In brief
- What is a deferment: It is the right not to be called up for military service during mobilisation, provided that the grounds specified by law remain in force.
- Where are the grounds set out: All grounds are listed exclusively in Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine No. 3543-XII ‘On Mobilisation Preparation and Mobilisation’ (as amended in 2026). It contains 24 clauses in Part 1, a further 6 clauses in Part 3, as well as separate categories in Parts 5–7.
- How to submit an application: Applications must be submitted in person via the Administrative Service Centre (ASC) addressed to the chair of the Territorial Commission for Conscription and Military Service at the place of registration, or electronically via the Reserve+ app. It is currently not possible to submit an application from abroad.
- Processing times: The Commission considers the application within 7 working days from the date of registration; if additional enquiries to state bodies are required, the process takes no longer than 15 working days.
- Validity period: The deferral is granted for the duration of the grounds for deferral, but not longer than the duration of the mobilisation. If the mobilisation is extended by a Presidential Decree, the deferral is automatically extended or following a cross-check of the registers.
- Caring for relatives: In the case of caring for one person (clauses 9–14 of Part 1 of Article 23), only one person liable for military service may be granted a deferment.
What is a deferment and where are the grounds set out
The list of grounds for deferment is exhaustive and closed: it is defined solely by Article 23 of Law No. 3543-XII. The procedure for conscription (approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 560 of 16 May 2024) refers directly to this article in paragraph 56.
Legislation in this area is regularly updated. In particular, Article 23 was substantially amended by Laws of Ukraine No. 4170-IX of 19 December 2024, No. 4574-IX of 21 August 2025 and No. 4742-IX of 18 December 2025. Therefore, before submitting documents, be sure to check the current version of the law on the official portal zakon.rada.gov.ua.
All grounds for deferral: map of Article 23
| Part and paragraph of Article 23 | Who is eligible |
|---|---|
| Part 1, paragraph 1 | Reserve personnel who are on special military registration |
| Part 1, sub-paragraph 2 | Persons with a disability or those temporarily unfit for service for 6–12 months, as determined by the Medical Examination Commission |
| Part 1, sub-paragraphs 3–15 | Family circumstances: parents of large families, single parents, parents of children with disabilities, carers of relatives, spouses of military personnel |
| Part 1, paragraphs 16–23 | Certain officials |
| Part 1, paragraph 24 | Other cases provided for by law |
| Part 3, paragraph 1 | Full-time or dual-track students, doctoral candidates, and interns |
| Part 3, paragraph 2 | Academics holding a degree and teachers |
| Part 3 | Families of those killed or missing in action, and families of Heroes of Ukraine who were participants in the Revolution of Dignity |
| Part 3, paragraph 6 | Civilians who were deprived of their liberty as a result of armed aggression, following their release |
| Part 5 | Those who have completed basic military service — up to the age of 25 |
| Part 6 | Those discharged to the reserve following release from captivity |
| Part 7 | Persons aged 18–25 following a one-year contract — 12 months after discharge |
If your specific clause is not covered below, please ensure you read the full text of the law, as the requirements for individual officials depend in detail on their position.
Deferral on family grounds: children
Family grounds are set out in detail in paragraphs 3–15 of Part 1 of Article 23. For children, the law sets an age limit of 18 years:
Three or more children under the age of 18 (paragraph 3): The main condition is that any arrears in maintenance payments (if any) must not exceed the amount of three months’ payments. A larger debt disqualifies you from a deferral under this clause.
Single parents (clause 4): If the other parent has died, has been deprived of parental rights, has been declared missing, or if you are raising the child on your own by court order.
A child with a disability under the age of 18 (clause 5).
A seriously ill child (clause 6): As per the list of illnesses specified in the relevant regulatory acts.
An adult child with a Group I or II disability (clause 7).
An adopted orphan or a child deprived of parental care under the age of 18 (clause 8): Guardians, carers, foster parents, foster carers and patronage carers who are responsible for the maintenance of such a child have a similar right.
A child under the age of 18 and a husband (or wife) in military service (clause 15).
Deferral for the care of parents and relatives
Section 23 concerning the care of relatives was amended following the adoption of Law No. 4170-IX of 19 December 2024. There are three key provisions in total, each of which contains clearly defined conditions:
| Paragraph 1 of Article 23 | Who is to be cared for | Mandatory conditions and requirements |
|---|---|---|
| clause 9 (as amended by No. 4170-IX) | A sick spouse, child, or one’s own father or mother | An opinion from the Medical and Social Expertise Commission (MSEC), the Medical Examination Commission (MEC) or an expert panel confirming the need for constant care. |
| para. 9 (ed. No. 4170-IX) | Spouse’s father or mother | 1. A report confirming the need for constant care. 2. The spouse is themselves in need of care, has died, is missing or has been declared dead. 3. Absence of other able-bodied family members who are obliged and able to provide care. |
| para. 13 | One of the applicant’s own parents or the parents of their spouse has a Group I or II disability | Absence of other persons who are not liable for military service and who are legally obliged to support them. |
| para. 14 (ed. No. 4170-IX) | A person with a Group I or II disability (if you are a second-degree relative) | Absence of first-degree relatives who are able to provide care. |
Guardianship of persons lacking legal capacity (para. 10): The law specifically provides for the right to deferment for guardians of persons declared legally incapacitated by a court. In this regard, the law does not impose any additional requirements regarding disability category or the presence of other relatives.
The ‘one person – one deferment’ rule: Part 10 of Article 23 obliges the Unified State Register of Conscripts to ensure that deferments are not granted to more than one person liable for military service under clauses 9–14. If another relative has already been granted a deferment to care for the same person, a second conscript under these clauses will not be granted a deferment.
Deferral for caring for a person with a Group 2 or 3 disability
For Group II disability, there is a valid ground, but only under the conditions set out in paragraph 13 (your parents or your spouse’s parents) or paragraph 14 (a second-degree relative).
For Group III disability, Article 23 does not provide for a separate, independent ground of ‘caring for a relative’. The only instance in which Group III entitles the applicant to a deferral is paragraph 12: the spouse (husband or wife) having a Group III disability under additional conditions specified by law (for example, having cancer or the absence of limbs).
If you provide constant care for your spouse, child or parents, check paragraph 9: this requires a report from the Medical and Social Expertise Commission (MSEC), the Medical Examination Commission (MEC) or an expert panel confirming the need for constant care, regardless of the disability group. Paragraph 9 does not cover other relatives (brothers, sisters, grandfathers, grandmothers).
Deferral on grounds of health and disability
Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Article 23 provides for deferral for two categories of persons:
Persons recognised in accordance with the established procedure as having a disability: The law imposes no restrictions regarding the group (Group I, II or III). The basis for deferral is the very fact of having a recognised disability.
Those temporarily unfit for service according to the conclusion of the Medical Examination Board: For a period of 6 to 12 months, with the obligation to undergo a further re-examination by the Medical Examination Board.
Deferral for students, teachers and academics
Students and those in education
In accordance with Part 3, paragraph 1 of Article 23, a deferral is granted to students pursuing vocational, pre-higher and higher education who:
are studying under a full-time or dual programme of study;
are pursuing a level of education that is higher than that previously attained (in sequential order).
Doctoral students and those enrolled on a residency programme are also entitled to a deferral. Please note: evening and distance learning programmes do not fall under this provision.
Teachers and academics
Part 3, paragraph 2 covers research staff holding an academic degree, as well as teaching staff at institutions of general secondary, vocational and pre-higher education. The key condition — employment at the main place of work at a rate of at least 0.75 of a full-time post. Holding a second job or having a lower teaching workload does not entitle the person to a deferral.
Reservation as grounds for deferment
Employees reserved for the mobilisation period who are on special military registration are granted a deferment under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Article 23. The procedure for reserving staff is governed by Article 25 of Law No. 3543-XII and resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The reservation procedure is initiated by the employer. The deferral is entered into the register within 3 calendar days (paragraph 58 of Order No. 560), so the reserved employee does not need to submit a personal application via the Administrative Services Centre.
How to apply for a deferral: a step-by-step guide
1. Step 1. Determine the grounds and check the conditions: Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of Article 23.
Compare your situation with the provisions of Article 23 and check all the relevant requirements (children’s ages, disability category, presence of other relatives, form of study or pay grade).
2. Step 2. Use the application form on Rezerv+:For grounds subject to automatic verification.
Paragraph 59 of Order No. 560 allows for the automatic processing of a deferral if you have submitted an electronic request, and the supporting data is available in the state registers. First, update your military registration details in the app, then select the grounds in the ‘Submit a deferral request’ section.
3. Step 3. Submit the documents via the Administrative Services Centre (if online submission is not possible): In accordance with paragraph 58 of Order No. 560.
An application for the granting or renewal of a deferral must be submitted in person via the Administrative Services Centre, addressed to the Chair of the Tax and Customs Commission and Specialised Commission at the place of registration. The application must be accompanied by the documents specified in Annex 5 to Order No. 560.
4. Step 4. Await the Commission’s decision: The processing time is between 7 and 15 working days.
The Commission considers the application within 7 working days. If the TCC sends enquiries to other government bodies to verify the information, the review may take up to 15 working days.
5. Step 5. Obtain confirmation from the register: An electronic certificate with a QR code.
A positive decision is entered into the Unified State Register within one calendar day, and the applicant is notified no later than two working days. The electronic certificate with a QR code in the Reserve+ app is the main document confirming the granting of a deferral.
Documents for the main grounds
| Situation (paragraph of Article 23) | Documents as per Annex 5 to Order No. 560 |
|---|---|
| Three or more children (Part 1, paragraph 3) | Birth certificate for each child stating your parenthood; marriage certificate with the mother’(father) of the children or a court order or decision by a child welfare authority regarding the children’s place of residence; information from the Unified Register of Debtors confirming that no maintenance payments are being enforced |
| Single parents (Part 1, paragraph 4) | The child’s birth certificate and one document relating to the other parent: a death certificate, a court order declaring the parent deceased, a court order terminating parental rights, etc. |
| A child under 18 and a husband (wife) in military service (Part 1, paragraph 15) | Marriage certificate, the child’s birth certificate, a certificate confirming the husband’s (wife’s) military service |
| Long-term care (Part 1, paragraph 9) | For the person you are caring for: a certificate accompanying the Medical and Social Expertise Commission (MSEC) examination report, or an extract from the decision of the expert panel assessing the person’s daily functioning, or a Medical and Social Commission (MSC) report on the need for constant care. For yourself: a marriage certificate or birth certificate. For the parents of your spouse — additionally, your spouse’s birth certificate and documents confirming that care cannot be provided by others |
| Parents with a Group I or II disability (Part 1, Clause 13) | A document confirming the father’s or mother’s disability; a birth certificate (for your own parents) or your spouse’s birth certificate and a marriage certificate; a document confirming that care cannot be provided by other persons who are not liable for military service |
| Spouse (husband) with a disability (Part 1, paragraphs 11 and 12) | Marriage certificate and proof of disability: a certificate accompanying the Medical and Social Expertise Commission (MSEC) examination report or an extract from the expert panel’s decision |
| Second-degree relative with a Group I or II disability (Part 1, para. 14) | Documents proving second-degree family ties and a document confirming the disability of the person you are caring for |
| Students, doctoral candidates (Part 3, paragraph 1) | Certificate of student status issued via the Unified State Electronic Database on Education (EDEBO); for interns — a certificate from the educational institution confirming enrolment in the internship programme |
| Teachers, researchers (Part 3, paragraph 2) | A certificate from the educational or research institution confirming the position at the main place of employment |
It is not possible to submit an application for deferment from abroad — this is explicitly stated in the ‘Dii’ guide. Reserved personnel, officials and individuals registered with the SBU and intelligence services must apply for a deferral under a separate procedure.
If the deferral has been refused
The commission shall notify you in writing of the refusal to grant a deferral, stating the specific reasons. This decision may be appealed:
Through administrative channels: To the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Through the courts: To the district administrative court (the time limit for lodging an appeal is 6 months from the date on which you became aware of the infringement of your rights).
If you reapply for a deferral on new grounds, the previous one is cancelled from the moment the new details are entered into the register (para. 56). If the re-registration is refused, the current deferral remains in force until the end of the specified period.
How long does the deferral last and when can it be lost?
In accordance with paragraph 60 of Order No. 560, a deferral is granted for the duration of the grounds on which it is based, but not longer than the duration of the mobilisation established by a Decree of the President of Ukraine.
If mobilisation is extended, there is no need to submit a new application. Deferrals processed via the Administrative Services Centre (CNA) are extended by automatically updating the date in the register, whilst those processed via Reserve+ are extended following an automatic cross-check of data from state registers.
When does the deferral cease: The deferral ceases to be valid immediately upon the grounds for it ceasing to exist. For example:
the child has turned 18;
the period of temporary unfitness, as determined by the Medical Examination Commission, has ended;
the student has been expelled or transferred to part-time study;
the lecturer’s teaching load has decreased and is now less than 0.75 of a full-time post.
Work and job search
If you are looking for a job with the option of a place reservation or are planning to change jobs whilst on deferment, you can find vacancies in the jobs section.
Before searching, check whether your grounds for deferment will remain valid: for teachers and academics, this is linked to your main place of work and salary; for those with a reserved position, it is linked to a specific employer.
