President signs law on free consular services for vulnerable groups

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed Law No. 1666-IX "On the Introduction of Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Concerning the Provision of Privileges to Certain Categories of Citizens of Ukraine Applying for Consular Actions," the presidential press service has reported.

The document aims to exempt representatives of the most vulnerable segments of the population from paying consular fees in foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine, the report said.

According to the law, persons affected by the Chornobyl disaster (categories I and II), people with disabilities (groups I and II), children with disabilities, orphans, and children deprived of parental care will not pay the consular fee for notarial acts abroad and for the receipt in foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine of a passport for traveling abroad.

The law comes into force on the day following the day of its publication and becomes effective on January 1, 2022.

The Verkhovna Rada passed the law on July 15.

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