On 2 June 2006, Ukraine acceded to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (HCCH 31 Aug. 2006), which aims "to secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to or retained in any Contracting State" (ibid. 1 Dec. 1983).

During a 6 February 2007 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a consular official from the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa provided the following information: Ukrainian law stipulates that a parent travelling abroad with a child who is a minor requires the written notarized consent of the other parent. Otherwise, authorities will not permit the child to travel. The Consular Official noted that this rule is applied on a consistent basis.

According to the Consular Official, immigration authorities require minor children to carry a passport when they leave the country. Minor children may have their own separate passports, or their passport data may be inscribed into one of their parent's passports. A child's passport contains the child's name, gender and date of birth. The child's photo is also attached from the age of five onwards. In some cases, authorities may ask to see a birth certificate in addition to the child's passport.

The Consular Official stated that if the parents are divorced, the parent travelling with the minor child is still required to obtain notarized consent before leaving the country. If the other parent is missing, a court decree is required to show that the custodial parent cancelled the other parent's parental rights. If the other parent is deceased, a death certificate must be presented to travel abroad. Further or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). 31 August 2006. "Status Table: Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction." http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=24 [Accessed 6 Feb. 2007]

_____. 1 December 1983. Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.pdf&cid=24 [Accessed 26 Feb. 2007]

Ukraine. 6 February 2007. Embassy of Ukraine, Ottawa. Telephone interview with a consular official.

Internet sites, including: Borispol Airport [Kiev], Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Legislationline, Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United States Department of State.