Ukraine to Launch Passport Delivery Service for Citizens Abroad

The Ukrainian government is expanding digital consular services for citizens abroad through a new initiative that will enable international passport delivery via Nova Poshta starting in February 2025. This development marks a significant advancement in Ukraine’s digital transformation strategy, which has seen accelerated implementation since 2022 as part of the country’s efforts to modernize public services despite ongoing cybersecurity challenges from Russian cyberattacks targeting its digital infrastructure.

Nova Poshta is a prominent private logistics and postal company in Ukraine, specializing in parcel delivery, freight, and e-commerce logistics. Established in 2001, the company operates an extensive network of branches and automated parcel lockers across Ukraine, facilitating domestic and international shipments for individuals and businesses. The company has demonstrated its security capabilities through existing partnerships with Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, particularly in handling sensitive government documents.

The new passport delivery service through Nova Poshta will be available in select countries, though specific locations have not yet been announced. This initiative is being implemented alongside the e-Consul system, which aims to streamline access to consular services and improve the efficiency of document processing for Ukrainian citizens abroad. The e-Consul platform builds upon Ukraine’s existing Diia digital ecosystem, which already provides citizens with digital versions of their ID documents and access to government services through selfie-based authentication technology.

Additional digital services planned for 2025 include courier delivery options for passports and the ability to obtain driver’s licenses while abroad. The e-Consul system will provide a digital platform for accessing various consular documents and services, incorporating secure authentication methods and digital signatures to ensure document validity and security. This expansion follows Ukraine’s successful implementation of digital driver’s licenses in 2021, which allowed citizens to use smartphone-based credentials domestically.

The new system will enable Ukrainian citizens to complete necessary documentation processes without physically visiting consular offices, addressing a crucial need for the estimated 5 million Ukrainians living abroad. Implementation will occur through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ existing digital infrastructure, which has been progressively modernized to accommodate remote services and enhanced security protocols in response to evolving cybersecurity threats.

Source: Antikor

January 23, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy