating their documents.

As a result, the question of whether—and how urgently—to switch to new document formats remains open, given the costs and processing times involved.

The passport situation in Ukraine reflects broader socio-economic challenges facing the population. Many individuals avoid renewing their documents due to financial hardship, which can hinder everyday activities like opening bank accounts or traveling abroad. In response, government agencies might consider lowering ID card fees or ramping up public awareness campaigns about the benefits of the new documents, in order to encourage more people to exchange their old passport booklets. Such steps could improve citizen identification and streamline administrative procedures across the country.